The Plastics Show and Beyond
NPE (The National Plastics Exposition) is one of the largest and most significant trade shows for the plastics industry. Organized by the Plastics Industry Association, NPE is held every three years and attracts a global audience of professionals from various sectors, including manufacturers, suppliers, and end-users.
Condit is proud to have supported the design and build of client exhibits at NPE since the early 1990s, but today’s show is not the event of yesteryear. And like many vertical markets, the plastics industry is undergoing substantial change.
Plastics of the Past
The first NPE was held in 1946 at the Grand Central Palace in New York City, boasting about 25,000 square feet of exhibit space and over 160 exhibitors, mostly in 10×10 booths.
By the late 1980s and early 1990s, booth footprints had grown substantially with live demonstrations, big machines, and flashy exhibit architecture. This architecture was composed of heavy construction – wood and paint – with no tension fabric or lighter, more modern materials. The show’s location has shifted, held at McCormick Place for many iterations and, more recently, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
Condit’s Senior Account Executive Johnny Frank, who attended his first NPE in 1991, said, “These were really grand displays, large footprints, and big budgets.”
NPE Tradeshow Exhibit Examples, 1990-2010
NPE Now
The NPE of today is more focused on sustainability than ever before. This includes more eco-conscious exhibit components, construction techniques, transportation methods, and a dedicated Sustainability Hub on the showfloor. The show organizers recycle on site, with materials pelletized to be used again as soon as possible. These practices are a reflection of a top-down plastics’ industry focus on environmental impact, waste reduction, and recycling opportunities in products and processes. We at Condit are excited to see things moving in this direction.
Senior Condit Account Executive Scott Jameson summarized, “Exhibiting businesses are becoming more conservative in material use and recycling the event’s waste materials. This is modeled after refinements in their own operating procedures.”
Plastics companies are also scaling back on their tradeshow budgets and more tightly focusing their marketing spend. With NPE2024 as the first show in a post-pandemic world, exhibitors and attendees were not sure what to expect. Many businesses were also purchased and consolidated during this time period. All of this led to an increase in smaller booth footprints and rental exhibits with “more function, less flash” on the showfloor.
Condit Chicago President Kevin Trainor observed a shifting in the mindset of plastics businesses and the plastics industry. “Everyone is thinking about the lifecycle of plastics from beginning to end and searching for solutions that are easily recyclable while trying to align their exhibit and marketing to reflect that company stance.”
NPE Tradeshow Exhibit Examples, 2024
Planning for the Future
Though there may be slower growth in NPE and adjacent events, the plastics industry is not going anywhere. With a record-setting 51,000 attendees in NPE2024, NPE2027 promises to be a compelling show with a focus on innovation and plastics technologies and renewed sustainability initiatives. Related manufacturing conferences with cross-over attendance and participation, smaller regional tradeshows, and even international events like K show, will help NPE exhibitors to keep a pulse on the event and the industry as a whole.
Condit: Your Plastics Partner
With 80 years’ in business and substantial plastics industry experience, Condit understands preserving company legacy within an evolving industry landscape. With adaptive exhibit design, quality manufacturing, sustainability programs, and a holistic focus on your entire show schedule, Condit can help you hone your event marketing strategy.
Whether you’re planning for NPE2027 or one of the many plastics events held annually, Condit is ready to collaborate with your organization. Contact us today or start an exhibit project online.