February - Modern Materials Handling

Di@blogbest of Modern’s blogsCompany Briefings | Bob TrebilcockTalking supply chain with Swisslogwww.mmh.com/blog/1000000500/post/490039249.htmlHoneywell does data collectionwww.mmh.com/blog/1000000500/post/180040018.htmlEVENTSLooking back at ProMat 2009DESPITE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, THE MATERIAL HANDLING INDUSTRY OF AMERICA (MHIA)REPORTS THE LARGEST EDITION OF THE SHOW.HELD LAST MONTH in Chicago’sMcCormick Place South, ProMat 2009showed a record number of exhibitors,a record number of on-floor educationalseminars and 35,000 visitorswho perused the 300,000 square-footshow floor over the four days. Thesenumbers confirm ProMat as the mostextensive and comprehensive materialshandling and logistics event inNorth America in 2009.“It is particularly exciting to notethat in spite of the current economicuncertainty, this is the largest editionof ProMat ever,” said George Prest,director of business developmentfor Unarco Material Handling andchairman of the Material HandlingIndustry of America (MHIA) at theshow opening. “This speaks to thecommitment and strength of thisindustry—when you stop to thinkabout our role in the economy…yourealize that virtually nothing in commercecan happen without at leastone of the nearly 800 exhibiting companiesand their industry segmentrepresented at this show.”If you attended ProMat lastmonth, you know the weatheroutside was cold. The question iswhether the mood, and the deals,were as cold inside McCormickmmh.com MODERN MATERIALS HANDLING / FEBRUARY 2009 9