Articles

• T-Minus 100…98…97…
  With less than 100 days until the event, Bill Carteaux, president of NPE 2006 organizer the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI; Washington DC), says major benchmarks remain on track to either reach or surpass levels attained for NPE 2003, including the number exhibitors and attendees.


• Tips for evaluating moldmakers
  There are a number of mold manufacturing companies exhibiting at NPE, from North America, Asia, and Europe, so if you are looking for a mold supplier NPE is an ideal place to meet face-to-face with these various suppliers and compare their capabilities. Since mold companies typically can't bring the molds they build, they bring the parts that have come from the molds they've built, which is the next best thing.


• Tips for evaluating auxiliaries
  It is useful in contemplating the purchase of auxiliary equipment to consider first whether you prefer to work with a generalist, a specialist, or a catalog house, all of which are exhibiting at NPE.


• Need to take a break from the show? Try the Shedd Aquarium
  There's plenty to see at NPE 2006 (June 19-23, Chicago), but if you need a change of scenery and a break from the busy week, consider taking a short cab ride up to the John G. Shedd Aquarium. It's less than a mile north of McCormick Place on South Lake Shore Drive, and it's said to be the world's largest indoor aquarium with nearly 20,000 aquatic animals and 1500 species.


• The price of flight to Chicago
  If you’re even thinking about attending NPE 2006, a good start is to get to Chicago. We’re keeping tabs on airfares for you. This list shows the cost (U.S. dollars) of a round-trip ticket from several major cities to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, as of the end of March (don’t forget that you can fly into Midway Airport as well). Our source is travelocity.com. Dates include a Saturday night stay in the Windy City. Check back here each month and we’ll keep updating the numbers for you.