Canon Communications continues to expand its event portfolio with the acquisitions of Canadian trade shows Plast-Ex and EXPOPLAST from the Canadian Plastics Industry Association.

Separately, Canon also bought PACKEX, a leading Canadian packaging trade show, from Comexposium and the Packaging Association of Canada. Canon will co-locate Plast-Ex and PACKEX in 2011 as its first major North American trade show event outside the U.S.

The last Plast-Ex show (in 2007) drew 8,000 attendees while PACKEX Toronto drew another 8,000 attendees and 500 exhibitors.

Events now account for more than 55 percent of Canon's revenue. In July, Canon announced it will launch two new events targeting the orthopedic manufacturing market in 2010.