BLUE BELL, PA - The Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology reported that its recent International Coatings Expo (ICE) in Atlanta attracted a total of 5,544 registered visitors, a 30% decline from the 2000 ICE in Chicago and a 13% drop from the 1999 show in Dallas. The total number of exhibitors was 277, also down sharply from the record 378 in 2000.

FSCT Executive Vice President Robert F. Ziegler said the ongoing threat of terrorism in the United States was clearly responsible for the much of the decline in ICE visitors and exhibitors. He said the terrorism threat clearly affected attendance by overseas visitors, as international attendance fell 62% from 1999 and 64% from 2000.