MHIA prepares for MODEX 2012 with upcoming Spacedraw

Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) will allocate exhibition space for MODEX 2012 on December 14 at the Georgia World Congress Centre in Atlanta. The event is scheduled for February 6-9, 2012 in the same Atlanta venue.

MODEX 2012, the industry’s newest trade show for the materials handling, manufacturing, distribution and supply chain market, has a format similar to MHIA’s ProMat event, which is scheduled for March 21 – 24, 2011 at McCormick Place in Chicago. With the tagline “Solutions That Move Supply Chains,”  MODEX 2012 reflects an expanded footprint that brings together an “inside the four walls” focus on materials handling with “outside the four walls” logistics solutions.

It will cover 150,000 square feet of space and showcase equipment and systems solutions and offer learning opportunities that span the entire supply chain. The aim is to focus on the offerings of materials handling and logistics equipment, systems and software solution providers; third party logistics providers; supply chain solution providers and consultants; systems integrators; sustainable facility and alternative fuel solutions providers; and packaging and unitizing solutions providers.

MODEX 2012 is expected to draw more than 500 exhibitors and tens of thousands of attendees from 80 countries around the world.

According to Tom Carbott, MHIA vice president sales and events, Spacedraw is very relevant to companies that will be exhibiting at MODEX 2012. “We sell about 75% of the floor space that day, so if a company has a desired location for their exhibit, being part of Spacedraw is very important. It offers exhibiting companies financial incentives, discounts and priority in selecting space before the floor plan is released to general public,” he told Modern.

“Spacedraw is open to any company that is eligible to exhibit at MODEX 2012,” Carbott said. ‘Even if you’ve not participated as an exhibitor, you can still participate in this event.”

Following Spacedraw, MHIA officially begins selling the remaining floor space.

Modern also asked Carbott about the current industry trade show trends:  “We’re seeing a couple things,” Carbott said. “First, the economy hit a trough in the first quarter of 2009, but the trade shows in our category –industrial trade shows– have seen a nice rebound in attendance. More importantly, we’re seeing a nice rebound in companies coming back to exhibit. They’re returning with a higher level of confidence in the economy and their budgets have been restored. No one is going off the charts, but there’s enough growth to provide confidence for people to get back in involved and look for new business.”

Carbott also said that indicators point to industry growth without interruption in the pattern. “The consensus is that things are getting better,” he said, “and they will continue to get better through 2010 and into 2011 and 2012.”

To learn more about Spacedraw, MODEX 2012 and ProMat, call Tom Carbott directly at 704-714-8716.