Organisers expect Modex 2014 to be the largest event of its kind in the Americas.

MHI's Modex 2014 exposition intends to offer a broad palette of solutions during its 17-20 March run in Atlanta.

The event's tagline is "solutions that move supply chains".

Organisers anticipate more than 800 exhibits will cover 250,000 sqft. (23,225 sqm), with attendance projected at 25,000 people.

So far, Modex 2014 is more than 95% sold out with over 600 exhibitors and in excess of 200,000 net sqft. (18,580 sqm), says Tom Carbott, MHI senior vice president for exhibitions.

"This compares with the initial launch of Modex 2012, which had 550 exhibitors and 172,000 net sqft. (15,979 sqm)," Carbott notes. The collocated Supply Chain and Transportation (SC&T) event at Modex 2014 will represent an incremental 30, 000 net sqft. (2,787 sqm) and more than 100 exhibitors.

"Combined, the event will be the largest of its kind to be held in North or South America in 2014," Carbott says.

Along with Reed Exhibitions' SC&T USA, another major collocated event is the state-sponsored 2014 Georgia Logistics Summit. As an independent event, the 2013 Georgia Logistics Summit drew more than 2,000 attendees from 30 states and nine nations.

Those events in conjunction with Modex "will allow manufacturing and supply chain professionals unparalleled education and networking opportunities as well as exposure to the broadest material handling, logistics and supply chain equipment and technology display of any show of its kind in North America", says George Prest, chief executive officer for Charlotte-based MHI.

The Modex supply chain conference will include nearly 200 educational sessions focusing on leading trends, best practice and state-of-the-art equipment and technology solutions. Modex keynote speakers are Edward H Bastian, president of Delta Air Lines; former Walmart CEO Lee Scott; and Scott Sopher, principal with Deloitte Consulting LLP's supply chain practice.

Other groups collocating events with Modex 2014 include the American Professional Material Handling Consultants, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Society of Transportation & Logistics, the Center for Excellence in Logistics and Distribution, the College-Industry Council on Material Handling Education, Georgia Institute of Technology's Supply Chain and Logistics Institute, Manufacturing Skills Standards Council, Material Handling & Logistics Roadmap, Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association, Material Handling Management Society, Metro Atlanta Chamber's Supply Chain Leadership Council, National Wooden Pallet Container Association, Technical Career Education Program and Warehousing Education & Research Council.

In preparation for providing new and different content at future trade shows, MHI is conducting a survey of supply chain professionals in advance of Modex 2014.

The international trade association adopted MHI as its name in January. The previous identity - Material Handling Industry of America - stemmed from its founding in1945. MHI members have interests in materials handling, logistics and supply chain equipment.