With less than two months to go until the big show, it's time to make your plans for Cleveland. The 2004 version of the North American Material Handling show (NA 2004) is set for March 29th – April 1st at the I-X Center in Cleveland, Ohio. More than 400 exhibitors and 20,000 attendees are expected for this four-day solutions-focused event, according to the show's sponsor, Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA).

MHIA notes that Cleveland and its surrounding area is home to a large number of warehousing and distribution facilities in this country. In addition, Cleveland is known as the "headquarters" of U.S. manufacturing, according to the show sponsor. In previous years, the event was held in Detroit, Mich.

"The I-X Center will allow future NA shows to grow on a single-level floor plan with over 700,000 square feet of available space," says John Nofsinger, chief executive officer, MHIA.

Attendees will easily be able to locate the equipment, systems and technologies to meet their needs on a show floor organized into four solution centers: equipment, components and manufacturing; fulfillment and delivery; information technology; and assembly logistics and support.

A knowledge portal on the show floor will provide educational opportunities specifically designed to improve productivity in manufacturing, warehousing and distribution. This popular component of NA 2004 will include 52 free seminars, three executive forums and four detailed workshops.

According to Dick Ward, MHIA's executive vice president of professional development, "the subject matter runs the gamut, from warehouse design and orderpicking options to automatic identification systems and conveyor applications." Two new executive forums focusing on radio frequency identification (RFID) and security have also been added.

Also that week, Modern Materials Handling will present its annual Productivity Achievement Awards. This year's recipients are BMW for manufacturing, McKesson for warehousing and Corporate Express for distribution (Productivity Achievement Award Winners).

NA 2004 promises to offer the most advanced solutions needed to meet today's supply chain challenges. To plan for this year's largest materials handling and logistics tradeshow in North America, check out Modern's NA 2004 Planner, which includes the show's exhibitors, descriptions of the educational conferences and a colorful map of the show floor. The Planner is polybagged with this issue.