With the economy getting back on its feet and current issues like radio frequency identification (RFID) technology gaining attention, the materials handling industry is abuzz these days. This energy could definitely be felt at NA 2004 in Cleveland, Ohio where nearly 20,000 attendees wandered the I-X Center show floor looking for the latest solutions.

"Industries that are consumers of the products exhibited at NA are back into purchasing and this bodes well for the show and the industry," says John Nofsinger, chief executive officer of the event's sponsor, Material Handling Industry of America (www.mhia.org).

At the State of the Industry press conference, Ralph Deger, MHIA executive chairman, agreed that the industry expects conditions to continue to improve through 2005, when the association forecasts an increase in materials handling and logistics bookings by 6.5 to 7%.

Part of this increase is being driven by the implementation of RFID systems at companies that ship to Wal-Mart, other retailers and the Department of Defense. And RFID was certainly the hot topic at NA, as reflected by the show's well-attended executive forums, Webcasts and seminars focusing on the subject.

Noting the city as a strong manufacturing base and regional distribution hub, Nofsinger remarks that "Cleveland will be able to keep up with the growth of the show and will therefore be the host city of NA 2006."

Next year, it's back to Chicago for ProMat 2005, which will be held in McCormick Place South January 10-13.