INPEX® 2004: Celebrating Twenty Years of Innovation
The Invention/New Product Exposition (INPEX) is a resource for new product ideas and innovations. With more than 1,000 innovations on display in over 30 different product categories, attendees at INPEX’s 20th Anniversary show found an array of new product concepts at their fingertips. Some of the past INPEX attendees have included, licensing agents, manufacturers, R&D executives, importers and exporters, and direct response TV marketers.
Inventions exhibited at INPEX are in every stage of development, some are products ready for sale, and others are little more than ideas. "You get to have the fun of seeing products in different stages of development," said Romanus Wolter, columnist and writer for Entrepreneur Magazine. He continued, "You also get to experience the passion behind the invention."
For companies interested in new products, INPEX is an excellent resource. Not only are there hundreds of inventions to license, manufacture or market, but there are numerous ways to promote your business at the show. INPEX hosts the Inventor’s University, a series of educational seminars, the Prototyping Pavilion, the Resource Center — where inventors can meet one-on-one with business professionals, and the Intellectual Property Pavilion. Companies who participate can help inventors solve problems and overcome hurdles while exploring new business opportunities for themselves.
The Prototyping Pavilion, a new addition in 2004, featured companies who could share their expertise in areas such as engineering, prototyping and product design. Thomas Krol, Chief Technical Officer of IMET Corporation, a mechanical and electrical engineering firm was glad to be a part of the first Prototyping Pavilion. "A month later, we were still doing follow-ups," he said. "For us, attending INPEX was an excellent way to gain contacts and new business, but it was also a way to help other people out."
INPEX 2004 concluded with its International awards ceremony at Heinz Field, the home of the National Football League's Pittsburgh Steelers. With a view of downtown Pittsburgh, gold, silver and bronze medal awards in an array of categories were presented to exhibitors. The category awards are determined by an international judging panel. The Grand Prix award, the final prize of the evening, which included a $5,000 cash prize, was awarded to Mike Keenan of Great Britain for his Fireproof Products.
Plans are underway for INPEX 2005, to be held June 8–11, at the Greater Pittsburgh ExpoMart. Admission to INPEX and INPEX Inventor’s University is free for pre-registered attendees. If you are interested in any of the above-mentioned programs or sponsorship opportunities or to pre-register for INPEX 2005, call (888) 54-INPEX or (412) 288-1343.
