ATLANTA, Oct. 19 — The ninth annual PCB Design Conference East featured a sold-out show floor of more than 50 exhibitors and enjoyed a double-digit increase in overall attendance, conference organizers said.

The Oct. 4-8 event attracted 585 conference and expo-only attendees, a 30% increase over 2003, said UP Media Group Inc. in a press statement. (UPMG is the parent company of Circuits Assembly.) The conference drew 158 attendees, a 56% increase over 2003.

The numbers do not include PCB East exhibitors.

"The electronics design and manufacture industries certainly struggled from 2001 to 2003 but began to pick up steam in early 2004. That growth is evident in the soldout show floor and increased attendance," said UP Media Group president Pete Waddell. "I'd like to thank our attendees, many of whom have supported PCB East since it was founded in 1996, and our exhibitors, who continue to recognize that PCB East is a must-attend annual event."

PCB East 2005 will be held Oct. 10-14 at the Radisson Hotel Manchester in Manchester, NH. For more information and to download the conference brochure visit www.pcbeast.com.

The 14th annual PCB Design Conference West takes place March 7-11 at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center. For more information, visit www.pcbwest.com.