Plast-Ex 2004 space draw attracts interest

Nearly 65,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space was allocated during a recent space draw for Canada’s premier plastics showcase, Plast-Ex 2004. The space draw gave more than 160 contracted exhibitors a chance to select premium space for the show that is being held at the International Centre in Toronto, Ontario from May 3 to 6, 2004.

"The 160 contracted exhibitors that we have at the moment represent virtually hundreds more when you consider that many are agents of plastics companies with global interests," said Sally Damstra, Director, International Trade and Shows for the Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA). "They are not only attracted by the fact that Plast-Ex 2004 is located in North America’s third largest plastics processing region, they realize that 81 per cent of the 140,000 people who are employed in the Canadian plastics processing community, are within driving distance of the show."

The four-day showcase for raw materials, machinery, equipment and mould making expertise will feature a different theme for each day of the show. Activities such as breakfast meetings and lunch-and-learn sessions have been organized for automotive, construction, packaging and productivity improvement themes.

Canada’s plastics industry has been growing at a rate of 2.3 times faster than general manufacturing for a number of years and represented shipments of $45.4 billion in 2002. In an industry-wide study conducted that year, 60 per cent of respondents expressed their company’s plans to add manufacturing capacity and 50 per cent said they intended to purchase primary processing machinery sometime in 2003 or 2004.

"This combined with the fact that 75 per cent of all Canadian plastics processing firms do not normally attend industry shows outside of Canada, provides some very good reasons why we are expecting Plast-Ex 2004 to be a banner show," Ms. Damstra said.

The show is owned and managed by the Canadian Plastics Industry Association, an industry trade group dedicated to advancing the prosperity and international competitiveness of the Canadian plastics industry in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. CPIA has offices in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.

The event will be held May 3-6, 2004. Learn more at www.plast-ex.org