International Visitors Center to help 2,500 ProMat attendees

With the continued globalization of the supply chain, expect to hear many languages other than English as you cruise the show aisles at ProMat 2011. Of the 30,000 anticipated show attendees, approximately 2,500 attendees from more than 100 countries have registered to attend ProMat 2011, either as individuals or in delegations.

That’s not a surprise, and is a reflection of the growth in international exhibits on the show floor, says John Nofsinger, CEO of show sponsor the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA, [url=http://www.mhia.org]http://www.mhia.org[/url]).

“We have a number of exhibitors from China, and for the first time ever, we have a Slovakian exhibitor,” he notes. “Over the last few years, about half of the growth of ProMat in terms of exhibits has come from international participation.”

Countries most represented, in terms of foreign visitor attendance from countries outside of North America include China, Germany, Brazil and the United Kingdom. “We are also welcoming our first delegation from Mongolia,” says Nofsinger.

No matter where they call home, all foreign visitors will find a variety of amenities in the MHIA-sponsored International Visitors Center. The Center is located in the ProMat registration area on Level 1 of McCormick Place South, in the Grand Concourse Lobby.

Services offered include several translators to help answer questions in at least seven languages: Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish. Also available are private meeting rooms, telephones and light refreshments during show hours.

Further, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has designated ProMat as a sanctioned event in their International Buyer Program in an effort to improve and expand international trade ventures. International trade experts from the DOC will be available to answer questions about licensing, joint ventures, agency distribution agreements and import-export opportunities.

Additionally, the International Matchmaker Program will help foreign attendees maximize personal contacts with exhibitor companies by matching product, country and type of business information with registration details. Powered by a database, this free service pairs exhibiting companies interested in exporting their products with international importers. Personalized results are available at the International Visitors Center.

ProMat 2011 will be held March 21 - 24, 2011 at McCormick Place South in Chicago. The tradeshow will showcase the latest manufacturing, distribution and supply chain solutions in the material handling and logistics industry.

Read all of Modern’s ProMat 2011 coverage