From GlassBuild America: Thousands gather in Atlanta for opening day

GlassBuild America: The Glass, Window & Door Expo opened its doors Sept. 30 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.More than 7,100 industrymembers registered forthe event, which occupied 270,000 gross square feet of exhibit space.

Total registrants: 7,124

International registrants: 740 representing 42 countries

Registrant profile: 50 percent senior managers

Gross exhibit space: 270,000 square feet

Total exhibit space occupied: 121,323 net square feet

Exhibiting companies: 397

First-time exhibitors: 57

International exhibitors: 84 representing 11 countries

Show organizer: National Glass Association

Show partners: American Architectural Manufacturers Association, Glass Association of North America, Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance, Bath Enclosure Manufacturers Association

GlassBuild America 2010: Sept. 14-16, Las Vegas Convention Center

"We are hearing from exhibitors that they have customers coming," said Phil James, CEO of the National Glass Association, McLean, Va., which organizes GlassBuild America. "Exhibitors are expecting that the companies that are here are the ones in a position to start growing their business again," he said."They are here because they are ready to innovate. They are here because they want to differentiate their product lines. They are here to do business."

Nearly 400 companies, including 57 new to GlassBuild America, are on the show floor. Eighty-four international exhibitors representing Austria, Belgium, China, Israel, Canada, Germany, Latvia, Mexico, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom are participating in the event.

"We’re here to promote our new products ... and a few important contacts can reallymake the show successful," said Jeff Nichols, vice president of sales and marketing for Standard Bent Glass, Butler, Pa., from the show floor. "My expectations are that will happen."