The Steering Committee for ICE USA, the International Converting Exhibition, successfully met last month to approve new initiatives to generate more awareness of the show and attract more exhibitors and visitors. The Steering Committee for the 5th edition of ICE USA is comprised of both large and small exhibitors as well as the staff from Mack Brooks Exhibitions, the organizers of ICE USA. The show is scheduled for April 9-11, 2019 at the newly renovated Kentucky International Convention Center in downtown Louisville.

ICE USA is North America’s leading converting exhibition, bringing over 250 exhibitors together with thousands of packaging, paper, non-woven and adhesive industry professionals. Exhibitors showcase the latest equipment and technology from all key areas of converting like web coating, laminating, slitting, rewinding, pouch making and more.

Bob Pasquale, President of New Era Machinery and Chairman of the 14-member Steering Committee led the strategy meeting in Louisville on July 11, 2018 at the Muhammed Ali Center to discuss and approve new initiatives, as well as tour the new location for ICE USA 2019.

One new initiative will be to expand the educational sessions offered at the show for converting industry professionals, covering all levels of experience. “One of the highlights of ICE USA has always been the strong line-up of speakers, industry fundamental workshops, and technical education sessions for professionals at all levels in the converting industry,” said Matt Fyffe, Vice President and General Manager of Meech International and ICE USA Committee member. “The Steering Committee agreed that in order to provide even more value to attendees, we will offer even more courses, providing them with best practices and solutions to industry challenges they face on a day-to-day basis. The very popular Ask the Experts one-on-one consulting sessions will also be expanding to new verticals.”

The committee also approved the initiative to create strong, new partnerships with regional and local organizations whose members include professionals in manufacturing, converting, packaging, plastics, coatings, and textiles/nonwovens industries. These partnerships will promote the benefits of attending and exhibiting at ICE USA to the organization’s members to explore new solutions, technology, and machinery for those who convert and process flexible web-based materials.

Following the meeting, members explored the newly renovated Kentucky International Convention Center set to reopen August 15, 2018. The renovation adds 50,000 square feet of exhibit space, bringing the total to more than 200,000 square feet.

“After a hard hat tour of the new convention center, the Steering Committee was very excited about the new location in downtown Louisville,” said Julie Ford, ICE USA Exhibition Manager. “There are virtually no columns in the entire exhibit hall, which the committee felt increased exhibitors’ ability to bring large converting equipment, and will provide an excellent experience for both exhibitors and attendees. With 70% of exhibit space already sold, moving to this new venue has been very positively received.”

The committee also toured the surrounding neighborhood and were pleased with the nearby hotels and attractions, like the 4th Street Live entertainment district, the Muhammed Ali Center and the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. ICE USA visitors will also be able to experience the Urban Bourbon Trail in downtown Louisville.

“Our meeting was very productive, and I was pleasantly surprised to see how nice Louisville was,” said Christine Maxam-Teich, Global Marketing Administrator at Davis-Standard and Steering Committee Member for ICE USA, “The new convention center was very impressive.”

ICE USA will again be co-located with InPrint USA, the Industrial Print Show, in 2019. InPrint USA connects and educates manufacturers who use print as a key component of the manufacturing process with leading brands in the fields of industrial specialty, screen, digital, inkjet and 3D technology print solutions.

More than 3,300 verified registrants came to the co-located shows last April 2017. For more information on exhibiting and to view the floor plan for booth selection, visit http://www.ice-x-usa.com/reserve-your-space.