WASHINGTON, D.C. February 21—SUR/FIN 2008 may be five months out, but it’s definitely not on the backburner in the minds of confirmed exhibitors. Vendors set to showcase their products and services at the event, which kicks off June 16–18 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, are positively charged about the upcoming show.

“We’re several months away and we’re already 80% sold out [of exhibit space],” said Cheryl Clark, director of events for the National Association for Surface Finishing (NASF), which organizes and manages the show. She believes the show is on course to meet and/or exceed last year’s booking. “I’m expecting it to be a very, very good show,” Clark added.

Need proof? Ask exhibitors like Eric Olander, president of New Berlin, Wis.–based Electrochemical Products, Inc. (EPI). “If the economy was like last year, it will be even more successful,” he said. Olander, who also serves as vice-chairman of the SUR/FIN 2008 Steering Committee, bases his outlook not only on the pre-show buzz courtesy of NASF’s aggressive marketing and promotional efforts, but also the momentum generated at last year’s event. “There was definitely a buzz on the show floor.”

That buzz is no doubt due to the association’s ongoing drive to further enhance the various components of the show with the goal of adding greater value for attendees and vendors alike. This is primarily through the fortification of SUR/FIN’s educational program, including: the Automotive, Airline/Aerospace and Business Management Outlook symposiums; aggressive outreach efforts to embrace all members of the supply chain; and the drive to enhance the exhibition experience for exhibitors on the show floor by encouraging greater and more diverse participation. 

It’s a point not overlooked by exhibitors. “We are optimistic that attendance will continue to grow, and we applaud the association’s efforts to increase SUR/FIN’s prominence,” said Christine Venaleck, director of advertising for Process Technology, a Mentor, Ohio-based manufacturer of wet process heating and cooling equipment. Venaleck is especially excited about this year’s show because it coincides with the company’s 30th anniversary. “We look forward to revisiting our past progress with customers at SUR/FIN and discussing the future as well,” she added.

The excitement surrounding SUR/FIN extends beyond manufacturer/supplier exhibitors. Case in point: Donham Craft, Inc., a Naugatuck, Conn.-based finisher specializing in a variety of finishes and processes. Jim Orsatti, the company’s sales manager, is looking forward to once again participating in the show after making his debut as one of four finishing vendors in the inaugural Finishers’ Pavilion at last year’s event.

“We had a pretty good experience last year,” he said. “We didn’t know how it was going to be perceived [having finishers exhibit at the show], but we had a lot of nice people stop by the booth. So from that standpoint it was good.”

Indeed, it was. Figures supplied by NASF showed there was an 8.6% increase over last year, and it also marks the first increase in the number of attendees since 2002.

SUR/FIN 2008 is sponsored by the National Association for Surface Finishing (www.nasf.org). For registration information, please contact Cheryl Clark at (202) 457-8404 or via e-mail at cclark@nasf.org. To view a complete list of exhibitors, visit www.sur-fin.net.