Here's a question: What featured over 42,000 visitors from 80 nations and more educational conferences than the Ivy League? ProMat 2001, of course.

The theme for the February show was Productivity City – the place where the right order is always shipped in the right quantities at the right time.

Record numbers this year reflected the intense interest in the benefits of effective materials handling and logistics especially in light of the softening economy.

It proved to be the most successful ProMat ever says John Nofsinger, CEO of show sponsor Material Handling Industry of America.

"Going into the show we wondered whether attendees would turn out in number and, if they did come, whether they had money available to spend," says Nofsinger. "The answer to both questions appears to have been yes."

The U.S. Department of Commerce selected ProMat 2001 for the seventh time for its prestigious International Buyer Program. The program provides matchmaker services for interested buyers and sellers through an International Business Center.

The first day of ProMat was a gold mine for Jim Lesch, packaging coordinator, for Saturn Corporation, the Tennessee automaker.

By noon, he had filled his briefcase with brochures on new returnable containers, pallets, and load unitization products. "I found enough new items in the first aisle to pay for the trip," said Lesch, a 20-year veteran of these shows.

Information technology systems brought Joe Antos, an IT manager with Whitley Products, Pierceton, Indiana, to Chicago. Whitley produces tube assemblies for the auto industry. "Every year, we need to find a way to do what we did last year, but do it cheaper," explains Antos.

Whatever the reason, the four-day show brought thousands of visitors who understand that materials handling can provide the solutions to help them compete in a changing business environment.

Complementing the record 300,000 square foot exhibition space was an educational track with 70 sessions, covering everything from basic materials handling concepts to the latest in information technology implementations. Attendance was up 15% this year.

"Materials handling users can learn about new solutions in the symposiums, and then find those solutions and the partners that can make them happen on the show room floor," said Brian McNamara, vice chairman, education and professional development, for the Material Handling Industry, and president of Southworth.

ProMat 2001 introduced several new features, like the show-friendly IT Village, the e-commerce executive symposium, which was a success at standing room only, and the benchmarking lab. You can also access post-show coverage by visiting www.promat2001.org . The site will remain online throughout the year so attendees can connect with exhibitors at any time.

Just wait. More changes are in store for the North American Material Handling Show and Forum, which will run April 8-11, 2002 in Detroit's Cobo Hall.