Air-Tech and Fluid Power & Systems Exhibitions 2016

Air-Tech 2016 is set to highlight current key themes related to the latest in air compressor and related technology from companies from around the globe. The event is supported by the British Compressed Air Society (BCAS), and is the UK's only dedicated event for the compressed air and generators market.

Colin Mander, regional director for Gardner Denver Ltd. was very enthusiastic about the show in 2014 and will again have a leading presence in 2016 by both exhibiting at the event and sponsoring the Fluid Power & Air seminar theatre. He says: "It's about flying the flag for Gardner Denver, we do a really good job outside of the show but bringing people here gets people to see what we do, and is a chance to show all our products at once - we don't normally get to do that. Opportunities like this are really great."

Andy Jones, Mattei Compressors, managing director, comments that the 2014 event was: "Certainly the best one we've attended since the show started. It is an exhibition that just keeps getting bigger and bigger. It's a good opportunity for us to meet existing and new clients, and we had lots of excellent leads from inside and outside the industry." Mattei will also be exhibiting in 2016.

Mike Neal, managing director Huba Control AG (GB) explains that the 2014 event was its first but certainly not its last: "The level of interest was extremely good, providing us with an excellent platform for promoting our range of pressure and flow measuring sensors. The resulting number of high-quality enquiries makes the decision to return very easy." Huba will have a major presence at Air-Tech 2016.

Vanda Jones, BCAS executive director, highlighted that Air-Tech continues to be a much-valued fixture on the Society's events' calendar: "It's the UK's only dedicated event for the compressed air, generators and vacuum market and provides the ideal arena for our members to network with each other and also an ideal platform for the Society to promote its expertise and range of services."

Fluid Power & Systems 2016, which is described as the UK's only exhibition totally focused on hydraulics, pneumatics, systems and related equipment, has the full support of the British Fluid Power Association (BFPA), and as such continues to be the popular choice for fluid power system manufacturers and distributors.

Chris Buxton, CEO, The British Fluid Power Association (BFPA), incorporating the British Fluid Power Distributors Association (BFPDA), says of Fluid Power & Systems: "The 2014 event was a great success providing visitors with a panorama of the technology and products available to them and the exhibitors with unrivalled access to serious decision makers from their customer community."

Major industry names already confirmed for 2016 include: Parker, SMC Pneumatics, Beaumanor, Allswage, Tom Parker, MP Filtri, Staubli, Moog, Metal Work, and Uniflex.

Recent signatories include PVL and Gemu Valves. Steve Orton, managing director at Gemu Valves Ltd., comments: "We are first-time attendees at the show. We make a range of products that have applications in a broad range of industrial areas; either on services and utilities or process. We enjoyed a highly successful PPMA show recently, where we concentrated on products aimed at the food & beverage and pharmaceuticals markets. Now, were are looking forward to exhibiting at Fluid Power & Systems in April, where we will purely concentrate on our industrial ranges - including products first launched in June at ACHEMA in Frankfurt. We will also be showing Conexo, a product that uses state-of-the-art intelligent valve technology."

David Almond, sales & marketing director at PVL Ltd., comments: "We see Fluid Power & Systems as an ideal opportunity to prove to the market that we are the number one pressure switch supplier in the UK, and have booked a large open-plan stand area in order to get this message across. Included on the stand will be EuroSwitch pressure switches, level switches, level sensors and temperature switches. We will also be displaying a range of ATEX pressure switches from Orion Instruments at the show."

Almond adds: "We exhibited at Fluid Power & Systems in 2014, and feel its visitor mix is right for our products. There are also several of our existing customers who exhibit at the show, so it's good to have the opportunity to talk with both parties."

Seminars and conferences taken to a new level

In addition, the free 2016 seminar and conference programme running alongside the co-location of exhibitions, will be taken to a new level, adding significant value with a more comprehensive speaker programme than ever before, and a strong emphasis on technology, entrepreneurship, skills, regulations, the environment, and safety.

The 2014 seminar and conference programme saw over 1000 delegates attending the highly regarded free programme. It is anticipated that this number will increase in 2016. The full programme of free seminars for the co-location, with speakers offering expert insight and practical advice on important and topical issues, will take place across three seminar theatres: Fluid Power & Air Seminar Theatre - sponsored by Gardner Denver, The Drives & Controls Seminar Theatre, and the Maintenance Seminar Theatre - sponsored by Shell Lubricants.

Within the Fluid Power & Air Seminar Theatre will include a collection of high-profile papers from industry leaders, with papers covering: The impact of Automation and Motion Control; Technical Standards and the EU In-Out Referendum, Understanding the New Trailblazer Scheme - an opportunity for the Motion & Control Industry; UK Government's New Training Levy and the Impact on the Motion & Control Industry.

New for 2016 - exhibition organiser DFA Media has teamed up with The Industry Entrepreneurship Network (IEN) to put on a series of three panel discussions during the three-day exhibition, which will run alongside DFA Media's other seminar programme. The three sessions will cover the topics of "Bridging the skills gap' (chaired by Susan Scurlock, CEO, Primary & Secondary Engineer), "Financing innovation and entrepreneurship in industry' (chaired by Lee Hopley, Chief Economist, EEF), and "Developing UK innovation and entrepreneurship', with panels formed from the network's membership of established entrepreneurs, industrial companies and leading UK trade, science, education and engineering organisations.

For regular updates on DFA Media's co-located shows and for detailed seminar information, please visit the official websites: www.fluidpowersystems-expo.com and www.airtech-expo.com.