Silmo forecasts boost in attendance figures

Further details can be found at www.silmo.frOrganisers of the Silmo show, which is being held this weekend in Paris, expect attendance figures to bounce back to their 2000 level.
The International Optics and Eyewear Exhibition at the Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles has attracted 974 exhibitors, 65 per cent of which are international companies.
Exhibition manager Eric Lenoir said that attendance last year had been affected by September 11. Visitor numbers were down some 20 per cent at 21,065, compared with 26,422 in 2000 (News, November 2, 2001).
'Going by the number of people who have registered in advance this year, the show numbers will be up, around the figure for 2000,' he said.
Visitors can find their way around the exhibition, which covers 75,000 square metres, through 12 interactive terminals, which enable the exhibitor to be found by name, brand or product.
Hall 1 of the show will host frames and sunglasses, contact lenses, luxury goods and optometric equipment, while hall 2-1 will house the Village designer area. Hall 2-2 is titled the 'Technop'hall', with technological developments in manufacturing as well as a low vision area and a new eyewear area.
The show will feature the 2002 Silmo D'Or awards, the ninth International Grand Prix of Technology, with 11 categories, which will be presented at the Cit