Getting Naologic into the rooms where plastics owners and CFOs decide

Three moves do most of the work. Buy the seats that control access, starting with MAPP's Corporate Partner program and the Plastics News Executive Forum. Own NPE week in May, from the Hall of Fame gala to two private CFO dinners. And let the advisors who already hold plastics owners' numbers fill private rooms with us.

Built for CEOs, owners and CFOs at North American plastics, resin and composites processors with 50 to 1,000 employees and $25M to $500M in revenue.

Physical-events playbook, October 2026 to June 2027. Combines five research rounds; updated September 29, 2026.

Act now (countdowns as of Tuesday, September 29)

🔴 Wed, Sep 30, tomorrow: File a Plastics Hall of Fame nomination, so a friendly founder's team is at the May 2 gala.

🔴 By Fri, Oct 2, in 3 days: Book rooms at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott for Global Shop Solutions Simplify (Oct 12–15) and a private room nearby for Wednesday, Oct 14.

🔴 By Fri, Oct 2, in 3 days: Email John Hickey at Crain about the Women Breaking the Mold forum (Oct 14–15) and the 2027 Executive Forum, and register two people for the forum.

🔴 Email now, call week of Oct 5, in 10 days: Sign up for MAPP's Corporate Partner program. Ask Letha Keslar (317-913-2440) about term basis, proration, conference passes and tour pricing.

The season at a glance

🟦 Core 🟩 Strong 🟪 Hidden gem 🟧 Selective █ dates confirmed ░ dates not confirmed ┊ today (Sep 29)

                                         2026                 2027
                                            Oct   Nov   Dec   Jan   Feb   Mar   Apr   May   Jun
                                         ┬─▼┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬──────

Core
Plastics News Executive Forum              ┊         mid–late Mar, projected ░░░░
Plastics Hall of Fame gala                 ┊                                          █ May 2
NPE2027 and ANTEC 2027                     ┊                                           █ May 3–7

Strong
Plastimagen México                         ┊        █ Nov 10–13
AMI Plastics World Expos                   ┊        █ Nov 11–12
ECI Connect, lobby and dinner              ┊         █ Nov 16–18
ARM Rotoplas and Annual Meeting            ┊         ██ Nov 17–19
PLASTICS Spring Meeting and Fly-In         ┊                               ░░ Mar 8–11, to confirm

Hidden gem
SPE Annual Blow Molding Conference         ┊ █ Oct 5–7
PPFA meetings                              ┊ █ Oct 5–7 and Mar 1–3        █
Global Shop Simplify, lobby and dinner     ┊  ██ Oct 12–15
Women Breaking the Mold Forum              ┊  ██ Oct 14–15
SPE Injection Molding Summit               ┊    █ Oct 22
Epicor Insights, off-site dinners          ┊        █ Nov 9–11 and May 10–13            ██
DELMIAworks at 3DEXPERIENCE World          ┊                           ██ Feb 14–17
SUN SyteLine user conference               ┊                              █ Mar 1–3
PPI Annual Meeting                         ┊                                   May 17–20 ██

Selective
ACG chapter events                         ┊ █  █ Oct 7–8, Oct 22 and Jun 22                     █
VINYLTEC and Vinyl Week                    ┊  ██         ██ Oct 13–15 and Dec 8–11
Recycling meetings (APR, PRC)              ┊     █ Oct 27–29 and Mar 1–4  ██
Rockwell Automation Fair (Plex)            ┊         ██ Nov 16–19, second team only
Molding 2026, if the list clears           ┊         ██ Nov 18–19
Acumatica Summit, conditional              ┊                       █ Jan 24–27
MD&M West, with PLASTEC                    ┊                          █ Feb 9–11
FPA Annual Meeting                         ┊                                █ Mar 9–11
AMBA Conference 2027                       ┊           Mar 16–18, to confirm ░
Canadian Plastics Impact Awards            ┊                              May, projected ░░░░

                                           ▲ today, Sep 29

Not on the board because their dates aren't set: MAPP plant tours (several a year, members plus sponsoring vendors), the advisor benchmark dinners proposed for January to March, and Vistage speaker sessions. All three are in the plays below. The 2026 MAPP conference is off the board because Naologic is skipping it.

Jump to: Strategy, MAPP, Plays, Memberships, Partners, Dinners, Calendar, Deadlines, Caveats, Sources

The strategy

1. Buy the gatekeeper seats	2. Own NPE week	3. Let advisors fill the room
MAPP's Corporate Partner program plus plant-tour sponsorships, the only vendor ticket into tours of 40–50 processor leaders. Add the Plastics News Executive Forum and PLASTICS membership for the Fly-In.	The Plastics Hall of Fame gala on May 2, then a pre-booked meeting program and two 20–24-seat owner and CFO dinners during NPE2027 (May 3–7, Orlando), where we expect 400–900 target companies.	Co-host benchmark dinners with Wipfli (Harbour Results), Plante Moran and PMCF, who already hold plastics owners' data and invite lists. Structure them as data partnerships, because some of these firms also sell ERP.
See play 1	See play 2	See play 3

Around the core: work the November shows through side dinners (play 4), meet legacy-ERP users next door to their vendors' conferences (play 5), and pick subvertical and regional rooms only where a segment is in the pipeline (play 6).

What we learned

Owners concentrate in a few rooms. By our estimates, NPE (400–900 target companies), AMI (100–200, with 30–60 bringing an owner or CFO), the MAPP conference (100–150) and each MAPP plant tour (20–35) lead. Most other rooms hold fewer than 30.
Access is gated, and the gate can be bought. Vendors join MAPP plant tours only by sponsoring one. FPA and PPFA meetings are built for members, and APR allows one non-member visit.
The incumbent is already inside. DELMIAworks has partnered with MAPP for over a decade and claims more than half of MAPP members use it. CyFrame, another plastics ERP, also sponsors, so MAPP doesn't grant ERP exclusivity.
Advisors hold the data and the invite lists. Wipfli (Harbour Results) and Plante Moran have benchmarked processors for years, and PMCF works the M&A circuit. None runs an in-person plastics event in this window, which is the opening.
The calendar peaks three times. November 10–19 (Plastimagen, AMI, ECI Connect, Rotoplas), March (recycling, SUN, the Fly-In, FPA and the projected Forum) and NPE week (May 2–7). Plan team splits early.
Some rooms look right but aren't. The SPE Automotive Gala, AMBA and Vistage groups each put fewer than 10 target companies in reach, so the gala is out and the other two are selective.

How MAPP works for a vendor

MAPP is the densest pool of target buyers in North America: 450+ member processors with 45,000+ employees, about 100 per company, led by a board of owners and presidents. A vendor gets in through layers, and each layer is paid for separately.

Your question, answered: almost. It's an ongoing partnership rather than a membership, and on top of it you pay to sponsor each plant tour you want to attend. Sponsoring a tour is the only way a vendor can be there.

Should we sign up now? Yes, as a 2027 investment. MAPP's 450+ member processors are the densest pool of target buyers, and DELMIAworks says more than half of them use its software. Join now if the term is a rolling 12 months or prorated. If MAPP bills by calendar year without proration, join effective January 1, 2027 and use Q4 to negotiate a 2027 Innovation Hall slot.

	Layer	What it means for Naologic
✕	~~Regular membership~~, not open to vendors	Open only to processors, who pay $799–$2,499 per facility per year. Companies that don't process resin into products don't qualify.
1	Corporate Partner program, ongoing	An ongoing affiliation; whether the term is a rolling 12 months or a calendar year, and whether mid-year joins are prorated, isn't published. You apply and MAPP approves. There are 64+ partners across several sponsoring levels; tier prices and benefits are on request. Confirmed benefits: a members-area login, the Member Scorecard, an optional listing on the sponsors page, a place in the members' discount program and eligibility to sponsor and attend events.
2	Plant-tour and conference sponsorships, paid per event	Plant tours: sponsor each tour you want to attend. Several run a year, each with about 40–50 member executives, and sponsor slots sell out. Conference: service providers register through Letha Keslar rather than the public form, and can exhibit, sponsor or pitch a BC Lab session.
3	Content and visibility, year-round	Peer webinars and the Member Forum, the Young Professionals Network, and Plastics Business magazine (10,500+ readers a quarter; ENews to nearly 5,000 a month). Partners also run webinars with MAPP, as Wipfli does.

What a plant tour looks like

Format: One day, typically 8:00 am–1:30 pm: breakfast, peer roundtables, a host overview, small-group tours (10 or fewer people across 5+ stations), a working lunch and a closing exchange. Some add an evening member reception.
Cadence: Several a year, posted one at a time on mappinc.com/events with a host bio and hotel block, roughly 6–10 weeks ahead (our estimate). None are posted yet for Q4 2026 to Q2 2027.
Rules: Members only; vendors attend only as that tour's sponsor. It isn't published whether Corporate Partnership is required to sponsor a tour, so assume it's expected and confirm.

The conference and the competition

2026 conference: Sep 29–Oct 1 at the Indiana Convention Center (Wabash Ballroom), about 650 people, co-hosted with ARPM, the rubber association. Naologic is skipping it; the 2027 conference is the target.
Program: Keynotes, BC Labs with Finance/IT/ERP and Owners tracks, and an Innovation Hall that showcases robotics, AI applications and ERP systems, so ERP exhibitors are welcome. A 2026 session called “Getting Started with AI in Your ERP” shows member demand for AI-ERP content. The 2027 dates aren't announced; past years point to late September or early October in Indianapolis.
Competition: DELMIAworks has partnered with MAPP for over a decade, claims more than half of members use it and ran a pre-conference session at the 2026 conference. CyFrame also sponsors. The DELMIAworks Users' Group meets as member-only Zoom calls, so Naologic enters as the challenger.

What Naologic does, in order

Now: email Letha Keslar, then call the week of October 5 once the conference wraps. Ask for the Corporate Partner prospectus (tiers, prices, benefits, exclusivity), whether the term is a rolling 12 months or a calendar year and whether it's prorated, which conference passes and Innovation Hall allocation come with it, the 2027 conference dates and per-tour sponsorship pricing. Also ask whether partners see the member directory and whether a second ERP sponsor faces any restrictions.
Apply: join now if the term is rolling or prorated; otherwise join effective January 1, 2027.
Reserve two or three plant-tour sponsorships for Q1–Q2 2027 as soon as hosts post, and ask MAPP which hosts don't run DELMIAworks.
Use member-area access to publish one benchmark-style piece, such as AI in quoting and scheduling, and pitch a MAPP webinar.
Book the 2027 conference early: exhibit or Innovation Hall presence, a BC Lab pitch and an opening-night dinner that doesn't clash with MAPP's welcome reception.

Sample annual budget

Planning estimates only. MAPP publishes none of these prices, so replace them with its quote.

Line item	Planning range	Basis
Corporate Partnership, entry to mid tier	$5,000–$20,000	Tiers exist; prices on request
2027 conference presence (passes, exhibit or sponsorship)	$5,000–$20,000	The public processor pass is $1,038–$1,264, for reference
Plant-tour sponsorships, two or three	$4,500–$15,000	$1,500–$5,000 per tour; unpublished
Opening-night dinner at the conference, 12–14 seats	$3,000–$6,000	Indianapolis private dining
Plastics Business ad or advertorial (optional)	$2,000–$8,000	Rates on request
Travel, two people, conference plus three tours	$6,000–$10,000	Estimate
Total	About $35,000–$75,000	Replace with MAPP's quote

Contacts

Letha Keslar, partnerships, conference and tours: lkeslar@mappinc.com, 317-913-2440 (general: info@mappinc.com)
Marcella Kates, MAPP advertising
Troy Nix, executive director
Blake Peterson, Plastics Business (Peterson Media Group): 785-271-5801

The plays

Six plays in priority order, each with the rooms that deliver it. Fit scores rate how well each room reaches target owners and CFOs, and target-company counts are our estimates; both reflect event design, organizer statements and sponsor mix, since no event publishes audited title breakdowns.

31 rooms across six plays, each tagged 🟦 Core, 🟩 Strong, 🟪 Hidden gem or 🟧 Selective.

1. Buy the gatekeeper seats

A handful of organizations decide who gets into the rooms where processor owners meet. Paying for those seats is the fastest and most defensible way in, and the incumbent ERP already holds one of them.

MAPP Corporate Partner program, plant tours and conference

🟦 Core | ▁▂▂▃▄▅▅▆▇█ 10/10 fit | Est. 20–35 target companies per tour

When	Where
Plant tours several times a year (`Dates not posted`). We're skipping the 2026 conference (Sep 29–Oct 1); the 2027 conference is the target.	Tours at member host plants across the US; the conference in Indianapolis.
Who's in the room	How a vendor gets in
450+ member processors with 45,000+ employees, about 100 per company, and a board of owners and presidents. The conference draws about 650 people from an estimated 100–150 target companies.	Apply to the Corporate Partner program, then sponsor each plant tour you want to attend. See How MAPP works for a vendor.

Play and first step

Sign up now as a 2027 investment: email Letha Keslar this week and call the week of October 5 for the Corporate Partner prospectus and tour menu. Join now if the term is rolling or prorated, otherwise from January 1, 2027, then reserve two or three Q1–Q2 2027 tour sponsorships as hosts post and add a tour-eve dinner where the schedule allows.

Competitors: DELMIAworks has partnered with MAPP for over a decade and claims more than half of members use it; CyFrame also sponsors. The DELMIAworks Users' Group meets as member-only Zoom calls.
Contact: Letha Keslar, 317-913-2440, lkeslar@mappinc.com
Sources: membership application, about MAPP, sponsors, plant tours 101, conference

Plastics News Executive Forum 2027

🟦 Core | ▁▂▂▃▄▅▅▆▇· 9/10 fit | Est. 30–60 target companies

When	Where
March 2027 (`Projected`). Not announced. The 2026 edition ran March 23–25, and its registration site is archived.	Florida, venue to confirm. Recent editions were in Clearwater Beach (the Wyndham Grand in 2024), and one calendar places 2026 in Tampa.
Who's in the room	How a vendor gets in
Processor CEOs, presidents and CFOs plus the bankers and advisors around them, built around the Processor of the Year, Best Places to Work and CFO of the Year awards. 2026 speakers included Falcon Plastics president Jenn Barlund and Wipfli's Laurie Harbour.	Sponsorship of breakfasts, awards and sessions; prices aren't published. Chase Plastics' 2023 bronze sponsorship included hosting an attendee breakfast, which is the package to ask for.

Play and first step

Email John Hickey for the 2027 date and sponsorship menu, in the same note as the Women Breaking the Mold ask. Take the CFO of the Year sponsorship or a breakfast, host a private owner and CFO dinner on night one with PMCF or Plante Moran, and pitch a panel on AI-native ERP ROI for processors.

Contact: John Hickey, Group Sales Director, jhickey@crain.com; general inbox pnevents@crain.com
Deadlines: Best Places to Work 2027 applications close in October 2026. Expect sponsorships for a March event to be committed in Q4 (an inference, not a published date).
Competitors: No ERP vendors among recent sponsors, so this is open space.
Sources: 2026 archive, Plastics News event page, Barlund at the Forum, Chase Plastics, 2023

Plastics News Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum

🟪 Hidden gem | ▁▂▂▃▄····· 5/10 fit | Est. 20–40 target companies

When	Where
Oct 14–15, 2026 (`Confirmed`). The next edition will likely fall in fall 2027, outside the window, so it's now or never.	City Winery Nashville, Nashville, TN
Who's in the room	How a vendor gets in
Women leaders across plastics and rubber, from engineers to founders, CEOs and plant managers; the 2026 honoree class has 50 members. Attendance isn't published. We estimate 5–12 attendees at owner or CEO level; CFOs are rare.	Registration is $1,199 ($999 for subscribers), with $100 off per ticket for groups of three or more. Sponsorship goes through John Hickey; no ERP sponsors seen.

Play and first step

Email John Hickey this week for the attendee company list, any sponsor slot that's left and a co-hosted dinner on October 14, and register two people, ideally including a senior woman from the Naologic team. It clashes with Global Shop Solutions Simplify and VINYLTEC, so split the team.

Contact: John Hickey, Group Sales Director, jhickey@crain.com; pnevents@crain.com
Evidence: A 2019 sponsor reported that many attendees own or run processing companies. That's sponsor marketing, not audited data.
Sources: 2026 forum, 2026 honorees, Plastics News events, Green Dot Bioplastics

PLASTICS membership, Spring Meeting and Fly-In

🟩 Strong | ▁▂▂▃▄▅▅··· 7/10 fit | Est. 10–25 target companies

When	Where
Spring Meeting and Fly-In, Mar 8–11, 2027 (`Listed, confirm`). The dates sit on a page whose address still says 2026, so confirm with PLASTICS.	Arlington, VA, with meetings on Capitol Hill.
Who's in the room	How a vendor gets in
Senior executives of PLASTICS member processors, council members and government-affairs leaders, with large companies over-represented.	Supplier membership opens councils and the Spring Meeting (cost not verified). The Fly-In has its own sponsorship menu. SPE has been a division of PLASTICS since January 1, 2026, so both communities now sit under one roof.

Play and first step

Sponsor a Fly-In evening reception or breakfast, then join Hill visits with molder delegations from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin. Decide on membership in December.

Sources: PLASTICS Fly-In, Fly-In sponsors

2. Own NPE week

NPE2027 is the one week when nearly every target owner is in the same city. Treat it as a gala the night before, a pre-booked meeting program and two private dinners, with a booth optional. The floor was 87% sold by June 3, 2026, so decide in Q4.

NPE2027: meetings, dinners and an optional booth

🟦 Core | ▁▂▂▃▄▅▅▆·· 8/10 fit | Est. 400–900 target companies

When	Where
May 3–7, 2027 (`Confirmed`). ANTEC 2027 runs inside it.	Orange County Convention Center, Orlando
Who's in the room	How a vendor gets in
NPE2024 drew 51,396 registrants: 36,123 from the US (70%) and 15,156 international, with 20,378 first-timers. There's no public breakdown by segment or job function, so ask PLASTICS for the NPE2027 prospectus.	Pre-booked meetings need only a pass. A booth (the Manufacturing Services Technology Zone fits) is required for a sponsored 30-minute stage talk; an unpaid speaker proposal is also open.

Play and first step

Build a pre-booked 1:1 meeting program from pre-show outreach and host two 20–24-seat owner and CFO dinners, on May 4 and 5. Add a modest booth only if you want a sponsored stage slot, such as “What 50 molders' ERP data says about quoting margin.” Decide in October.

Contact: Angela Mealy, Executive Director of NPE, at PLASTICS
Deadlines: Booth and sponsorship in October 2026. The speaker deadline isn't verified. The attendee early-bird rate ends January 22, 2027.
Clash: ACG DealMAX (May 3–5, Las Vegas) overlaps NPE, so private equity outreach that week happens at NPE or not at all.
Sources: become an exhibitor, call for speakers, 87% sold, NPE2024 registration data

Plastics Hall of Fame gala and nomination

🟦 Core | ▁▂▂▃▄▅▅··· 7/10 fit | Est. 20–40 target companies

When	Where
Gala May 2, 2027 (`Confirmed`). Nominations close September 30, 2026; the screening committee receives them October 15.	Orlando, the night before NPE opens.
Who's in the room	How a vendor gets in
Founders, retired and active CEOs and family-business owners arriving for NPE. A cocktail reception and a three-course seated dinner; PLASTICS is a premier sponsor.	Buy a table or a sponsorship. The creative route is to nominate a customer's or advisor's founder: a successful nominee brings their whole leadership team.

Play and first step

File one nomination by September 30, for example the founder of a friendly customer or a MAPP-member molder. Then sponsor a table and invite eight target owners.

Contact: admin@plasticshof.org
Rules: It's a fellowship room. Sponsor and show up, but never sell from the podium.
Sources: nominations, Canadian Plastics, induction ceremony

Plastics Pioneers Association

🟪 Hidden gem | ▁▂▂▃▄▅▅··· 7/10 for introductions | Est. 5–15; a referral channel

When	Where
Spring annual meeting and a fall resort meeting (`2027 dates to confirm`). Spring 2026 ran April 29–May 3.	Resort venues; spring 2026 was Sarasota, FL.
Who's in the room	How a vendor gets in
Senior, often retired executives and Hall of Fame members: introducers to family-owned processors rather than buyers.	Membership and fellowship. Contact Jeff Mengel, 248-224-1907.

Play and first step

Ask Jeff Mengel for the 2027 dates and attendee options, and use the meetings for warm introductions. Never sell from the podium.

Sources: events, spring conference

3. Let advisors fill the room

The people who already hold plastics owners' numbers can fill a private room faster than any booth. None of them publishes an in-person plastics event for this window, which is the opening: offer to build one with them.

Benchmark dinners with Wipfli, Plante Moran and PMCF

🟦 Core | ▁▂▂▃▄▅▅▆▇· 9/10 fit | Est. 8–14 per dinner

When	Where
January to March 2027 (`Proposed`).	Grand Rapids, Cleveland and Chicago with Wipfli; Southfield or Detroit with Plante Moran; Clearwater or NPE week with PMCF.
Who's in the room	How a vendor gets in
Owners and CFOs from the advisors' client and survey lists: expect 1–3 seats to go to the advisor's team and 70–85% of the rest to be target owners or CFOs.	Co-host. They bring the data and the invite list; Naologic pays for or shares the dinner and presents one segment on operational data.

Play and first step

Pitch Laurie Harbour on a three-city “State of Plastics Profitability” series, Plante Moran's plastics practice on a CFO roundtable, and PMCF's John Hart on a “value drivers for exit” dinner for owners two to five years from a sale. Pitch all three in November.

Caution: Wipfli promotes Oracle NetSuite and Plante Moran runs an ERP implementation practice. Structure these as data or content partnerships, not referral deals.
Contacts: Laurie Harbour (Wipfli); John Hart (john.hart@pmcf.com); Plante Moran's manufacturing practice
Sources: Wipfli events, Plante Moran manufacturing, Plastics News on Wipfli, PMCF events

Vistage CEO groups, as a speaker

🟧 Selective | ▁▂▂▃······ 4/10 fit | Est. 0–2 per group

When	Where
Monthly group meetings, from Q1 2027 if pursued.	Manufacturing-heavy groups in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois.
Who's in the room	How a vendor gets in
12–16 CEOs per group from companies with $1M–$1B in revenue. Even manufacturing-heavy groups mix industries, so plastics processors are rarely more than one or two members.	Groups invite outside experts to speak. Never join as a member to sell.

Play and first step

Treat it as thought leadership, not pipeline: offer a no-pitch workshop on AI in the manufacturing back office to a few chairs with plastics members.

Sources: Vistage chairs, Vistage Florida chair with a GE Plastics background

ACG chapter events, for private equity roll-ups

🟧 Selective | ▁▂▂▃▄····· 5/10 fit | Est. 0–5 target companies directly

When	Where
Chicago Midwest Capital Connection Oct 7–8, 2026; Detroit M&A Summit Oct 22, 2026; Cleveland DealSource & Summer Social Jun 22, 2027 (`Confirmed`).	Navy Pier, Chicago; Detroit Athletic Club; Cleveland.
Who's in the room	How a vendor gets in
Private equity firms, bankers and lenders; the 2025 Chicago event drew about 800 dealmakers and nearly 4,000 meetings. Detroit also draws some Michigan owners exploring exits.	Paid registration. Detroit is $250 for members and $300 for non-members; its sponsorship closed September 23.

Play and first step

Go to Detroit on October 22 and target operating partners at firms with plastics platforms: one platform win can standardize an ERP across 5–10 plants.

Sources: ACG Chicago, 2025 recap, ACG Detroit, ACG DealSource

4. Work the November shows through side dinners

Three shows put thousands of processor staff in three cities within ten days. The owners are there but diluted, so the value is in the curated dinner next to the show. We dropped the SPE Automotive Innovation Awards Gala: it's built around OEM engineers, Tier 1s and materials sponsors, and molders attend through their engineers, so its budget goes further at AMI a week later.

ARM Annual Meeting and Rotoplas 2026

🟩 Strong | ▁▂▂▃▄▅▅▆·· 8/10 fit | Est. 20–40 target companies

When	Where
Nov 17–19, 2026 (`Confirmed`). Exhibit hall Wed 1:30–6:30 PM and Thu noon–5 PM; Hall of Fame inductions Nov 19.	Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans; the gala is at Mardi Gras World.
Who's in the room	How a vendor gets in
Mostly private, owner-operated rotomolders; no published count. Many are under 50 employees, which narrows the target list, but ERP vendors rarely show up.	ARM bans soliciting in the aisles and bars outside events that clash with its program, so you need a tabletop, booth or sponsorship.

Play and first step

Take a tabletop and sponsor a tour bus or coffee. Host an owners' dinner on November 17, which keeps November 18 free for Greenville and stays clear of gala night on the 19th. Confirm by mid-October.

Sources: Rotoplas 2026, Rotoplas FAQ, ARM blog

AMI Plastics World Expos North America

🟩 Strong | ▁▂▂▃▄▅▅··· 7/10 fit | Est. 100–200 present; 30–60 with an owner or CFO

When	Where
Nov 11–12, 2026 (`Confirmed`). Welcome drinks from 4 PM on Nov 10.	Huntington Convention Center, Cleveland, OH
Who's in the room	How a vendor gets in
The 2025 edition drew 5,453 attendees from 61 countries and 352 exhibitors across compounding, extrusion, recycling and testing. Extruders, compounders and film and pipe makers are core target segments.	Free to attend. Booths and theater slots through AMI; exhibit space is limited.

Play and first step

Walk the floor with a pre-booked meeting list, and host a 12–14-seat owner and CFO dinner on November 11 for Northeast Ohio “Polymer Valley” processors who may skip the show.

Sources: AMI, BulkInside, Recycling Today

Plastimagen México 2026

🟩 Strong for Mexico | ▁▂▂▃▄▅···· 6/10 fit | Est. 20–60 target companies

When	Where
Nov 10–13, 2026 (`Confirmed`).	Centro Citibanamex, Mexico City
Who's in the room	How a vendor gets in
740+ exhibitors and 29,000+ professionals, mostly Mexican processors and plant staff. US and Canadian parents send plant managers more often than their CEO or CFO.	Free for professionals. Exhibit through Erika Martínez at Informa (erika.martinez@informa.com); booth space is likely sold out.

Play and first step

Send a Spanish-speaking executive to walk the floor, and host a small dinner on November 11 for US and Canadian parent-company executives. It overlaps AMI, so split the team.

Sources: Plastimagen, Plastics News on Plastimagen 2025, Plastics Technology México

5. Meet legacy-ERP users next door, never inside

The installed base Naologic replaces gathers at its vendors' user conferences. Host clearly branded off-site dinners the same week, invited ahead from your own lists and partners, and when you stay at the host hotel, keep lobby conversations low-key. Never register as or pose as a user, never enter event spaces, and don't solicit inside sessions.

Global Shop Solutions Simplify 2026: hotel lobby and a nearby dinner

🟪 Hidden gem | ▁▂▂▃▄▅···· 6/10 for the side dinner | Est. 5–15 target companies

When	Where
Oct 12–15, 2026 (`Confirmed`). Mon 5–8 PM kickoff reception; Tue and Wed sessions 9–5, with Global Shop's own dinner on Tuesday at The Goose's Acre; Thu optional workshop at Global Shop headquarters.	The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, The Woodlands, TX: Global Shop's hometown, 23 miles from Houston's IAH airport.
Who's in the room	How a vendor gets in
Global Shop customers only, with the main session capped at 250: owners, executives, controllers and operations leads from job shops and make-to-order manufacturers. Tracks cover accounting, tax, strategic planning and leading new implementations. The plastics share isn't published.	It doesn't: registration ($1,995) is for customers. Stay at the hotel, booked directly rather than through Global Shop's attendee block, and host a private dinner nearby.

Play and first step

Book rooms for October 12–15 and a private room within walking distance for Wednesday, October 14, the only evening of the main conference without a Global Shop event. Fill the dinner in advance from the Global Shop sales-ready list in the top-of-funnel workstream (449 accounts), filtered for plastics processors in the target band and starting with Texas and the Gulf Coast. Treat lobby conversations as a bonus, not the plan.

Rules: Stay out of session rooms, the expo and anything badge-only, and never pose as a customer or partner. Hotels often agree to limit solicitation during a hosted event, so keep lobby and bar conversations natural: no flyers, no displays, and stop if staff ask. Don't collect names from badges or rosters.
Context: Sponsors include AWS, BDO and Paperless Parts. Global Shop says every session includes AI discussion, so expect attendees to arrive primed on its AI roadmap.
Clashes: The Women Breaking the Mold forum (Nashville) and VINYLTEC (Atlanta) run the same week, so split the team.
Sources: Simplify 2026

ECI Connect 2026: JobBOSS, Macola and M1 users in Las Vegas

🟩 Strong | ▁▂▂▃▄▅···· 6/10 for the side dinner | Est. 10–30 target companies

When	Where
Nov 16–18, 2026 (`Confirmed`). Mon sponsor happy hour after the opening session; Tue Grand Prix Party; Wed closing session.	The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, which is also the host hotel.
Who's in the room	How a vendor gets in
1,000+ customers of JobBOSS and JobBOSS², M1, Macola, E2 and Deacom, mostly power users and operations or IT staff, with some owners. ECI also serves construction, distribution and field service, so manufacturing is diluted, and the plastics share isn't published.	It doesn't: the conference is for ECI customers, and sponsorship is limited to vendors whose products help them, which rules out a competing ERP.

Play and first step

Filter the JobBOSS (223) and Macola (64) lists for plastics processors in the target band this week, and send dinner invitations by October 16 for Sunday, November 15, or Monday, November 16 after 8 PM. Book rooms at The Cosmopolitan directly, outside ECI's block, and hold the dinner at an outside restaurant rather than in hotel meeting space.

Clashes: Rockwell Automation Fair (Boston), Rotoplas (New Orleans) and Molding 2026 (Greenville) fall the same week, so mid-November needs two teams.
Rules: No public anti-solicitation text was found, but casinos police their private spaces, so keep lobby conversations low-key.
Sources: ECI blog, ECI Connect 2026, registration release

DELMIAworks users at 3DEXPERIENCE World 2027

🟪 Hidden gem | ▁▂▂▃▄▅▅▆·· 8/10 for the side dinner | Est. 20–50 target companies

When	Where
Feb 14–17, 2027 (`Confirmed`).	Music City Center, Nashville, TN
Who's in the room	How a vendor gets in
DELMIAworks ERP and MES customers inside a mostly SOLIDWORKS crowd. Plastics processors are DELMIAworks' core base, and it claims more than half of MAPP's members. Companies often send IT or ERP administrators rather than CEOs.	Public registration for the main event ($995 before October 27, 2026). Sponsorship is unlikely to be sold to a competing ERP.

Play and first step

Host an off-site Naologic dinner on February 15 or 16 for plastics owners and CFOs on legacy ERP, co-hosted with an independent accounting or M&A firm.

Sources: 3DEXPERIENCE World, 2027 registration, MAPP sponsors

Epicor Insights Specialty and Insights 2027

🟪 Hidden gem | ▁▂▂▃▄▅▅··· 7/10 for the side dinner | Est. 5–15 in November; 10–25 in May

When	Where
Specialty Nov 9–11, 2026; Insights May 10–13, 2027, the week after NPE (`Confirmed`).	Gaylord Texan, Grapevine, TX; Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas
Who's in the room	How a vendor gets in
Epicor ERP customers across manufacturing; the share of plastics processors isn't published and is likely in the single digits.	It's a vendor event, so don't attend as a user. Host adjacent dinners through partners or customers who switched.

Play and first step

Test one off-site dinner in Dallas–Fort Worth in November. Repeat in Las Vegas in May only if the first produces owner-level conversations.

Sources: Epicor Insights

SUN Conference 2027: SyteLine users in New Orleans

🟪 Hidden gem | ▁▂▂▃▄····· 5/10 for the side dinner | Est. 5–15 target companies

When	Where
Mar 1–3, 2027 (`Confirmed`). A welcome reception for all attendees; the night isn't stated yet.	Hyatt Regency New Orleans
Who's in the room	How a vendor gets in
Users of Infor CloudSuite Industrial (SyteLine). The independent SyteLine User Network counts 500+ member companies and 1,800 members; one listing forecasts about 230 attendees. Plastics density is low, but the room is small and easy to work.	It's an independent, non-profit user group whose vendor membership is for firms that support Infor software, so work it from the lobby and a nearby dinner.

Play and first step

In December, read SUN's member and event code of conduct and pull SyteLine plastics accounts from intent and technographic data. Plan the dinner for Tuesday, March 2, once the agenda confirms the reception night.

Clashes: The Plastics Recycling Conference and PPFA's spring meeting run the same days, so the National Harbor dinner moves to Wednesday, March 3.
Sources: SyteLine User Network, attendance forecast

Other competitor events

Vendor	Event and dates	How to play it	Target companies (est.)	Tier
Plex (Rockwell Automation)	Rockwell Automation Fair, Nov 16–19, 2026, Menino Convention Center, Boston (open registration)	More than 14,000 expected, from executives to engineers; Plex users are a small subset. Attend the Plex and MES sessions with pre-show outreach, but only with a second team, since it clashes with ECI Connect. Decide by October 9.	10–25 (low)	🟧 Selective
Acumatica	Acumatica Summit 2027, Jan 24–27, 2027, Seattle Convention Center, Summit Building	Open to customers, partners and prospects, but confirm in writing before anyone from Naologic registers; otherwise stick to the lobby and an off-site dinner. Size the Acumatica-running plastics processors in the CRM first, and go only if there are 40 or more.	5–15 (low)	🟧 Selective
Aptean (Made2Manage)	Aptean UNITE 2026, Oct 5–8, 2026, Kansas City Marriott Downtown	900+ customers and prospects, skewed toward food, apparel and distribution. It's too soon for a dinner, so send pre-show email and LinkedIn outreach to Made2Manage plastics accounts this week and revisit UNITE 2027.	5–15 (low)	🟧 Selective

Watch list, with no 2027 dates yet: VISUAL Focus (Infor VISUAL; the 2026 edition ran in February at Mandalay Bay), SYSPRO SPARK, Plex-a-Palooza (run by Control+M Solutions) and NetSuite SuiteConnect cities.

6. Pick subvertical and regional rooms selectively

Smaller rooms for specific processes and regions. Use them when a segment is in the pipeline, and test one meeting before buying a membership.

Segment	Rooms and dates	How to get in, and the play	Target companies (est.)	Tier
Blow molding	SPE Annual Blow Molding Conference, Oct 5–7, 2026, Westin Chicago North Shore, Wheeling, IL	Registrants receive the attendee list, so pair one attendee ($800) with pre-show outreach and a 10-seat dinner. Exhibits are sold out; break, breakfast and drink-ticket sponsorships remain.	15–30 (low)	🟪 Hidden gem
Pipe and fittings	PPFA Fall Meeting, Oct 5–7, 2026, and Spring Meeting, Mar 1–3, 2027 (locations not published); PPI Annual Meeting, May 17–20, 2027, Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort, Santa Ana Pueblo, NM	Call PPFA's Glen Ellyn, IL office (630-858-6540) about supplier-member rules, and ask PPI's Gerianne Cain (469-499-1058) about associate status. Many pipe extruders top $500M, so focus on regional pipe and profile makers, and host a dinner at PPI if membership allows.	8–20 per PPFA meeting; 15–30 at PPI (low to medium-low)	🟪 Hidden gem
Injection molding, Northeast Ohio	SPE Injection Molding Innovation Summit, Oct 22, 2026, Warrensville Heights, OH	Cheap to sponsor, though the audience leans toward process engineers. It falls on the same day as ACG Detroit, so split the team or pick one.	10–25 (low)	🟪 Hidden gem
Injection molding, Southeast	Molding 2026 (Plastics Technology), Nov 18–19, 2026, Hyatt Regency Greenville, SC	Mostly GMs, plant managers and engineers, with owners as one segment. Ask Matt Gilmore (MGilmore@gardner.media, 513-527-8857) for the registrant title breakdown first, and go only if 10 or more owner- or GM-level target molders are registered; then host a Southeast molder dinner on November 18. It overlaps Rotoplas.	15–30 (low; 3–8 at owner, CEO or CFO level)	🟧 Selective
Recycling and compounding	APR Fall Member Meeting, Oct 27–29, 2026, Sheraton New Orleans; Plastics Recycling Conference, Mar 1–3, and APR Spring Member Meeting, Mar 3–4, 2027, National Harbor, MD	Use APR's one non-member visit before joining; fall rates rise after September 30. Host one dinner in conference week for reclaimers and compounders. The conference's 3,000+ attendance spans three co-located events.	10–25 per APR meeting; 20–40 at the conference (low)	🟧 Selective
Flexible packaging	FPA Annual Meeting, Mar 9–11, 2027, Bonita Springs, FL (location per FlexPackVoice; members only)	Senior converter CEOs, a strong target segment, but access is gated. Buy supplier membership only if film is a priority.	15–35 (low)	🟧 Selective
Medical and Southern California molders	MD&M West, Feb 9–11, 2027, Anaheim (PLASTEC West was folded in from 2026)	13,800+ verified attendees, mostly medtech OEM engineers. Attend only, with pre-booked meetings with Southern California medical molders; skip the booth and the dinner.	20–50 (low)	🟧 Selective
PVC	SPE VINYLTEC, Oct 13–15, 2026, Atlanta; Vinyl Week, Dec 8–10 or 8–11, 2026, Charlotte, NC	Only if PVC extruders and compounders are a target segment.	5–15 at VINYLTEC; 10–25 at Vinyl Week (low)	🟧 Selective
Mold builders and captive toolrooms	AMBA Conference 2027, Mar 16–18, Grand Rapids, MI (dates to confirm; 2026 ran in May); AMBA member pavilion at NPE2027	Only molders with captive toolrooms fit the ICP. Skip partner membership unless that segment becomes a focus; if you go, pair it with the Grand Rapids advisor dinner.	3–10 (medium)	🟧 Selective
Canada	Canadian Plastics Impact Awards luncheon (Annex Business Media), about May 2027, Mississauga, ON (projected)	The 2026 inaugural drew about 60 people, including processor owners, and it's the only publication-run owner gathering in Canada. Ask publisher Stephen Kranabetter (skranabetter@canplastics.com, 416-561-5362) in Q4 for the 2027 date and a rate card, and bundle a sponsorship with a newsletter placement.	6–10 (medium-low)	🟧 Selective

Membership and affiliation stack

In sequence. Steps 1 and 2 are non-negotiable, and step 5 turns into a membership only after one meeting produces at least three owner-level conversations.

Step	When	Affiliation	Cost	What it unlocks
1	Now (or Jan 2027)	MAPP Corporate Partner program plus two or three plant-tour sponsorships	Est. $10,000–$35,000 (planning estimate)	Plant tours (vendors attend only as sponsors), members-area access and conference eligibility
2	Oct 2026	NPE2027 meeting program and two dinners; a booth and sponsored stage slot optional	Per the NPE prospectus	NPE week presence, plus a stage slot if you exhibit
3	Nov–Dec 2026	PLASTICS supplier membership plus Fly-In sponsorship	Not verified	Councils, the Spring Meeting and Fly-In (Mar 8–11) and the SPE community under the same roof
4	Q1 2027	Plastics Hall of Fame gala table or sponsorship	Not verified	A May 2 gala table with owners and industry legends
5	Test first	APR (one non-member meeting), PPI (ask about associate status) and AMBA (only if captive toolrooms matter)	Non-member rate; not verified	Recycler, compounder, pipe and captive-toolroom rooms

Force multipliers

Partners who can fill a room of target owners and CFOs on Naologic's behalf, and the format to propose to each.

Partner	Why they can fill a room	Format to propose	Contact
Wipfli (Harbour Results)	Took over Harbour Results in May 2024, runs a 2026 manufacturing benchmarking survey and runs webinars with MAPP. Laurie Harbour keynotes plastics events.	Three-city “State of Plastics Profitability” dinners, Q1 2027	Laurie Harbour, Wipfli
Plante Moran	Ran the North American Plastics Industry Study for nearly 30 years, typically 150+ facilities per edition, and is a MAPP partner.	CFO roundtable in Southfield or Detroit, framed as a revival of that benchmark	Plante Moran's plastics practice
PMCF	Works plastics and packaging M&A and sponsors the Executive Forum.	“Value drivers for exit” dinner for owners two to five years from a sale; ERP data quality is a diligence issue	John Hart, john.hart@pmcf.com
MAPP	Controls plant-tour access.	Exclusive tour sponsorship plus a tour-eve dinner	Letha Keslar, lkeslar@mappinc.com
Plastics News (Crain)	Runs the Executive Forum, its awards and the Women Breaking the Mold forum.	Forum sponsorship with a hosted breakfast, the package Chase Plastics had in 2023, plus a co-hosted dinner at Women Breaking the Mold	John Hickey, jhickey@crain.com
Resin distributors and machinery OEMs	Chase Plastics hosts Forum breakfasts; Engel, KraussMaffei and Milacron sponsor Penn State Behrend's plastics conference.	Shared customer dinner in NPE week (May 4 or 5)	Regional sales leaders

Partner caution	Target lists	Worth a phone call
Wipfli promotes Oracle NetSuite and Plante Moran runs an ERP implementation practice. Partner on data and content rather than referrals, and expect them to guard client relationships.	Plastics News Best Places to Work and Processor of the Year finalists are pre-qualified, growing, mid-size processors, and 2027 applications close in October 2026. Hall of Fame nominees make a good invite list too.	Not verified: machinery open houses (Engel in York, Arburg in Rocky Hill, KraussMaffei in Florence, Milacron in Batavia, Sumitomo Demag in Strongsville, Wittmann in Torrington), resin distributors' customer events (Chase, M. Holland, Nexeo, Ravago) and university advisory boards (Penn State Behrend, Ferris State, UMass Lowell, Pittsburg State).

Dinner plan

Curated owner and CFO dinners, each attached to an event or partner that's already bringing the right people together. Seat and target-company estimates assume invitations come from pre-show outreach and that 15–25% of accepted guests don't show. Dinners 2 and 3 fall on the same night in different cities, as do dinners 5 and 6, and dinners 7 to 9 run on consecutive nights in three cities, so plan two teams for mid-November.

#	City	Evening	Anchor	Format	Possible co-host	Seats	Target companies seated (est.)
1	Wheeling or Chicago	Mon Oct 5 or Tue Oct 6	🟪 SPE Blow Molding Conference	Blow-molder dinner, invited from the attendee list	Naologic alone	10	5–8
2	The Woodlands, TX	Wed Oct 14	🟪 Global Shop Solutions Simplify	Private dinner near the Waterway Marriott for Global Shop users, invited in advance	Naologic alone	10–12	4–8
3	Nashville	Wed Oct 14	🟪 Women Breaking the Mold	Dinner with forum attendees who own or run processors	Plastics News, if offered, or Naologic alone	10–12	5–8
4	Dallas–Fort Worth	Mon Nov 9 or Tue Nov 10	🟪 Epicor Insights Specialty	Off-site dinner on life after legacy ERP	A customer who switched, or a partner	10–12	5–8
5	Mexico City	Wed Nov 11	🟩 Plastimagen México	Dinner for US and Canadian parent-company executives	ANIPAC or a regional cluster	10	4–7
6	Cleveland	Wed Nov 11	🟩 AMI Plastics World Expos	Extruder and compounder dinner	PolymerOhio or a local accounting firm	12–14	8–11
7	Las Vegas	Sun Nov 15, or Mon Nov 16 after 8 PM	🟩 ECI Connect	Off-site dinner for JobBOSS, Macola and M1 users	Naologic alone	10–12	5–8
8	New Orleans	Tue Nov 17	🟩 Rotoplas	Rotomolder owners' dinner, clear of ARM events	An ARM supplier sponsor slot	10–12	6–9
9	Greenville, SC	Wed Nov 18	🟧 Molding 2026	Southeast molder dinner, only if the registrant list clears the bar	Naologic alone	10–12	5–8
10	Tour host cities	Eve of each MAPP tour, Q1–Q2 2027	🟦 MAPP plant tours	Tour-eve reception or dinner	MAPP	10–12	7–10
11	Grand Rapids, Cleveland and Chicago	Jan–Mar 2027	🟦 Advisor benchmark series	“State of Plastics Profitability” readout dinners	Wipfli (Laurie Harbour)	12–20 each	8–14 each
12	Southfield or Detroit	Q1 2027	🟦 Plante Moran benchmark	CFO roundtable	Plante Moran's plastics practice	12–20	8–14
13	Nashville	Mon Feb 15 or Tue Feb 16	🟪 3DEXPERIENCE World	Off-site dinner on life after legacy ERP	An independent accounting or M&A firm	10–12	6–10
14	New Orleans	Tue Mar 2	🟪 SUN Conference	Off-site dinner for SyteLine users, once the agenda confirms the reception night	Naologic alone	10	4–6
15	National Harbor	Wed Mar 3	🟧 Recycling Conference and APR	Reclaimer and compounder dinner	Naologic alone	10–12	5–8
16	Clearwater or Tampa	Night one of the Forum	🟦 Plastics News Executive Forum	CFO and owner dinner on value drivers for exit	PMCF or Plante Moran	12–16	9–13
17	Orlando	Tue May 4 and Wed May 5	🟦 NPE2027	Two CFO and owner dinners	A resin distributor or machinery OEM	20–24 each	15–20 each
18	Las Vegas	Week of May 10	🟪 Epicor Insights 2027	Off-site dinner, only if dinner 4 produced owner conversations	A partner	10–12	5–8
19	Santa Ana Pueblo, NM	Week of May 17	🟪 PPI Annual Meeting	Pipe and conduit makers' dinner, if PPI allows	Naologic alone	10–12	6–9

Rules for every dinner

10–16 seats (12–20 for advisor dinners, up to 24 in NPE week), owners, CEOs and CFOs only.

One customer speaker and no slides.

A benchmark handout, such as ERP total cost and scheduling KPIs.

Never schedule against the organizer's official gala or reception.

Next to a competitor's customer event, invite ahead from your own lists, stay out of event spaces and keep hotel-lobby conversations low-key.

Month by month

Every room in the playbook in date order, with the format, what Naologic does there and how many target companies we expect in the room. 🍽 marks the dinners Naologic organizes or co-hosts.

Activity	What it means
🍽 `Hosted dinner`	A private dinner Naologic organizes and invites to.
🍽 `Co-hosted dinner`	A dinner or roundtable an advisor or partner invites to, with Naologic paying or sharing the cost.
🍽 `Off-site dinner`	A clearly branded dinner next to a competitor's user conference, never inside it.
`Attend`	Walking the floor and holding pre-booked meetings.
`Lobby presence`	Staying at a competitor's host hotel and talking to attendees in public areas, never in event spaces.
`Pre-show outreach`	Booking meetings and dinner guests from attendee lists before the event.
`Booth`	A booth or tabletop exhibit.
`Sponsor`	Sponsoring a breakfast, reception, tour bus or similar.
`Tour sponsor`	Sponsoring a MAPP plant tour, the only way a vendor can attend.
`Gala table`	Buying a table at an awards gala and filling it with invited guests.
`Speak`	A talk or panel slot, paid or proposed.
`Speaker session`	A talk to a CEO peer group, such as a Vistage group.
`Member meeting`	An association meeting; membership or a one-time visit may be required.
`Fly-in`	Joining policy visits on Capitol Hill with member delegations.
`Channel prospecting`	Meeting private equity firms and advisors who own or advise target companies.
`Content`	Nominations, webinars and articles.

How the estimates work: total attendance, times the share of processors, times the share in the target size band (50–1,000 employees, $25M–$500M), times the North American share, with seniority noted separately. Where organizers don't publish attendance, the range is a reasoned estimate and marked low confidence.

Late September 2026

Dates	Event	City	Format	Naologic activity	Target companies (est.)	Status	Tier
Sep 30 (Wed)	Plastics Hall of Fame nominations close	—	Deadline	`Content`	N/A	Confirmed	🟥 Deadline

October 2026

Dates	Event	City	Format	Naologic activity	Target companies (est.)	Status	Tier
Oct 5–7 (Mon–Wed)	SPE Annual Blow Molding Conference	Wheeling, IL (Westin Chicago North Shore)	Technical conference	`Attend` `Pre-show outreach` 🍽 `Hosted dinner`	15–30 (low)	Confirmed	🟪 Hidden gem
Oct 5–7 (Mon–Wed)	PPFA Fall Meeting	Not published	Members' meeting	`Member meeting`	8–20 (low)	Dates confirmed	🟪 Hidden gem
Oct 5–8 (Mon–Thu)	Aptean UNITE 2026 (outreach only; too soon for a dinner)	Kansas City (Marriott Downtown)	Vendor user conference	`Pre-show outreach`	5–15 (low)	Confirmed	🟧 Selective
Oct 7–8 (Wed–Thu)	ACG Chicago Midwest Capital Connection	Chicago (Navy Pier)	Deal event	`Channel prospecting`	0–5 directly (medium)	Confirmed	🟧 Selective
Oct 12–15 (Mon–Thu)	Global Shop Solutions Simplify 2026 (customers only; stay at the hotel, dinner nearby)	The Woodlands, TX (Waterway Marriott)	Vendor user conference	`Lobby presence` 🍽 `Off-site dinner`	5–15 (low)	Confirmed	🟪 Hidden gem
Oct 13–15 (Tue–Thu)	SPE VINYLTEC	Atlanta	Technical conference	`Attend`	5–15 (low)	Confirmed	🟧 Selective
Oct 14–15 (Wed–Thu)	Plastics News Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum	Nashville (City Winery)	Networking forum	`Attend` `Sponsor` `Pre-show outreach` 🍽 `Co-hosted dinner`	20–40 (low; 5–12 at owner or CEO level)	Confirmed	🟪 Hidden gem
Oct 22 (Thu)	ACG Detroit M&A Summit	Detroit Athletic Club	Deal event	`Channel prospecting`	0–5 directly (low)	Confirmed	🟧 Selective
Oct 22 (Thu)	SPE Injection Molding Innovation Summit	Warrensville Heights, OH	Technical summit	`Attend` `Sponsor`	10–25 (low)	Confirmed	🟪 Hidden gem
Oct 27 (Tue)	3DEXPERIENCE World lowest-rate deadline	—	Deadline	`Register`	N/A	Confirmed	🟥 Deadline
Oct 27–29 (Tue–Thu)	APR Fall Member Meeting	New Orleans (Sheraton)	Members' meeting	`Member meeting`	10–25 (low)	Confirmed	🟧 Selective

November 2026

Dates	Event	City	Format	Naologic activity	Target companies (est.)	Status	Tier
Nov 9–11 (Mon–Wed)	Epicor Insights Specialty	Grapevine, TX (Gaylord Texan)	Vendor user conference	🍽 `Off-site dinner`	5–15 (low)	Confirmed	🟪 Hidden gem
Nov 10–13 (Tue–Fri)	Plastimagen México	Mexico City	Trade show	`Attend` 🍽 `Hosted dinner`	20–60 (low)	Confirmed	🟩 Strong
Nov 11–12 (Wed–Thu)	AMI Plastics World Expos	Cleveland	Trade show	`Attend` `Pre-show outreach` 🍽 `Hosted dinner`	100–200 (medium; 30–60 with an owner or CFO)	Confirmed	🟩 Strong
Nov 16–18 (Mon–Wed)	ECI Connect 2026 (JobBOSS, Macola, M1, E2, Deacom; customers only)	Las Vegas (The Cosmopolitan)	Vendor user conference	`Pre-show outreach` `Lobby presence` 🍽 `Off-site dinner`	10–30 (low)	Confirmed	🟩 Strong
Nov 16–19 (Mon–Thu)	Rockwell Automation Fair (Plex; second team only)	Boston (Menino Convention Center)	Industry trade show	`Attend` `Pre-show outreach` 🍽 `Off-site dinner`	10–25 (low)	Confirmed	🟧 Selective
Nov 17–19 (Tue–Thu)	ARM Annual Meeting and Rotoplas	New Orleans	Members' meeting and trade show	`Booth` `Sponsor` 🍽 `Hosted dinner`	20–40 (low)	Confirmed	🟩 Strong
Nov 18–19 (Wed–Thu)	Molding 2026, Plastics Technology (go only if 10+ owner- or GM-level target molders register)	Greenville, SC (Hyatt Regency)	Technical conference	`Attend` `Pre-show outreach` 🍽 `Hosted dinner`	15–30 (low; 3–8 at owner, CEO or CFO level)	Confirmed	🟧 Selective

December 2026

Dates	Event	City	Format	Naologic activity	Target companies (est.)	Status	Tier
Dec 8–11 (Tue–Fri)	Vinyl Week	Charlotte, NC	Industry conference	`Attend`	10–25 (low)	Dates to confirm (Dec 8–10 or 8–11)	🟧 Selective

Rolling, dates to set or confirm

Dates	Event	City	Format	Naologic activity	Target companies (est.)	Status	Tier
Q1–Q2 2027	MAPP plant tours	Host plants vary	Plant tour, members only	`Tour sponsor` 🍽 `Hosted dinner`	20–35 per tour (medium-high)	Dates not posted	🟦 Core
Jan–Mar 2027	Advisor benchmark dinners	Grand Rapids, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit	Co-hosted dinner	🍽 `Co-hosted dinner`	8–14 per dinner (medium)	Proposed	🟦 Core
From Q1 2027	Vistage speaker sessions	Midwest	CEO peer group	`Speaker session`	0–2 per group (low)	To arrange	🟧 Selective

January 2027

Dates	Event	City	Format	Naologic activity	Target companies (est.)	Status	Tier
Jan 24–27 (Sun–Wed)	Acumatica Summit 2027 (only if 40+ Acumatica plastics accounts turn up)	Seattle (Convention Center, Summit Building)	Vendor conference	`Pre-show outreach` 🍽 `Off-site dinner`	5–15 (low)	Confirmed	🟧 Selective

February 2027

Dates	Event	City	Format	Naologic activity	Target companies (est.)	Status	Tier
Feb 9–11 (Tue–Thu)	MD&M West, with PLASTEC	Anaheim	Trade show	`Attend`	20–50 (low)	Confirmed	🟧 Selective
Feb 14–17 (Sun–Wed)	3DEXPERIENCE World, with DELMIAworks users	Nashville	Vendor user conference	🍽 `Off-site dinner`	20–50 (low to medium)	Confirmed	🟪 Hidden gem

March 2027

Dates	Event	City	Format	Naologic activity	Target companies (est.)	Status	Tier
Mar 1–3 (Mon–Wed)	Plastics Recycling Conference	National Harbor, MD	Conference and expo	`Attend` 🍽 `Hosted dinner`	20–40 (low)	Confirmed	🟧 Selective
Mar 1–3 (Mon–Wed)	PPFA Spring Meeting	Not published	Members' meeting	`Member meeting`	8–20 (low)	Dates confirmed	🟪 Hidden gem
Mar 1–3 (Mon–Wed)	SUN Conference 2027 (SyteLine users)	New Orleans (Hyatt Regency)	Independent user conference	`Pre-show outreach` `Lobby presence` 🍽 `Off-site dinner`	5–15 (low)	Confirmed	🟪 Hidden gem
Mar 3–4 (Wed–Thu)	APR Spring Member Meeting	National Harbor, MD	Members' meeting	`Member meeting`	10–25 (low; overlaps the conference)	Confirmed	🟧 Selective
Mar 8–11 (Mon–Thu)	PLASTICS Spring Meeting and Fly-In	Arlington, VA	Policy fly-in	`Fly-in` `Sponsor`	10–25 (low)	Listed, confirm	🟩 Strong
Mar 9–11 (Tue–Thu)	FPA Annual Meeting	Bonita Springs, FL	Members' meeting	`Member meeting`	15–35 (low)	Confirmed	🟧 Selective
Mar 16–18 (Tue–Thu)	AMBA Conference 2027	Grand Rapids, MI	Association conference	`Attend`	3–10 (medium)	Listed, to confirm	🟧 Selective
Mid to late March	Plastics News Executive Forum	Florida, venue to confirm	Executive conference	`Attend` `Sponsor` `Speak` 🍽 `Hosted dinner`	30–60 (medium-low)	Projected	🟦 Core

April and May 2027

Dates	Event	City	Format	Naologic activity	Target companies (est.)	Status	Tier
Spring	Plastics Pioneers spring meeting	To be announced	Members' meeting	`Member meeting`	5–15 (low; a referral channel)	Projected	🟪 Hidden gem
May 2 (Sun)	Plastics Hall of Fame induction gala	Orlando	Awards gala	`Gala table`	20–40 (low)	Confirmed	🟦 Core
May 3–7 (Mon–Fri)	NPE2027 and ANTEC 2027	Orlando (OCCC)	Trade show	`Attend` `Pre-show outreach` 🍽 `Hosted dinner ×2` `Booth (optional)` `Speak`	400–900 (medium-low)	Confirmed	🟦 Core
May 10–13 (Mon–Thu)	Epicor Insights 2027	Las Vegas (Mandalay Bay)	Vendor user conference	🍽 `Off-site dinner`	10–25 (low)	Confirmed	🟪 Hidden gem
May 17–20 (Mon–Thu)	PPI Annual Meeting	Santa Ana Pueblo, NM (Hyatt Regency Tamaya)	Members' meeting	`Member meeting` 🍽 `Hosted dinner`	15–30 (medium-low)	Confirmed	🟪 Hidden gem
Late May, projected	Canadian Plastics Impact Awards luncheon	Mississauga, ON	Awards luncheon	`Sponsor` `Gala table` `Content`	6–10 (medium-low)	Projected	🟧 Selective

June 2027

Dates	Event	City	Format	Naologic activity	Target companies (est.)	Status	Tier
Jun 22 (Tue)	ACG Cleveland DealSource & Summer Social	Cleveland	Deal event	`Channel prospecting`	0–5 directly (low)	Confirmed	🟧 Selective

Deadlines

In date order, with countdowns as of Tuesday, September 29. 🔴 marks anything due within two weeks.

🔴 Wed, Sep 30 (tomorrow): Plastics Hall of Fame nominations close; file one for a friendly founder. APR Fall registration rates also rise after September 30, and its $229/night hotel rate holds until October 2. That only matters if recyclers are a target.
🔴 By Thu, Oct 1 (in 2 days): If blow molders are a target, register for the SPE Blow Molding Conference ($800). Registrants get the attendee list, so book a 10-seat dinner for October 5 or 6 and invite from it.
🔴 By Fri, Oct 2 (in 3 days): Global Shop Solutions Simplify: book rooms at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott for October 12–15 directly with the hotel, reserve a private room nearby for Wednesday, October 14, and start invitations from the Global Shop sales-ready list.
🔴 By Fri, Oct 2 (in 3 days): Email John Hickey at Crain (jhickey@crain.com) in one note: the Women Breaking the Mold attendee company list, sponsor slots and a co-hosted dinner on October 14, plus the 2027 Executive Forum date and sponsorship menu. Register two people for the forum. Best Places to Work 2027 applications also close in October.
🔴 By Fri, Oct 2 (in 3 days): Send pre-show email and LinkedIn outreach to Made2Manage plastics accounts before Aptean UNITE (October 5–8, Kansas City).
🔴 Email now, call week of Oct 5 (in 10 days): Sign up for MAPP's Corporate Partner program through Letha Keslar (317-913-2440, lkeslar@mappinc.com): ask about term basis and proration, conference passes and Innovation Hall allocation, 2027 dates and per-tour pricing. Join now if the term is rolling or prorated; otherwise from January 1, 2027.
🔴 Fri, Oct 9 (in 10 days): Decide whether to staff two teams the week of November 16, when ECI Connect, Rockwell Automation Fair, Rotoplas and Molding 2026 overlap.
⚪ Fri, Oct 16 (in 17 days): ECI Connect: send dinner invitations to plastics accounts on the JobBOSS and Macola lists, and book rooms at The Cosmopolitan directly, outside ECI's block.
⚪ October: Decide on NPE2027: meetings and two dinners only, or add a booth in the Manufacturing Services Technology Zone for a sponsored stage slot. Ask PLASTICS for the prospectus with its attendee breakdown, and check the speaker deadline.
⚪ Mid-October: Book the AMI, Plastimagen and Epicor-week dinner venues and start pre-show outreach, and confirm a Rotoplas tabletop or sponsorship.
⚪ Thu, Oct 22 (in 23 days): ACG Detroit M&A Summit (register; sponsorship is closed). The SPE Injection Molding Innovation Summit near Cleveland is the same day, so split the team or pick one.
⚪ Tue, Oct 27 (in 28 days): The lowest 3DEXPERIENCE World rate ($995) expires.
⚪ Late October: Ask Matt Gilmore at Gardner for the Molding 2026 registrant title breakdown, and commit to Greenville only if 10 or more owner- or GM-level target molders are registered.
⚪ November: Pitch Laurie Harbour (Wipfli), Plante Moran's plastics practice and John Hart (PMCF) on the Q1 benchmark dinners, and book the first venues. Size the Acumatica-running plastics processors in the CRM, and plan for Acumatica Summit only if there are 40 or more.
⚪ December: Decide on PLASTICS supplier membership and Fly-In sponsorship, reserve MAPP tour sponsorships as hosts post, ask Canadian Plastics' publisher for the 2027 Impact Awards date and rate card, and read SUN's code of conduct while pulling SyteLine plastics accounts.
⚪ Fri, Jan 22, 2027 (in 115 days): The NPE2027 early-bird attendee rate ends.
⚪ February 2027: Lock the NPE dinner venues for May 4 and 5, send partner invite lists and confirm the Hall of Fame gala table.

Caveats

Target-company counts are estimates, not counts. Many organizers don't publish attendance, so most rows are low confidence. None of the competitor events (Global Shop Simplify, ECI Connect, SUN, Automation Fair, Acumatica Summit and Aptean UNITE) publish a plastics share, and neither do Women Breaking the Mold, Molding 2026 or the Canadian Plastics luncheon. NPE's breakdown by segment and job function isn't public either; ask PLASTICS for the NPE2027 prospectus.
MAPP's terms and prices are unpublished. Whether the Corporate Partner term is rolling or calendar-year, proration, included passes, tier prices, tour sponsorships and Plastics Business rates all need a quote, and every MAPP dollar figure here is a planning estimate. No tours or 2027 conference dates are posted yet.
The Plastics News Executive Forum 2027 has no announced dates or venue. March in Florida is projected from past editions; Clearwater Beach and Tampa have both been cited.
Some figures cover more than plastics: the Plastics Recycling Conference's 3,000+ spans three co-located events, MD&M West's 13,800+ covers the whole merged show, and ECI Connect's 1,000+ includes construction, distribution and field-service customers.
Dates to confirm: the PLASTICS Fly-In (listed on a page still labeled 2026), Vinyl Week (Dec 8–10 or 8–11), AMBA 2027, the 2027 Canadian Plastics luncheon, PPFA meeting locations, Plastics Pioneers 2027 dates, SUN's reception night and the NPE speaker deadline.
Wipfli and Plante Moran sell or implement competing ERPs, so structure any partnership around data and content.
Competitor events not yet checked: Epicor regional user groups, Odoo, ProShop, SAP and Business One, QAD, IFS, Appian, Rillet and Campfire. Dropped: Community Summit NA for Microsoft Dynamics (it clashes with Global Shop Simplify), NetSuite SuiteConnect (low plastics density), MAPP's DELMIAworks Users' Group meetings (member-only Zoom calls) and Global Shop's trade-show booths (not customer events).
Publications checked and not added: Gardner's Top Shops Conference (machining only), Plastics Technology Top Shops (a survey, no event), PTXPO (March 2028), Amerimold (folded into PTXPO), CompositesWorld Carbon Fiber (aerospace engineers), the ACMA Composites Executive Forum (no current edition), the Plastic Product Decorating Summit (September), the Global Pouch Forum (brand audience), Plastics News Caps + Closures (online only), PRSE (Europe) and Meximold (mold builders).

Sources

MAPP

Plastics News events

NPE2027 and the Plastics Hall of Fame

PLASTICS, Fly-In and Plastics Pioneers

AMBA

Advisors, private equity and peer groups

November shows

Competitor events

Other publications

Subvertical associations

Prepared for Naologic and updated September 29, 2026, combining five research rounds. Confirm dates and prices with organizers before booking travel or signing sponsorships.

The season at a glance​

The strategy​

What we learned​

How MAPP works for a vendor​

What a plant tour looks like​

The conference and the competition​

What Naologic does, in order​

Sample annual budget​

Contacts​

The plays​

1. Buy the gatekeeper seats​

MAPP Corporate Partner program, plant tours and conference​

Plastics News Executive Forum 2027​

Plastics News Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum​

PLASTICS membership, Spring Meeting and Fly-In​

2. Own NPE week​

NPE2027: meetings, dinners and an optional booth​

Plastics Hall of Fame gala and nomination​

Plastics Pioneers Association​

3. Let advisors fill the room​

Benchmark dinners with Wipfli, Plante Moran and PMCF​

Vistage CEO groups, as a speaker​

ACG chapter events, for private equity roll-ups​

4. Work the November shows through side dinners​

ARM Annual Meeting and Rotoplas 2026​

AMI Plastics World Expos North America​

Plastimagen México 2026​

5. Meet legacy-ERP users next door, never inside​

Global Shop Solutions Simplify 2026: hotel lobby and a nearby dinner​

ECI Connect 2026: JobBOSS, Macola and M1 users in Las Vegas​

DELMIAworks users at 3DEXPERIENCE World 2027​

Epicor Insights Specialty and Insights 2027​

SUN Conference 2027: SyteLine users in New Orleans​

Other competitor events​

6. Pick subvertical and regional rooms selectively​

Membership and affiliation stack​

Force multipliers​

Dinner plan​

Month by month​

Late September 2026​

October 2026​

November 2026​

December 2026​

Rolling, dates to set or confirm​

January 2027​

February 2027​

March 2027​

April and May 2027​

June 2027​

Deadlines​

Caveats​

Sources​