More than three quarters of plastics professionals surveyed are searching for answers to improve their business by learning about new technologies through demonstrations at NPE.
NPE's opening day is just around the corner and many plastics professionals are more interested in seeking out new technologies to help their business than negotiating contracts and making purchasing decisions. IDES, the fastest growing search destination and informational resource for the plastics industry, recently surveyed customers and found more than three quarters are searching for answers to improve their business by learning about new technologies through demonstrations at NPE 2006 in Chicago, Illinois. The survey also revealed that unlike European trade events, delegates to this year's NPE will not be planning to make buying decisions at the show, but rather intend to investigate products and services, and meet with representatives in person on big ticket items such as processing machinery and plastic materials.

Focusing on business versus pleasure, delegates do not plan to attend parties or schmooze with customers.

Additionally there is low interest when it comes to finding new vendors to replace current providers or collecting free stuff from exhibitors (also known as 'swag').

Several resin buyers will focus on finding lower cost materials as resin prices continue to rise.

Other notable aspects of the response include the following trends.

About half plan to meet with specific plastics professionals in person.

Half will investigate plastics machinery and seek out answers to specific processing problems.

40% hope to find an alternative resin to replace a current in-use grade.

This survey was conducted by email in March 2006 and queried IDES customers in product design and plastics processing on topics relating to NPE 2006 from 19th to 23rd June in Chicago, Illinois (USA).