New dates. New venue. New management. But CMM International 2007 will still draw converting professionals to Chicagoland to see the latest in converting machinery, materials and supplies.

The show takes place June 4-7, 2007, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. In addition to changing the location and dates, organizers PennWell hope there will be more machinery and equipment running on the show floor to draw attendees' interest.

Why the venue change from the show's longtime home, downtown McCormick Place? PennWell managers say it's all about cost-effectiveness for both exhibitors and attendees. “We are responding to our exhibitors' requests to provide a more cost effective, hassle-free exhibit environment,” says a statement on the show's web site. “We believe Rosemont will help us make an already great event even better. The move to Rosemont will result in significant savings, not the least of which will be CMM's ability to offer exhibitors lower space rental inclusive of drayage, and lower labor costs due to more flexible work rules. Companies can save an average of 25 percent or more on exhibiting costs, while attendees will enjoy major savings on hotel and transportation costs.”

Show organizers also appear to have taken a page from the manuals of such successful commercial-printing and crossover shows as PRINT® and Graph Expo, and are striving to have as much printing and converting machinery running as possible on the show floor. To that end, CMM has developed two new Technology Centers. The “Flexible Packaging Technology Center” will feature a Bobst/Schiavi (www.bobstgroup.com) gearless CI-flexo press from the Italian manufacturer's high-performance, 10-color EF 50s series, Profama's new Pratica 1200 slitter/rewinder (www.profama.com.br) from Brazil, and a variety of other equipment from leading manufacturers demonstrating several converting processes during all four days of the show. With the DiTrolio Flexographic Institute, CMM management teamed up for the “Narrow- to Mid-Web Technology Center.” This attraction will also highlight operating equipment to produce actual print jobs on the show floor.

Jim Enos, CMM show director and vice president of PennWell Corp., says the tech centers were created partly in response to attendees' requests to see more running equipment, adding they “will feature jobs being printed and converted from raw material to finished products.”

“This is truly a unique opportunity for converters to experience the most effective methods of handling a flexible packaging job from start to finish,” says Alain Jendly, vice president of flexible materials products with Bobst Group USA, Inc. “Delivering high-end graphics with fast turnaround is an essential equipment requirement for every flexo-printing operation. The Bobst/Schiavi EF 50s series in demonstration is a showcase of the most advanced components and solutions for minimizing job make-ready, changeovers and waste on a CI-flexo press.”

“We're a proud sponsor of the [Flexible Packaging] Technology Center,” adds Mauro Consalvi from Profama. “We were immediately impressed with the opportunity to let the attendees view, touch and witness the full capabilities of our equipment. We believe this forum will benefit all attendees who are looking to purchase new converting equipment or to evaluate the latest developments in the industry.”

Individual suppliers who have made large commitments to the new CMM include longtime exhibitor Jennerjahn Machine (www.jennerjahn.com). The slitter/rewinder maker is back with a 50 x 50-ft booth, third-largest at the show as of presstime. According to president Chris Jennerjahn, the booth space, expanded from the 2005 show, is needed to accommodate the two machines they'll bring: a JLS rewinder and a JJF machine for handling cash-register rolls—one of the company's most popular models.

“We reviewed our leads from the 2005 CMM show, and it translated into about $6 million worth of business that could be directly traced back to the show,” he says. “We've always experienced success displaying our equipment in the booth, and the bottom line is that CMM has made money for us.”

Also displaying a small press in its booth will be Retroflex (www.retroflex.com). President Perry Lichon says he believes machinery in the exhibit keeps attendees there longer.

Lichon also comes to the show armed with specific metrics for success. “We'd like to see at least 100 contacts made from the CMM show, with at least 25 percent of those turned into quotes. And we look for the show to pay for itself in new business within one year.”