NPE2012, the next edition of the triennial NPE international plastics exposition, will take place April 1-5, 2012 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. as announced on Nov. 17 by SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association.
The move marks a dramatic change for the largest plastics industry event in North America. Founded by SPI in 1946, NPE has taken place at Chicago’s McCormick Place since 1971, and because of the long-term residency, the venue has been linked with NPE in the minds of industry people around the world.
SPI’s leadership selected Orlando upon the recommendation of the NPE2012 Executive Committee after a systematic comparison of possible venues. The study revealed that holding NPE2012 in Orlando would provide big reductions in the chief expenses incurred by exhibitors and attendees. These reductions could save the two groups an average of 48 percent on utilities for booths; 19 percent on on-site hauling and rigging services for exhibitors; 23 percent on lodging and 11 percent on travel. The savings on travel from the Midwest ¬– a key plastics manufacturing region – with Chicago at its heart would be an even greater 19 percent.
“After carrying out due diligence with an independent review of the bids on possible venues for NPE2012, the NPE Executive Committee determined that by moving the show to Orlando, SPI could save the plastics industry up to $20 million,” said James Buonomo, chairman of the SPI board and chief financial officer of Nypro, Inc. “A savings of this magnitude will play a substantial role in SPI’s mission to stimulate our industry’s economic recovery.”
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Other benefits to the Orlando move are more flexible logistics at the Orange County Convention Center which will cut costs as well as enable the organization to build a more “dynamic show experience by attracting new participants and encouraging bigger and better exhibits,” said John Effman, chairman of NPE2012 and director of sales and marketing for ENTEK Manufacturing Inc.
Also, the switch to early April, verses the current late June dates, allow for more time for exhibitors to follow up on inquiries and leads generated before summer vacations. Instead of a Monday opening day, the NPE2012 will begin on a Sunday with educations programs and other special events. The tradeshow will be open from Monday through Thursday to eliminate the sparsely attend final half day of previous shows.
SPI also addresses the longstanding wish of attendees and exhibitors that exhibits be grouped by product category during the show.
“Even before considering the costs of staging NPE2012 at various locations, the NPE Operations Committee had to determine which venues could even accommodate a tradeshow as demanding as NPE,” said Jim Murphy, president of Davis-Standard, who chaired the NPE2009 Operations Committee. He also is vice chairman of NPE2012.
“Our conclusion was that only Chicago and Orlando could readily meet our requirements for contiguous exhibit space, electrical capacity and hotel availability.”
Lower costs in Orlando for hotel, restaurants, parking and incidental expenses such as cab fare also were figured into the decision.
“Orlando was the clear winner with customer service,” said William Carteaux, SPI president and CEO. “At the end of the day, Team Orlando won the bid because of its team/community effort, professionalism, dedication to service, partnership mindset – we’re not just a customer – and innovative spirit. Orlando truly made the discernible difference.”
The Orange County Convention Center offers 2.1 million square feet of exhibit space in two large exhibit halls. The halls are connected by a 1,500-foot walkway with moving sidewalks. Adjacent to the exhibit areas are 74 meeting rooms with 235 breakouts. The total parking capacity is 8,227. According to the Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau, there are 115,000 hotel rooms in the Orlando area, 9,100 of them within walking distance from the center.
For additional information on the NPE2012 venue change, visit the Web site at www.plasticsindustry.org/goto/NPE2012Venue.
