CMM 2005 on pace to surpass CMM 2003 results

NEW YORK, Sept. 3, 2004 - With several months still remaining before CMM International 2005, to be held April 18-21 in Chicago, show organizers announced that as of mid-August, close to 400 exhibitors representing nearly 200,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space had already reserved booths. Show management said this total surpasses the 370 exhibitors who had reserved booth space for CMM 2003 at this same date in 2002, and positions next year's event to exceed the total 2003 Show number of 700 exhibitors.

In addition, Erich Herbert, CMM Director of Sales, said 33 new companies have signed on that did not exhibit in the 2003 event, and many of these companies have never exhibited at any CMM event. According to Herbert, several long-time exhibitors have upgraded their booths to larger space and the various association sponsored Pavilions are selling very well.

"The industry buzz is continuing to build about a re-energized CMM International," said Ian Johnston, President of CMM. "Exhibitors are responding to all the new enhancements and features that have been added to the 2005 show."

Johnston predicts that this enthusiastic response among both suppliers and converters will continue and result in a larger but more focused show than the successful 2003 event. "While CMM will always be the premier converting-exclusive event for all segments of the converting marketplace, we are working closely with our industry partners to ensure that we also focus more on the specific processes."

In addition to the hundreds of major converting machinery and materials suppliers from around the world displaying their operating equipment, several Pavilions and Solution Theaters will focus on specific segments of the industry. These special Pavilions include:

• Tag & Label / Narrow Web

• Metallizing, Coating & Laminating

• Digital Workflow Solutions

• Gravure

• UV / EB

• Inks

• International

"Based on these early results we think this will be one of the best CMM event's in the proud history of the show. I believe the converters will be there en masse and ready to buy," Johnston concluded.