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NPE2009 Press Frequently Asked QuestionsWhy will NPE2009 be a ‘must‘ for the international plastics industry press? How relevant will NPE2009 be for the press representing other industries? Why should the business and financial press cover NPE2009? Why should consumer media cover NPE2009? Why should the Chicago and regional press cover NPE2009? What do I need to know if I represent a television or radio news organization? Are there any restrictions regarding photography or videography on-site at NPE2009? What will make NPE2009 different from earlier NPE shows? Do I qualify for NPE2009 Press Registration? Can I apply for Press Registration during NPE2009? What kind of pre-show support does SPI provide members of the press? What kind of on-site support does SPI provide members of the press? Does SPI provide support for members of the international press? Do I require a visa to enter the United States to cover NPE2009? Will there be special events for the press during NPE2009? Will SPI pay for my travel and hotel expenses? When can I gain access to the NPE2009 exhibit floor? What facilities are available for all visitors in McCormick Place? What about local transportation to and from McCormick Place?
NPE2009 will be the world's largest plastics-industry event of the year, comprising an international plastics exposition, special design and technology programs, and a business conference, plus major co-located events. In the NPE trade show produced by The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI), a total of 2,000 companies will exhibit on 1,000,000 sq.ft. (93,000 sq.m), more than a third of them coming directly from outside the U.S. About 75,000 plastics professionals from 120 countries are expected to register. In addition, NPE2009 will be co-located with ANTEC™ 2009, the world's largest plastics technical conference, the MoldMaking Expo trade show and conference, and the “Coatings for Plastics” conference of the Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology.
Why will NPE2009 be a "must" for the international plastics industry press? NPE is a truly global show, and NPE2009 will be the world's largest plastics event. This international stature is reflected in the range of exhibitors: 1) over 600 firms coming directly from outside the U.S.; 2) nearly all of the major multinational suppliers of plastics equipment and raw materials, both U.S.-based companies and U.S. subsidiaries of firms based in Europe, Asia, and the Americas; and 3) the largest number of U.S. domestic suppliers of plastics technologies to exhibit at any plastics event anywhere. Many of these American suppliers will be looking to export or establish connections with firms outside the U.S. In turn, the U.S. itself represents a major market for companies based elsewhere. NPE2009 will be the Western Hemisphere’s greatest plastics trade show, representing the third-largest manufacturing industry in the United States and a $ 400-billion business sector for the signatories of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Among U.S. manufacturing expositions, NPE consistently ranks among the top five. There are 20,000 plastics business establishments in the United States alone. NPE2009 will be a key means to access the enormous market of the Americas, including the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
How relevant will NPE2009 be for the press representing other industries? NPE2009 will have substantial business and technology news for media covering industries like appliances, automotive, packaging, and medical devices, as well as the press in specialized technology sectors like design engineering, web converting, automation, chemicals, quality assurance, control systems, laboratory testing, and others. These media have regularly covered NPE shows in the past, and the innovations planned for NPE2009 provide even more reason for participating. Many thematic pavilions, special events, company exhibits, and conference sessions will focus on current issues and emerging technologies of importance across many industries, such as sustainability, bioplastics, and energy management.
Why should the business and financial press cover NPE2009? No other manufacturing industry directly affects as many sectors of the economy as plastics. Virtually every other industry uses plastics and has a need to know about the latest innovations in plastics technology—a need uniquely addressed by NPE. Designers, engineers, marketers, and other professionals will come to NPE2009 from industries as diverse as appliances, automotive, building and construction, electronics, medical devices, packaging, wire and cable, and many others. The emerging technologies certain to be prominent at NPE2009—such as bioplastics, degradable plastics, nanocomposites, and alternative energy systems—will determine corporate decision making and business trends for years to come.
Why should consumer media cover NPE2009? Because plastics innovations contribute to a sustainable future, the NPE2009 will be even more relevant to the interests of consumers than past NPEs because of today’s industry-wide focus on sustainability. From special events and thematic pavilions to company exhibits and conference presentations, NPE2009 will focus on topics relevant to sustainability, including bioplastics, degradable plastics, recycling, raw-material conservation, energy conservation, and use of plastics in alternative energy systems such as solar cells. At the same time, NPE will carry on its tradition of spotlighting new technologies that will make possible the products of tomorrow—shatterproof automotive windshields, new designs for consumer electronics, medical devices that prevent cross-infection in hospitals or simplify home health care, and advances in packaging that extend shelf life for foods, add new levels of convenience, and reduce carbon footprints.
Why should the Chicago and regional press cover NPE2009? The triennial NPE show is one of the largest events at McCormick Place and has been held there for the last 40 years of its 62-year lifetime. In 2009 the show will contribute an estimated $150- to $200-million to the local economy. But more interesting than size is the sheer dynamism of NPE, making the show an exciting venue well suited for television coverage. In exhibit after exhibit at NPE2009, you will encounter full-scale manufacturing systems operating on the show floor and yielding commercial-quality products. The equipment systems, often dramatically large and elaborate, will embody the latest technology: sophisticated, robotized, computer automated. Not surprisingly, NPE is the biggest consumer of electrical power of any McCormick Place event. Top executives of the largest raw materials and equipment companies will be at their company booths. Tens of thousands of attendees will fill the aisles. Hundreds of exhibitors will have come directly from outside the U.S.
What do I need to know if I represent a television or radio news organization? In cases of visits to NPE2009 by groups such as a television news crew, the producer or other representative can obtain press passes for the rest of the crew in the Press Room by presenting his or her own official press ID along with full contact information, such as that included on a business card, for each individual in the crew. No one will be admitted to the exhibit floor without an individual press pass. McCormick Place requires that an electrician run cables from trucks to any broadcast location inside the exposition center. If the network involved is national rather than Chicago-based, there is a charge for the electrician's labor. To arrange for live broadcasts or to obtain logistical support (arranging for phone lines, etc.), contact McCormick Place. For crews doing taping, there is no need to for such contact.
Are there any restrictions regarding photography or videography on-site at NPE2009? Yes. SPI reserves the right to protect and control the use of its brand name and trademarks. At the NPE2009 trade show and other SPI events, still photography and videography are normally limited to the credentialed press. Photography and videography by all other parties must be pre-approved by SPI. All advertising, promotional, and publicity materials, plans, and media distribution are subject to SPI approval.
What will make NPE2009 different from earlier NPE shows? Since the last NPE in 2006, a completely new management team has emerged at The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI), which founded and produces the show. This team has developed many innovations that will make their debut in 2009. Some examples: 1) The first International Plastics Design Competition will showcase plastic products from around the world and from the full range of end-use markets. 2) The Emerging Technologies Pavilion will include exhibits focusing on sustainability, nanotechnology, bioplastics, and energy. 3) The New Technology Pavilion will have displays of products judged to be truly new at the show by a panel of industry editors. 4) Specialty pavilions will be dedicated to particular technologies or industry sectors, including thermoforming, rotomolding, design engineering, elastomers, moldmaking, medical devices, and compressed air. 5) Innovation Theaters, located in each exhibit hall, will enable exhibitors to make presentations or demonstrate new products. 6) SPI’s Business of Plastics educational program will address such topics as marketing, human capital management, finance, environmental issues, regulation, global economic trends, and other matters of strategic importance to plastics business management. And 7) co-location with ANTEC™ 2009 and MoldMaking Expo™ 2009 will add even more value to attending NPE2009 and feature new technology developments affecting the whole plastics industry.
Do I qualify for NPE2009 Press Registration? Press Registration is free and is open to any editor or reporter carrying the credentials of a legitimate print, online, or broadcast news organization. To apply online, simply go to the Press Room section of the NPE2009 website at www.npe.org. Editors and reporters will be advised that their application has been accepted. Badges will be mailed in advance of the show. Publishers, advertising sales managers, and other non-editorial members of media staff will not be eligible for press registration.
Can I apply for Press Registration during NPE2009? Yes. While advance registration is encouraged and provides advantages for members of the press, it is possible to register on-site by going to the Press Room and presenting press credentials such as a press pass or business card.
What kind of pre-show support does SPI provide members of the press? Bob Martino, the press representative for NPE2009, will regularly issue news releases and press advisories to the press in English, Chinese (Simplified), German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. These will also be posted in the Press Room section of the NPE2009 website at www.npe.org, along with an extensive library of high-resolution photos, fact sheets, and many other resources. Editors and reporters with questions about NPE2009 are encouraged to contact Bob Martino at pr@npe.org or phone him at 1-914-478-0754.
What kind of on-site support does SPI provide members of the press? The NPE2009 Press Room will be located in Room N427 on Level 4 of the South Building of McCormick Place, open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday of show week, and accessible without a press pass. Bob Martino and a team of SPI communications professionals will be on hand to serve as resources for the press. The Press Room will provide a convenient, practical, and comfortable base of operations while covering the show and is exclusively for use by the press. Even larger than at past NPEs, the NPE2009 Press Room will provide a full display of exhibitor press kits, news and information from SPI, daily selections of high-resolution show photography, work tables, desktop computers, printers, a fax, telephones, and broadband Internet access, including ethernet connections for laptops. In addition to these work-related resources, the NPE2009 Press Room will include a lounge area for relaxing, socializing, and enjoying refreshments. Buffet breakfasts and lunches will be available every day, and light snacks and beverages will be served throughout the day.
Does SPI provide support for members of the international press? Editors and reporters from outside the U.S. are invited to make use of the International Trade Center, which is open to all international visitors. Located in the South Building of McCormick Place (Room S-100), it will include multilingual staff members to assist you, as well as U.S. Department of Commerce trade experts. Available facilities will include work areas with phone, fax, and e-mail; private conference rooms; a message center; and a comfortable lounge.
Do I require a visa to enter the United States to cover NPE2009? Depending on their country of origin, members of the press may require a visa to enter the United States. Information on which countries, and on the visa process in general, is available in English at http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/ and in other languages at the website of the U.S. embassy in any given country. SPI advises editors and reporters from countries where U.S. visas are required to apply early at the nearest U.S. consulate or embassy. Official letters of invitation required for obtaining visas can be obtained from SPI by contacting pr@npe.org
Will there be special events for the press during NPE2009? Beginning in April 2009, SPI will post in the online Press Room a regularly updated schedule of on-site events, including news conferences by exhibitors and a wide range of newsworthy events sponsored by SPI and cooperating groups. Typically a large number of these events take place during NPE, and the schedule is designed to assist you in planning your coverage of them. Three of the special press events planned by SPI are: 1) The Press Reception, which includes a meal and presentations by the top officials of SPI and the NPE show. In the past this has taken the form of a Press Breakfast early on Monday of show week, but there are preliminary plans for NPE2009 to hold the Press Reception on Sunday afternoon before the start of the show. You will be advised of the final plan well in advance of the show. 2) A press tour of the International Plastics Design Competition, with disclosure of the winning submissions. This will take place at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday of show week. And 3) Daily press briefings by SPI. These will be held at 3:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday to disclose attendance figures and report on newsworthy developments.
Will SPI pay for my travel and hotel expenses? SPI occasionally receives requests for such assistance from members of the press wishing to cover the NPE show on-site. As a matter of policy and practicality, SPI does not provide this assistance.
When can I gain access to the NPE2009 exhibit floor? A holder of a press badge will not be admitted to the exhibit floor outside show hours, which are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 9:00 to 3:00 on Friday. (Press members whose publications are exhibiting can gain early access by using exhibitor badges.) There is one exception to this rule: If you have been invited to attend a news conference on the exhibit floor before 9:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m., you must be accompanied to the exhibitor’s booth by security personnel, who will meet you at the main entrance of the exhibit hall where the booth is located. Exhibiting companies will be aware of this requirement and make arrangements for security staff to meet press members at a specified time and place.
What facilities are available for all visitors in McCormick Place? McCormick Place includes extensive facilities for doing business and for taking a break from business. Business Centers are located in all exhibit buildings and are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. A variety of office and related supplies are for sell in the centers. Services available for a fee include photocopying, mailing, shipping by courier, faxing, and currency exchange. Visitors may also secure use of computers, printers, and faxes or rent cell phones. Restaurants range from snack and coffee bars to McDonalds to full-service dining rooms. Other vendors provide goods and services ranging from shoe repairs to souvenirs. Automated banking machines (ATMs) are located in each of the three buildings. More information about McCormick Place is available at www.mccormickplace.com.
What about local transportation to and from McCormick Place? In addition to taxis, members of the press have two mass-transit options, for which route and scheduled information will be posted in the Press Room: 1) NPE2009 will provide all visitors with free shuttle bus service between many Chicago hotels and McCormick Place. The buses will not stop at every hotel. Your hotel may be on a route, but the boarding location may be at a neighboring hotel. 2) SPI expects to obtain a supply of free Metra commuter train passes for use by members of the press. Available in the Press Room, these passes will be good for unlimited use during NPE week. Metra is convenient during rush hour or at the end of the day, taking only seven minutes for the north-south trip between the Randolph Street Station, the Van Buren Street Station, and McCormick Place. Information about transportation and McCormick Place parking is available at www.mccormickplace.com.
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