MHI’s Promat 2025 reports double-digit growth in key metrics

Chicago – Promat is a biennial exhibition produced by MHI, held at McCormick Place in Chicago from March 17 to 20, bringing the supply chain and manufacturing industries together for four days of exhibitions, keynotes and conferences.

By number: solid growth rate

Promat 2025 brings together over 52,000 attendees and 1,160 exhibitors in the 659,000 square foot exhibition.

Reports from 50,924 attendees in 2023 (final attendance rate in 2025 is still under validation), 1,051 exhibitors (up 10%) and 562,700 square feet of exhibitions (up 17%).

“17% of the total registrations are international registrations, representing 143 countries,” said Daniel McKinnon, Chief Exhibition Officer of MHI. “Our international registration rate is up 7% from international registrations in 2023. We also have business services delegations from 23 countries visiting Promat 2025.”

Successful digital marketing plan

In the exhibition, MHI partnered with a leading digital group to offer a digital marketing program that encourages and helps exhibitors and speakers to promote their attendance at Promat.

“There are branded emails, digital and social assets to help them spread their work and influence their peers and business connections to participate in Promat,” McKinnon said. “The program is very successful, with exhibitors and speakers increasing participation this year by 20%.

Seamless registration and badges

With plenty of entrances in McCormick Place, the Promat team decided to do three registration areas on three registration areas to help make badges and on-site registration as easy and fast as possible.

“The three registration areas (located in buildings to the south, north and east) are crucial for easy attendance registration and badge transfers for attendees and maintaining traffic between the three halls,” McKinnon said.

Related. Metropolitan Pier and Fair Agency to Remanage McCormick Plaza

New Promat for 2025

This year, we also saw Promat gather in the lakeside halls of McCormick Place to showcase transportation, warehousing, distribution, sustainability and risk management. The lakeside banquet hall in the lakeside lobby is also the location of the MHI Industrial Group Theater.

Promat Pier is also located in the lakeside lobby and serves as a fun gathering place.

“Promat Pier was inspired by a great city in Chicago itself,” McKinnon said. “The Pier features views of Lake Michigan and is famous for its food and drinks in Windy City. The Pier has been a huge success in activation and has become a social gathering area for the show where attendees can connect with their peers in a fun, interactive environment.”

This is also where the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are.

“Promat 2025 offers several experience areas, including the Hub Networking area and Pomat Pier, which hosts St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, which include a bagpipe band that passes through the grand meeting from the McCormick Place South South entrance and takes to Promat at East Building Pier.

Future dates

“Promat itself is the biggest stimulus, and it’s really exciting to see supply chain solution providers and solutions seekers come together to drive this vibrant industry forward,” McKinnon said. “After attending more than two years of events, it’s really exciting to see the industry arrive at McCormick Place for solutions sources, networking and learning. In addition, the new Promat Promat Pier St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, including the March Place at Promat Permat Pier via McCormick Place via McCormick Place, was a great time.”

MHI’s next trade show is Modex, which takes place in Atlanta from April 13 to 16, 2026.