IMHX success

Published: November 24, 2010

With impressive stands, generous hospitality and intense networking, IMHX 2010 has given a real lift to the storage and handling sector. The 350 exhibitors and thousands of visitors at the industry‚s flagship exhibition showed a buoyant and business-like spirit that reflects the improved economic climate.

The show's joint organisers – Quartz Publishing and Exhibitions Ltd and the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) – were delighted with both the quality and quantity of visitors, as well as the extremely positive mood at the event. "We delivered a highly co-ordinated marketing campaign for IMHX 2010," commented Paul Michael, managing director of Quartz, "and, along with the show‚s exhibitors, we are very pleased that this resulted in impressive visitor attendance. A large number of exhibitors have already signed up for the next IMHX, which will take place from 19-22 March in 2013."

Commenting on the positive atmosphere at the show, Tim Waples, President of BITA, said, "There were obviously some very serious discussions taking place at this year's show. Visitors and exhibitors alike were clearly upbeat about business prospects and a number of BITA members have reported signing some great deals at the show."

Supported by main sponsor, Albury Asset Rentals – the UK's premier supplier of leasing and finance to the materials handling industry, having financed over 50,000 forklifts during the last 14 years – IMHX once again featured products and services from right across the logistics industry. For the first time in the show's history, IMHX also featured two special pavilions. Hosted by the Automated Material Handling Systems Association, the AMHSA Pavilion featured a number of its members in stands arranged around a central hospitality area.

Commented AMHSA president, Mike Vernon, "By concentrating the presence of automation suppliers in one area of the show, the AMHSA pavilion has provided a highly visible platform at IMHX from which the association can promote automated logistics." The Food & Drink Logistics Suppliers‚ Pavilion, sponsored by the Food Storage & Distribution Federation (FSDF), was also a new feature in this year‚s show, recognising that IMHX continues to attract large numbers of visitors from the food & drink sector.

Informative seminars and surgeries

IMHX featured a programme of over 30 highly informative and free seminars from industry leaders on the themes of Information Technology, Innovation and Environment. The show's organisers also teamed up with leading independent supply chain consultants, OPS Logistics Consultancy, to offer a free advice surgery for the very first time at IMHX. Visitors were able to take advantage of a free, 20-minute consultation with one of the industry experts from OPS to explore ways of increasing revenue, reducing costs and improving customer experience.

The OPS surgery was deemed an amazing success, with some 90 free consultations taking place over the course of the show. Companies were give the opportunity to pre book online and a number of walk-ins were welcomed throughout the show.

"It was great to be present at the IMHX exhibition," said Dan Derry, MD of OPS. "We had 14 OPS consultants on hand covering the four-day event, with a wide variety of skill sets available to help provide some expert advice. Quite a large number of companies have requested us to attend additional meetings so as to assist them in exploring ways with designing and implementing varying solutions. The show was a major success, and we look forward to being back at IMHX 2013 with another advice surgery."

Carbon-neutral event

Once again breaking new ground, IMHX 2010 has been the first logistics trade exhibition to offset the CO₂ produced through visitor travel to the venue. The show featured a special Environmental Zone, sponsored by Shell Gas (LPG), at which visitors were able to record their show travel footprint – at no cost to themselves – using a web-based carbon calculator. The show's organisers are offsetting this CO₂ by planting trees within the UK through an accredited carbon offset partner. The Environmental Zone also featured a number of green solutions offered by exhibitors that contribute to a cleaner environment, energy efficiency and reduced waste.

Charity donations

With the logistics industry tracing its roots back to the military, it was fitting that the show's organisers chose Help for Heroes as the official charity for IMHX 2010. Since its launch in 2007, Help for Heroes has raised over £44 million to support wounded service personnel and their families. As well as visitor donations through collection buckets around the show, exhibitors bid generously for exclusive items at the show‚s gala dinner auction on the Thursday night.

Lots included signed sporting memorabilia, tickets to the 2011 British Grand Prix, a Kindle e-book reader and a T-shirt donated by champion diver, Tom Daley, who visited the show on the Thursday.

In keeping with the military theme, dinner guests were joined by some armed forces heroes and entertained by the corps of drums of the Princess of Wales‚ Royal Regiment in full regalia.

A prize raffle and auction at the dinner raised around £6,000, which when added to the profits from ticket sales and money from the collection points around Birmingham's NEC together raised an estimated £14,000 for Help for Heroes and associated military charities.