Supersized plastics show blows into Chicago

June 19 to 23, The International Plastics Showcase, NPE 2006, the largest triennial trade event dedicated to the plastics industry, will host 2,000 materials, processing machinery, equipment, and technology exhibitors at Chicago's McCormick Place. "One-third of the exhibitors will come from outside the United States," says Tim Stojka, show chairman. In fact, the number of companies coming from Mainland China and Hong Kong is more than quadruple that of NPE 2003. Of the 115 Chinese firms attending this year's show, only three participated at previous NPEs. The show will host four China pavilions in McCormick North Level 1, Hall C1.

The NPE conference will again feature a range of technical sessions, seminars, workshops, and special events. There will also be two new technology pavilions. The TPE/Rubber Pavilion and conference sponsored by the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) and the Rubber Manufacturers Assoc. (RMA) will feature materials and machinery developments that span the entire spectrum of elastomeric materials. The North American Moldmakers Pavilion and MoldMaking Technology conference is jointly sponsored by the SPI Moldmakers Div., the American Mold Builders Assoc. (AMBA), and the Canadian Association of Moldmakers (CAMM). Get more details online at npe.org