Canon will also be an official partner for the NPE Advisor, a digital newsletter delivered before and during SPI's NPE plastics exposition, held every three years.The arrangement could benefit medical device manufacturers whose products have plastic parts."This agreement will enable SPI to focus more closely on NPE," said SPI President and CEO William Carteaux. He noted that the event has experienced tremendous growth recently and new digital products related to it are in the works. He said SPI chose Canon to run the regional show because of its success in hosting co-located regional shows. (For example, MD&M West is co-located with PLASTEC West, WestPack, Pacific Design & Manufacturing, Electronics West, and ATX West.)"This acquisition expands our position as a leading provider of trade shows, publications, and digital media for the plastics industry," said Charles G. McCurdy, Canon's president and CEO. "While Canon has had a working relationship with SPI for some time, it was often on a case-by-case, show-by-show basis. We will now have in place a cooperative alliance with the premier trade association representing the dynamic U.S. plastics industry."