Engineering event sees increase in exhibitor numbers

Drives & Controls Show

Many of the UK's leading automation and motion engineering companies showed their confidence in the future of the industry by booking substantial stands for the 2010 event. Exhibitors were up from 89 in 2008 to 103 in 2010 (a 16 per cent increase). The show size was also up by 500m2 from 2151 to 2630m2 (22 per cent growth).

All sectors of the industry were represented at the exhibition, including automation, drives, motors, safety, mechanical and actuation, and electrical. Other technologies represented at the show included communications, sensors and measurement, and software.

The 2010 event also benefited from a Chinese delegation, with at least twice as many exhibitors as in 2008, highlighting the event's growing international credentials.

IFPEX

The International Fluid Power Exhibition (IFPEX) has always provided a forum for networking as well as a location for displays of the latest products, services, advice and guidance. This was reflected in an increase in exhibitors from 59 to 61 (3 per cent growth).

Together with the more traditional mechanical hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical/electronic disciplines, electro-hydraulics systems are now becoming increasingly common within various industry sectors - and with many convincing benefits to report. Indeed, it is impossible to ignore the impressive advances in electronics with fluid power systems, offering improved energy efficiency, reduced noise, lower emissions and enhanced systems monitoring. The later of these items, of course, adds to reliability through the ability to identify potential problems before they cause damage. Real-time condition monitoring saves real money. With this in mind, IFPEX featured a number of leading industry players who were geared to explain all the benefits of such systems

Plant and Works Exhibition

Exhibitors at the Plant and Works Exhibition (PWE) were a mix of suppliers of plant and maintenance equipment and related products and services. Condition monitoring was a core area for the show, with many using the event as a launchpad for their latest developments. Handling and storage exhibitors were also present in force at this year's show, ranging from forklift truck manufacturers to suppliers of labelling systems and printers.

A focus on health and safety across all industry sectors was emphasised by the co-located events working in association with The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). In addition, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) was exhibiting to promote the best in health and safety.

The Plant and Works Exhibition also recorded healthy growth, with exhibitors up from 41 in 2008 to 46 at this year's event (12 per cent increase).

Air-Tech

The compressed air industry's event, Air-Tech 2010, provided a platform for the UK's compressed air and pneumatics businesses. Air-Tech was again an all-encompassing event covering the whole of the compressed air supply chain, from compressors to practical applications. The show highlighted technologies such as air treatment equipment and instrumentation, air dryers, condensing separators, heat exchangers and control systems. The show also had the endorsement of the British Compressed Air Society (BCAS).

Independent free seminars

Complementing this year's events was a series of more than 32 seminars (the largest seminar programme for the DFA series of shows to date) that gave delegates the opportunity to pick up best-practice tips and valuable advice from a variety of speakers, representing a cross-section of the engineering and manufacturing sector. Presentations ranged from energy management and plant safety to manual handling, Ethernet communications and gearbox maintenance.

Issues such as marketing strategy and even an insight into the financial world to help visitors understand the often misunderstood concept of lending criteria and what banks are looking for in manufacturers in today's economic climate, were also presented.

Organisations represented in the seminar programme included: GAMBICA, the British Gear Association, Carbon Trust, HSE, Barclays Bank, The Institute of Marketing, The British Compressed Air Society, The British Fluid Power Association, The Institution of Diagnostics Engineers, The University of Bath, Cranfield University, BINDT, plus many others.

Ian Atkinson comments: "The combination of leading manufacturing events gave a visitors a unique opportunity to formulate the whole of their manufacturing strategy at once, while keeping up-to-date with the latest developments in industry. Exhibitors collectively represented the cutting edge of the most fundamental aspects of engineering today."

The bi-annual events - the Drives & Controls, Plant & Works, Air-Tech, and IFPEX Exhibitions - will return to the NEC, Birmingham, from 17-19 April 2012, alongside MACH.