Some 2,000 exhibitors filling 1 million sq ft of display space and scores of conference sessions, technical seminars and workshops await plastics and converting professionals at NPE 2006 (www.npe.org). The show runs June 19–23 at Chicago's McCormick Place Complex.

Billed as "the largest trade event dedicated to the plastics industry," everything from resins, additives and blown-film extrusion lines to plastics-coating systems and bagmakers will interest the converting audience. Exhibitors include 3M, Battenfeld Gloucester Engineering, Bell-Mark, Black Clawson Converting, Brampton Engineering, Cloeren, CMD, Corotex, DuPont, Enercon Industries, Extrusion Dies, Hosokowa Alpine American, ISRA Surface Vision, Ox Paper Tube & Core, Pillar Technologies, Polytype America, Reifenhauser, Simco Static Control, Tantec, Windmoeller & Hoelscher, and many others.

A highlight of the show is the free NPE 2006 conference, which is open to all registrants. The program, under-written by Dow Chemical Co., features innovative sessions on nanotechnology, bio-based materials, energy recycling, degradable plastics, extrusion and thermoforming.