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| Plastics Encounter Southeast anchored a successful six-day extravaganza at the Charlotte Convention Center March 20-25. The show and its co-located events included nearly 200 exhibits, eight seminars/workshops, and a new-product design competition. As the only general plastics trade show in the South this year, Plastics Encounter attracted processors, suppliers and OEMs from throughout the area. |
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| Exhibits represented all plastics processes and afforded attendees a great opportunity to see new technology, admire impressive products and do business with industry professionals. |
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Tuesday’s Design Day Conference, co-sponsored by Eastman and the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) Southern District, was geared to product development and design professionals. In the photo on the left, (L-R) Chris Böninger, president of Siemens’ Munich-based designafairs GmbH, joined Motorola’s Senior Director of Design Integration Bruce Claxton on a panel about global design issues.
In the center photo, (L-R) University of Houston associate professor and Korean design expert EunSook Kwon, Ignition’s International Market Development Manager Gary Nightingale, and Elaine Ann, founder of Hong Kong-based consultants Kaizor Innovation, brought international perspectives to their panel.
In the photo on the right, Charles Austen Angell, executive vice president of the 3,300-member IDSA, got actively involved in a lively debate. |
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The Management Day conference, presented by Plastics News, featured a dozen high-powered speakers. In the photo on the left, Ethicon engineering fellow Bob Cerwin (left), tag-teamed with longtime molding partner Curt Watkins, president of Unimark Plastics, to share their insights into collaborative product development.
In the center photo, entrepreneur and LightWedge CEO Jamey Bennett (left) teamed with Bob Gibson, president of design firm Bolt Group Inc., to share their tale of jointly developing an innovative reading lamp, taking production to China and then pulling it back to the U.S.
In other show floor action, Mercury Marine took home four design awards from the SPI Structural Plastics Conference’s new-product design competition, including the 7th annual IDSA/Plastics News Design Award. In the photo on the right, Randall Holland (center), an engineer who worked on Mercury’s winning outboard motor, accepts the IDSA/PN award, flanked by (left) PN Editor/Associate Publisher Robert Grace and IDSA representative Warren Ginn, of Integrated Design Systems Inc. of Great Neck, N.Y. |
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As well as traditional exhibitors, Plastics Encounter included the National Plastics Center & Museum’s traveling PlastiVan (pictured above left), which introduced children to the fun of plastics.
Afternoon cocktail parties (pictured in the center photo) gave attendees and exhibitors an opportunity to relax and more easily make connections.
In the above right photo, Jeff Carr, a toolmaker at Bic in Fountain Inn, S.C., sits atop his new Sea Doo. One Sea Doo was awarded to an attendee who visited all the exhibits of the InfoQuest sponsors.
Photo credits include Henry Mills Photography and Mark Luckey Photography |
| Exhibitors |
"For the cost of the show, we could not make sales calls and see that many customers/potential customers in three days. We liked the interaction of the InfoQuest -- we spoke to several attendees who probably would not have stopped. The cocktail party on the show floor is always a great idea -- we spoke to a lot of exhibitors who are customers of ours and feel we increased our working relationship with them and will be seeing more quotes and orders."
Mary Forbes
Sales/Marketing
Mold Base Industries
"A very well run show; good organization all around. We got several high quality leads and look forward to the 2005 Charlotte show."
Rob Northrup
President
Advanced Extrusion Solutions
"Made contacts with several major potential customers that fit well with our capabilities."
Ed Williams
President
Beach Sales & Engineering
"Most of the attendees were serious buyers, not lookers."
Kevin Allred
Sales Engineer
RPM Plastics
"We had a good turnout at our booth and met several companies that we are interested in working with in the future."
Bryan R. Kirchmer, PE
President
Forcepro
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"We doubled our inquiries by participating in InfoQuest."
Salvatore J. Monte
President
Kenrich Petrochemicals
“The Charlotte show enabled us to introduce our company to many in the area who were not familiar with Amco, and at the same time, show our current customer base in the area our commitment to the Southeast region.”
Simon Moore
Director of Marketing
Amco Plastic Materials
“We are already working on several Requests for Quotations from the show, and are expecting more within the next few weeks. The Charlotte show was, without a doubt, the most productive show we have attended in the past three years.”
Thomas W. Copeland
President, Medical Products
Specialty Manufacturers
"Good traffic."
Craig Hodgin
President
Plastics Connection
"Great atmosphere for bringing users of my products to me."
Terry Bolinger
Sales Manager
Precision Fasteners
"We were able to close some business."
Frank Kavanagh
Sales Manager
Maguire
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Attendees
"Found suppliers of products and equipment to help my business. Obtained tech info at the sessions."
Wayne Joye
Owner/Manager
Advanced Products
"Vast and varied exhibits."
Allen Wright
Manager Advanced Engineering
Arvin Meritor
"We fully intend to initiate a few business relationships."
Danny Plemmons
President
Consolidated Textile Services
"Good opportunity to learn about activities and to network."
Lewis Wilson
Senior Account Manager
GE Plastics
"Networking opportunities are good. Found some good new vendors."
Scott Crawford
Business Development Representative
API-South
"Good selection of booths."
Nader Botros
Sales Director
P.A.T. Products
"The atmosphere was visitor friendly …good variety of exhibitors … a very positive experience."
Sylvia Joye
General Manager
Carolina Dental Brackets
"The people and the exhibits are awesome!"
Sheryl Reid
Sales Rep
Teknor Color
"Contact with potential partners."
Jacob Connelly
Engineer
Rubbermaid
“Time after time ... Excellent programs! High-caliber speakers really deliver the goods on critical topics. No infomercials, and no miss-the-mark presentations.”
Glenn Starkey
President
Progressive Components
“The quality level of the speakers and content is what the executive and high-level professionals should expect in regards to their time and investment.”
Charles Austen Angell
Executive VP
Industrial Designers Society of America
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