SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (Sept. 24, 1 p.m. ET) — Australia's triennial plastics industry trade exhibition Ausplas — the longest-running plastics event in the southern hemisphere — is permanently joining Australia's manufacturing industry event, National Manufacturing Week (NMW).
NMW organizer Sydney-based Reed Exhibitions Australia Pty. Ltd. acquired Ausplas from Melbourne-based Exhibition Management Pty. Ltd. on Sept. 18.
NMW is an annual event with alternating venues between Sydney and Melbourne. Ausplas will participate every three years, starting in May 2014.
NMW Exhibition Director Paul Baker said organizers received positive feedback in 2011 after Ausplas was first held alongside NMW.
“Trade visitors, especially those at senior management level, including plastics — Australia’s third largest manufacturing industry — [said] the broader showcase of products and services enabled them to maximize the benefit of their attendance,” Baker said.
The 2011 combined event attracted more than 13,000 Australian and international visitors. Almost half were CEOs, engineers or team leaders with a direct interest in purchasing decisions.
Exhibition Management former owner and Ausplas founder John Kelly said Reed has a broad business reach, with strong ties to the mining industry, which would benefit Ausplas exhibitors seeking to broaden their customer base.
