CMM draws 22,000: Paperloop

By Staff -- Converting Magazine, 5/1/2003

Cautious optimism about the prospects for an overall economic recovery brought more than 22,000 converting professionals to the 14th biennial CMM Intl. at Chicago's McCormick Place last month, says show organizer Paperloop, Inc., New York.

A great deal of sales activity took place on the show floor with several companies reporting strong sales of major pieces of equipment. Among the firms: Novation, Summit Engineering, Valmet Corp., Nordmeccanica, Jennerjahn Machine, Comexi, Max Kroenert, Kodak Polychrome, VIP Color Technologies, Stanford Products, Esko-Graphics, Windmöller & Hölscher, and others.

Sales future brightens

"Given the current state of the global economy, the war in Iraq and the SARS scare, I'm pleased that 22,438 converting professionals from 55 countries attended the show," says Leo Nadolske, vp of Paperloop. "Equally impressive is the fact that there were strong sales on the show floor and that the overall outlook for future sales was optimistic."

Nadolske also points to another sign of impending recovery: Booth reservations for CMM Intl. 2005 were robust. More than 60 percent of the 2005 exhibit space has already been reserved and several companies have expanded their booth size from 2003, he says.

On another positive note, the new AIMCAL and Brazilian Pavilions were both well received and attended. Eighteen companies exhibited in the AIMCAL section and reported positive feedback. "The AIMCAL Pavilion was a great partnership to bring all the companies together under a single umbrella," says AIMCAL president Frank Sereno.

Mark your long-range calendars: CMM 2005 takes place April 18-21 at Chicago's McCormick Place South Building.

SARS threat postpones Canada's PACex show

Due to growing concern over the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the Toronto area, the Packaging Assn. of Canada rescheduled its PACex Intl. 2003 trade show to Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at the Toronto Intl. Ctr. Official warnings from the World Health Organization prompted exhibitors, suppliers and visitors to re-examine their participation at the event, which had been set for May 6-8.

"The new fall timeframe will give everyone an opportunity for a fresh outlook, and hopefully enable the medical community to resolve the SARS question," says PAC-Exhibition president Alan M. Robinson. "Exhibit space contracts in PACex Intl. 2003 will be honored in every way and applied identically to the rescheduled show without penalty."