MHIA Hosts Most Successful ProMat In Event History

As a harbinger of the continued economic vitality of the material handling & logistics industry, U.S. and international attendees registered in record numbers for ProMat 2007--the material handling and logistics industry's premier North American trade event. The Show and Conference is sponsored by the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA).

Attendance at ProMat 2007 grew three percent to over 35,000. Attendance represented key decision makers in virtually all manufacturing, logistics, distribution and the supply chain. Reflecting the growing global nature of the event, attendees from outside the United States at this year's ProMat represented 100 countries and six continents. They were welcomed by ProMat's International Visitors Center.

"Visitors and exhibitors agree that ProMat 2007 was a tremendous success for them. Attendees came to ProMat 2007 not just looking for supply chain solutions, but ready to buy and implement them. And exhibitors came armed with their best solutions the industry has to offer," said John Nofsinger, CEO of MHIA. According to Nofsinger, "one highlight of the show is its diversity, from the diversity of the equipment and technology solutions on the show floor to the diversity of the companies attending and countries represented and the unique challenges each faces to make their supply chains work more productively and profitability."

ProMat Shows Growing Exhibitorship
The Show also featured 736 exhibitors, a 12% growth over ProMat 2005. Total Show size was 300,000 net square feet representing the largest ProMat ever. Exhibitors were grouped by category in five "show-within- a-show" Solution Centers:

The Center for Equipment, Components and Manufacturing Solutions
The Center for Fulfillment and Delivery
The Center for Information Technology Solutions
The Center for Assembly Logistics and Support Solutions
The Knowledge Center
An educational conference accompanied the ProMat exhibition. Included in the conference were a Keynote Forum featuring industry leaders who discussed their journies to becoming lean leaders and complimentary show floor educational sessions on a variety of topics. The Keynote Forum attendance throughout the morning topped 500. In addition, more than 5,300 visitors sat in on 69 show floor seminars at ProMat 2007.

ProMat 2009 will be held at McCormick Place South in 2009.