Reflections on a Record-Setting Event
NPE organizers report that the event was larger and attracted more exhibitors and attendees than ever before. Here are some takeaways from what we saw at the show.
A view of the bustling South Hall during the NPE 2015, courtesy of SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association.
Having never attended before, I was floored by NPE 2015 a few weeks back. Quite literally, in fact—I just had to get off my feet a couple of times, having made the neophyte mistake of setting up a few back-to-back South Hall and West Hall appointments. Outside of the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), I don’t think I’ve ever been to a more expansive event, at least not in North America.
As it turns out, my impressions of the show’s size and scope were pretty accurate. This past Friday, organizers revealed NPE set new records for the number of exhibitors, amount of space, and number of companies in attendance. Read the full report.
And, if you haven’t already, you might want to check out MoldMaking Technology’s own reflections on the big show. Christina Fuges, our editorial director, noticed two trends in particular: technological solutions that mold manufacturers often overlook, and increased collaboration between mold manufacturers and the rest of the supply chain. As for yours truly, I was struck by the focus on education. We also surveyed our editorial advisory board—a group of moldmakers, molders and OEMs that assists with the direction of the magazine—for their thoughts on the show.
We’d love to hear your comments on the big show. What did you learn? Did you see anything unexpected? Did you find any new business or new technologies? Sound off below, or shoot me an email.
