SPI Moves NPE2012 to Orlando

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, Florida, it was announced by SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association. The move marks a dramatic change for the largest plastic’s industry event in North America. Founded by SPI in 1946, NPE has taken place at Chicago’s McCormick Place since 1971, and that 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% on utilities for booths; 19% on on-site hauling (“drayage”) and rigging services for exhibitors; 23% on lodging; and 11% on travel. The savings on travel from the U.S. Midwest - a key plastics manufacturing region - with Chicago at its heart - would be even greater: 19%.

“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 CFO of Nypro, Inc. “A savings of this magnitude will play a substantial role in SPI’s mission to stimulate our industry’s economic recovery.”

The move to Orlando will certainly provide the industry with bottom-line benefits, affirmed John Effmann, Chairman of NPE2012 and Director of Sales and Marketing for ENTEK Manufacturing Inc. “The lower costs, simpler work rules, and more flexible logistics at the Orange County Convention Center will cut costs dramatically as well as enable SPI to build a more dynamic show experience by attracting new participants and encouraging bigger and better exhibits,” Effmann said. “The improved conditions will lead to more extensive displays of new technology and larger and more numerous machines in fullscale operation.”

SPI noted three other NPE innovations accompanying the change of venue: 1) The switch to early April from the traditional late-June dates will allow far more time for exhibitors to follow up on inquiries and leads generated before summer vacations. 2) Instead of the traditional Monday opening day, NPE2012 will start on Sunday, with educational programs and other special events; the trade show will be open from Monday through Thursday, eliminating the sparsely attended final half-day of previous shows. 3) SPI will address the longstanding wish of attendees and exhibitors that exhibits be grouped by product category.

“In our comparative study of venues for NPE, Orlando demonstrated a greater range in pricing than Chicago for hotels and restaurants,” Murphy noted, “and lower costs for incidental expenses like cabs to and from the airport and convention center parking.” SPI President and CEO William Carteaux added that SPI’s decision was not all about cost. “Orlando also was the clear winner with customer service,” Carteaux stressed. “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!” SPI’s Web site has a dedicated landing page related to the NPE2012 venue change, including background information, photos, logos and links located at www.plasticsindustry. org/goto/NPE2012Venue.