New IT focus at ProMat

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 1/1/2001

This year, ProMat is making it as easy as possible on attendees to find leading suppliers of information technology, says Thomas Carbott, senior director-sales at the Material Handling Industry of America.

For the first time, a 20,000 sq. ft. Information Technology (IT) Village will be included within ProMat, located in Hall B at McCormick Place in Chicago. Forty-five exhibitors, including Accu-Sort, FKI Logistex, Provia, and Swisslog, will be found in the IT Village from Feb 12-15. IT Village exhibitors will display a variety of IT solutions that support the materials handling and logistics process.

Participation is limited to companies whose primary business is stand alone software and/or IT consulting for manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, transportation, and supply chain logistics. This includes companies who provide warehouse management systems, order management systems, transportation management systems, and enterprise resource planning, to name a few.

The idea for the village came from the unprecedented demand for exhibit space and the growing need for IT support in manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution and logistics operations, says Carbott.

With the IT Village, ProMat 2001 is able to offer a total solution package for attendees. Looking towards North American 2002, two additional villages will be introduced: Fulfillment and delivery solutions and e-commerce and delivery solutions.