MHIA to launch new event in 2012

Charlotte, N.C.—Get ready to say hello to Atlanta and say goodbye to Cleveland.

That was the message from the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) today with the announcement that MHIA is launching a new trade event in Atlanta in 2012 and saying goodbye to the North American material handling show held every other year in Cleveland.

Modex 2012 will be held February 6-9, 2012 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga. The tagline—“Solutions that move supply chains”—reflects an expanded footprint as the new event will bring together an inside the four walls focus on materials handling with outside the four walls logistics solutions that connect the nodes in the supply chain. Modex 2012 will showcase equipment and systems solutions as well as learning opportunities that span the entire supply chain, from material handling to logistics across manufacturing, assembly and distribution.

“We are pleased to announce that MHIA will produce this exciting new exposition which at its core will include a similar material handling and logistics profile as our very successful ProMat event,” said John Nofsinger, Chief Executive Officer for MHIA. “However, the Modex event will additionally incorporate a broader array of technology, services and educational offerings that serve the overall supply chain—hence the event’s tagline Solutions That Move Supply Chains.”

The Modex 2012 Exhibit Spacedraw will be held December 14, 2010 beginning at 12:00 p.m. at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. This will be the first opportunity for companies to secure exhibit space for this event. Interested exhibitors can contact Tom Carbott at 800-345-1815 or 704-676-1190 for more information.

MHIA chose the Atlanta location to take advantage of what it sees as an emerging gateway to American supply chains. “Over 40% of North American manufacturing and distribution locations are now within a 500 mile radius of Atlanta,” said Nofsinger. “Georgia and the Southeast are also home to extensive intermodal and logistics hubs that drive supply chains now and will continue to in the future. Currently 90% of the global top 25 third party logistics providers (3PLs) have operations in Georgia and more than 48 of the largest retailers have distribution centers in Georgia.”

Jones Lang LaSalle, a professional services firm specializing in commercial real estate, has predicted that as much as 25% of the current West Coast cargo-base will shift to East Coast and Gulf ports over the next decade largely due to the Panama Canal expansion, scheduled for completion in 2014.

“We see this to be a major supply chain game-changer and have positioned Modex 2012 as the event that can help exhibitors and attendees capitalize on the new dynamics,” Nofsinger added.

The Atlanta location also complements the location of ProMat. “Over the past several years, MHIA has experienced a steady increase in both quantity and quality of attendees and exhibitors delivering more solutions for manufacturing and distribution as well as supply chains,” said Nofsinger. “However, with ProMat strongly positioned in Chicago, the location of Modex 2012 in the growing Southeastern market is a perfect complement to ProMat.”

MHIA anticipates 500 exhibitors and tens of thousands of manufacturing, distribution and supply chain professionals from over 80 countries around the globe to attend Modex 2012. MHIA will expand its plans to partner with other industry groups via collocation at Modex to provide attendees even more exhibition, educational and networking value. “Industry leaders have taken notice of Atlanta’s rapidly expanding circle of influence in the supply chain industry,” said Bob Pertierra, vice president of supply chain development for the Metro Atlanta Chamber. The selection of Atlanta as the home for Modex is yet another milestone for this vibrant strategic industry in the region.”

For more information about Modex 2012, including a video presentation, visit www.modexshow.com.