SPESA Show Shifts to New Venue for New Customers
Organizers of the SPESA (Sewn Products & Equipment Suppliers of the Americas) trade show are hoping to capture a bigger share of business outside of the apparel industry for their members by moving the tri-annual event to Atlanta in conjunction with the Techtextil North America and ATME-I/Megatex (American Textile Machinery Exhibition) shows.
The first show under the new format will be held May 18–20, 2010, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The show has been held every three years in conjunction with the Miami Beach, Fla.–based Material World/Technology Solutions show.
As apparel production continues to move offshore, suppliers of cutting, printing and sewing equipment have found their products have become less important, so they hope to lure other industries under the new format.
SPESA Executive Vice President Benton Gardner said the new format should draw a wider range of customers, including more international clients.
“The changes we have witnessed in the global sewn-products industry have convinced us more than ever that all segments of the industry must work together to remain competitive,” he said. “Bringing multiple segments of the industry together at one time in one place helps the industry maximize its growth opportunities by combining exhibitions, educational and networking opportunities, and exposure to new business strategies.”
Techtextil, produced by German trade-show giant Messe Frankfurt, features the latest products in technical textiles and non-wovens, raw materials, production processes, and research and development. The ATME show features textile manufacturing technology, including equipment for dyeing, finishing, spinning, weaving, knitting and other processing. It was last held in Atlanta in 2006.
Gardner said the reception from the industry “has been overwhelmingly positive.” The relocation to Atlanta, she added, is a throwback to the days of the former Bobbin equipment show, which was also held in Atlanta.
“I happen to think that this could be the largest textile and sewn-products show in the Western Hemisphere. All three shows already existed independently. Now they are being combined under one roof at one time, which means that there are fewer events to attend. It would be ideal if Material World/Technology Solutions could be a part of this to make it even larger,” said Mike Fralix, president and chief executive officer of TC2, which provides research and body-measuring devices to the apparel industry.
Meanwhile, the Material World show will proceed as usual.
“We felt the two events we had with SPESA were great events,” said Tim von Gal, vice president of Atlanta-based Urban Expositions, which produces Material World. “SPESA does, however, reach out to industrial categories outside of fashion and style, so we wish them the best. We have come off one of our best shows at the last Material World, and in 2010, we expect the same thing and expect those exhibitors to continue on with us. We feel Miami is the best location for our show.”
Most of the industry supported the move, as representatives from the major suppliers also sit on the SPESA board, including those from Gerber Technology and TC2.
Companies such as Gerber, which produces cutting equipment and software, have been growing their base of customers outside of the apparel industry, catering to automotive and aviation companies. Gerber cutters are used for the manufacturing of auto interiors and seats as well as aircraft interiors and components.
—Robert McAllister
