The Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) East, EastPack, PLASTEC East, Automation Technology Expo (ATX), and Atlantic Design & Manufacturing shows held this June in New York City generated $400 million in sales by 1,500 exhibitors. “The shows attracted more than 25,000 buyers from top manufacturing companies,” says Diane O'Connor, trade show director, Canon Communications, Los Angeles, (canontradeshows.com). “This reconfirms the continued strength of high-technology manufacturing sectors in the U.S.”

Exhibitors gave the shows high marks for the quantity and quality of their attendees and the business and contacts during their three days. “We are very happy with the level and quality of attendance at this year's EastPack,” said business manager Jules Derner of Unisource, and independent marketer and distributor of packaging systems and equipment. “We registered 320 leads in the show's first two days alone.”

What's more, exhibitors backed up their praise by reserving space at a high rate for next year's event. More than 80% of available exhibit space for 2006 is already reserved.

The event's conference program, attended by more than 300 professionals, consisted of over 20 sessions on topics such as FDA regulations and inspections, risk management, software validation, QSR, package validation, quality management systems, and process validation.