Jan 31, 2001 IPC - Association Connecting Electronics Industries® reports that more than 6,900 attendees ventured to San Diego for the second IPC SMEMA Council Electronics Assembly Process Exhibition and Conference (APEXSM), held January 16-18. Of those attendees, more than 1,900 were from outside the United States, certifying APEX as an international event.
The second-year event attracted more than 12,900 total visitors (attendees and exhibitors) to the San Diego Convention Center, which housed 394 booths covering more than 168,000 square feet of exhibit space.
IPC President Denny McGuirk is not surprised by the more than 20 percent increase in attendance.
"This event is driven by the industry's needs," said McGuirk. "All around the show floor, exhibitors and attendees were stopping me to comment on what a great show this was. As long as APEX keeps in tune with the pulse of the industry, the show will thrive."
Success was not limited to the show floor. The APEX professional development courses boasted 2,160 participants, up from 1,370 last year and 1,330 people attended the technical conference, up from 1,030 last year.
"IPC and the SMEMA Council have far surpassed their goal to become the number one trade show and conference in the electronics assembly industry," said Steve DeCollibus, director of intranet and communications, Cookson Electronics. "The entire industry is looking forward to another huge success in 2002."
With APEX 2001 over, IPC's focus has already shifted to APEX 2002, taking place January 22-24, 2002, also at the San Diego Convention Center.
A call for papers has been issued for APEX 2002. Abstracts summarizing the topics must be received by May 31, 2001, and should be approximately 300 words long. Please submit abstracts online at http://www.GoAPEX.org/html/CFPAPEX2002.htm.
For more information on submitting an abstract for a paper presentation at APEX 2002, contact Martin Barton, APEX conference director, at 972-424-8805, or e-mail martinbarton@home.com.
For more information on APEX 2002, visit the APEX Web site at http://www.GoAPEX.org, or call the toll-free APEX hotline at 877-472-4724 (U.S. and Canada only).
APEX has been organized by the IPC SMEMA Council in response to an industry need for a trade show that is cost-effective and fair for exhibitors, and highly focused on the products and technology of the electronics assembly industry. This approach, coupled with a premier conference program, organized by the industry, delivers the most attractive package to exhibition visitors. APEX features all segments of the electronics assembly industry, from bare boards to tested assemblies, and is the only show in North America that showcases machinery from every major pick-and-place equipment manufacturer.
IPC is a US-based trade association dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its more than 2,700 member companies which represent all facets of the electronic interconnection industry, including design, printed wiring board manufacturing and electronics assembly. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of a $44 billion US industry employing more than 400,000 people.
»
