Medical Technology Remains Strong Despite Economic Slowdown; Upcoming MD&M East Trade Show Indicates the Industry's Strength

Business Wire, April 11, 2001

Business Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 11, 2001

While many industries have been impacted by the current economic downturn, the growth of medical technology has remained largely undeterred.

Robust booth sales and high pre-registered attendance for Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) East 2001 indicate that the medical manufacturing sector's indispensability has insulated it against economic fluctuations.

The 19th annual MD&M East show will expand again this year when it returns to New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, June 5-7, 2001. The event will feature more than 700 exhibiting companies that supply the technology, materials, components, and services essential to manufacturers of medical devices.

"While many industries are facing slowing sales and reacting with cost-cutting measures, most medical manufacturing companies are predicting increased profits and are maintaining their expenditure levels," said Diane O'Connor, director of trade shows for MD&M East producer CANON COMMUNICATIONS LLC. "The level of economic activity we are seeing in connection with MD&M East is further proof that the medical technology sector, because of its very nature, is essentially safeguarded against short-term economic slowdowns."

MD&M East is the largest medical manufacturing show on the East Coast and features, in addition to the product exposition, four days (June 4-7) of in-depth conference and workshop sessions for medical manufacturing professionals. The New York venue consistently delivers qualified attendees to the event from companies such as Baxter Healthcare, Becton Dickinson, Boston Scientific, Bristol Meyers Squibb, Eastman Kodak Co., GE Medical, Medtech, and Pfizer Inc.

To further enhance the MD&M East show, feature pavilions will group together specific product categories -- medical electronics, automation technology, packaging (MEDPAK(R)), and CAD/CAM/PDM.

MD&M East will be joined by the co-located Atlantic Design & Manufacturing show and the inaugural PLASTEC(TM) East show. Information on MD&M East can be found at www.mdmeast.com.

Produced and managed by CANON COMMUNICATIONS LLC, MD&M East, Atlantic Design & Manufacturing, and PLASTEC(TM) East are part of CANON'S worldwide family of trade events. Information on them can be found at www.canontradeshows.com or by calling 310/445-4200.