PWest Moving to San Francisco

SPIE Photonics West will be held in San Francisco starting in 2010, SPIE announced yesterday.

The decision to move the exhibition to San Francisco's Moscone Center was prompted by the announcement of plans to remodel the San Jose Convention Center and by the continuing expansion of Photonics West, which has surpassed capacity for exhibition and conference space in San Jose, said Janice Walker, SPIE's senior director of events and global services, in a statement. Last year a record 17,320 attended the six-day convention and exhibition, a number expected to increase this year.

Walker said announcing the move now gives the Photonics West community the opportunity to plan for the change.

Response from exhibitors has been very positive, said Peter Hallett, manager of industry relations, exhibitions and sales.

Susan Grohs of Trumpf Inc. said in the SPIE statement, "We think it's great that SPIE is moving to San Francisco. It's a wonderful city, and we are excited that we will all be together under one roof in Moscone."

"This is very positive news," said William Yang, president and CEO of BaySpec Inc. of Fremont. "This place is getting crowded. Moscone is large enough to accommodate all of us on the same floor. The move in 2010 will be good for both exhibitors and visitors."

This year's event runs through Thursday. SPIE Photonics West 2009 will be held Jan. 24-29 in the San Jose Convention Center. SPIE Photonics West 2010 will also be held in late January, SPIE said.

For more information, visit: spie.org