Co-Location Announced by North American Textile Shows

Several machinery trade shows serving the apparel, home and techno-textile industries are coordinating their exhibit presentations. Customer associations of these shows are in various stages of considering alignment, anticipated to be a phased-in approach.



The exhibitions will not be merged, but rather will be co-located in the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC), Atlanta, Georgia, on the same or overlapping dates. Two "anchor" association exhibitions are now committed.



The co-location plan was announced this week by the sponsors of the American Textile Machinery Exhibition-International (ATME-I®) and the Annual Exposition of Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI Expo). Sponsors anticipate attraction of visitors from all segments of the apparel and textile industries of the Americas, and beyond.



The concurrent presentations will take place in Atlanta no later than November 2006.



The initial organizations committed to this umbrella concept have met with and invited several producers of affinity exhibitions to join them. It is, therefore, envisioned that additional co-located shows will be announced in the coming months.



The single-location, same-time presentations are intended to maximize utility and reduce frequency of textile supplies-related shows in the United States, and to create a key event of great magnitude for the Americas. The mass will benefit suppliers and buyers equally.



"It could well prove to be the most broadly-based presentation of textile-related interests ever produced in the world," according to American Textile Machinery Association (ATMA) President, Harry W. Buzzerd, Jr., CAE.



The overall event is organized to represent processes and products from fiber to retail and will provide one-stop shopping to textile interests who are vertically integrated or otherwise broadly based. Discussions of potentially involved organizing interests have revealed desires to create new approaches in harmony with other major show schedules of the world.



The magnitude will not detract from traditional or established identities of the separate shows. While this is concurrent co-location through collaboration, individual events will retain their identities. It will accommodate the unique needs of individual shows and visitors.



For example, says Stephen M. Warner, CAE, President, IFAI, "The Industrial Fabrics Association International is extremely excited to be co-locating our annual IFAI Expo with the ATME-I® show in 2006. This is a unique opportunity for both organizations.



"Specialty fabrics is a dynamic industry, the only textile market segment that is projected to continue growing in North America. Co-locating ATME-I® 2006 and IFAI Expo 2006 makes a lot of plain good business sense. We broaden our market reach and expand our supply chain appeal. Both ATMA and IFAI welcome other trade associations involved in the specialty fabrics supply chain to consider co-locating in 2006 with us," said Mr. Warner.



GWCC Executive Director, Dan Graveline, confirmed the commitments and aspirations of the international venue: "Atlanta is fully prepared and enthusiastically anticipates its ability to host what we are confident will be a huge, innovative and truly international textile industry event of events. Our airport daily flight volume ranks among the top two in the world. Our close-in hotel capacity ranks among the largest in the world. Our exhibition and conference space will accommodate the demands of this unique multi-industry event. We are fully committed to the visions of ATMA, IFAI, and their allies."



Ted Wirtz, President of INDA, the association of the non-woven fabrics industry, said "I am really comfortable with the concept."



Mr. Wirtz said, "I believe in strategic alliances among associations particularly when the associations have similar constituent bases and proven experience in conference and show production. ATMA and IFAI certainly meet our alliance criteria. Alliances of this type are proven to be cost beneficial, service enhancing, and business generating to common industries, suppliers and members alike."



Mr. Wirtz added, "The consolidation has much appeal to us and we are pleased to be discussing these potentials with the initiators."



According to Jack Daniels, Executive Director, American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC), the proliferation of textile trade shows may be drawing off attendance at the annual International Conference and Exhibition (IC&E). "If the concept of co-locating with other textile events would help grow attendance at IC&E and make it easier for participants to attend our activities as well as those of the other shows, we would have an open mind for further discussions."



For global and regional suppliers alike, the efficiencies and cost benefits are superior to past practices of multiple and separate events competing for marketing dollars and time of supplier companies, domestically and globally.



Each show will maintain uniqueness and physical separation desired by its sponsors within the "MEGATEX" concept. This will benefit customer visitors who will be provided cross-over entry from one segment to the other, according to their interests and needs.



ATMA Chairman, Kurt Scholler said, "Having already announced the unification of ATME-I®s in Atlanta from 30th October to 3rd November 2006, we have created the largest textile machinery presentation of the Americas. There will be co-location of IFAI and ATMA and we are certain there are more textile-related events that will follow suit. Unification in the field of textile shows is now underway."



A customer advisory committee is being formed to maximize the utilities and benefits of the co-location, to include recognition of various segment differences by process and product. Mr. Buzzerd listed examples of organizations being approached or to be approached include, but are not limited to the following: American Apparel and Footwear Association, American Textile Manufacturers Institute, National Cotton Council of America, American Fiber Manufacturers Association, American Yarn Spinners Association, Northern Textile Association, and other members of the American Textile Alliance which embraces state and regional associations.



Carlos F. J. Moore, Executive Vice President of American Textile Manufacturers Institute said: "Co-locating related textile exhibitors at one show site will benefit attendees greatly, especially as the U.S. textile industry continues to cut costs.



The leadership of ATMA and IFAI should be commended for moving aggressively to assist exhibitors and attendees through their cooperative efforts."



Additional show organizers invited to be involved in consolidation considerations include but are not limited to: American Association of Textile Chemists & Colorists, Knitted Textile Association, The Hosiery Association and others.



Mr. Buzzerd added: "Some time ago, ATMA announced its recognition that ATME-I® required more internationalization techniques, new management approaches and venue change. That process is now occurring, cognizant of some necessary transition steps, mindful of realities of world show cycles as well as those of U.S. show sponsors."



Textile Hall Corporation (THC), long-term co-sponsor of ATME-I® with ATMA, will remain affiliated with the event after the last ATME-I®, consolidated, takes place in Greenville, South Carolina in 2004.



Paul T. O'Day, President of the American Fiber Manufacturers Association lauded efforts of Messrs. Scholler and Buzzerd on their initiative to co-locate related machinery shows in a single coordinated show. "The move of this ambitious undertaking to the Georgia World Congress Center will assist the industry's entire customer base to effectively and efficiently review and evaluate new technology as it comes to the marketplace", he stated.



According to Jennifer Smith, Manager, Convention Services of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB): "We are delighted that Atlanta has been selected to host your U.S. textile machinery expo," in 2006.



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