The organisers of easyFairs Maintec have announced that when the show returns to the NEC in Birmingham on 5-7 March 2013 it will include a major conference featuring internationally renowned speakers, plus the Maintenance Professional Awards.
As the UK’s only show dedicated to industrial maintenance and asset management, Maintec is already a major fixture in the diaries of maintenance professionals, engineering and plant managers. Visitors come from a real mix of high profile companies such as Rolls Royce, Siemens, BP, EDF Energy and Britvic, as well as many smaller companies. They attend the show to access the latest kit and talk to the developers making advances in condition monitoring, asset management and hazard detection.
Simon Turner, Managing Director of Cobalt Conveyors, a first time exhibitor at Maintec 2012 explains what Maintecs ‘decision-maker pulling power’ already means for his business: “There were probably four or five people who we met at the show, who we would never in a million years be able to access by any other means. For instance we had the chief engineer from one of the UK’s biggest retailers come past our stand, I’d been trying to get hold of him for over 9 months! Major companies like Walkers Crisps, Morrisons & Greggs – people we normally just can’t get to, all came past our stand. It was brilliant.”
The top-flight Maintec Conference will attract even more senior engineers, plant managers and heads of maintenance. The Conference will feature leading experts and practitioners who will draw on their experiences, new research and case studies as they explore the industry’s hottest topics, challenges and trends. The line-up will be announced in October 2012 and will be based on extensive research and visitor recommendations but as Matt Benyon, Managing Director of easyFairs UK Ltd, explains they’re aiming high: ‘This is no window dressing for the show. We’re talking about a top level conference, something that will really help delegates shift their maintenance strategy and thinking up a gear.’
A second new feature for Maintec 2013 is the Maintenance Professional Awards. These recognise and reward those who have applied know-how and technology to the maintenance process and delivered real commercial benefits as a result. The awards have two categories ‘Maintenance Professional of the Year’ and, in support of newer entrants to the industry, ‘Maintenance Apprentice of the Year’, with entries opening in the Autumn and the results announced at Maintec 2013.
Exhibitor, Karen Preston, Marketing Services Manager at Schaeffler (UK) Ltd, likes this development: “We welcome anything that recognises maintenance personnel’s efforts to reduce costs and improve plant availability for their business. It’s a good idea building this into the show.”
Maintec 2013 will also be exhibitor-packed. In addition to Schaeffler (UK), major names such as Flowcrete UK, R.Stahl, Eriks, Idhammar Systems, SPM Instruments, Prutechnik and Prevost UK have already signed up to exhibit in 2013. Their ranks will be further swelled by exhibitors in the HAZEX area, which brings the UK’s top hazard prevention experts under one roof to address the growing health and safety responsibilities of engineering professionals. Providing yet more show content will be the ‘free to attend’ learnShops seminar programme, plus the Dragons’ Den inspired contest ‘Lions’ Lair’ where new maintenance and engineering technologies, innovations and concepts are pitched to an expert panel.
Stand bookings for Mainec 2013, which takes place on 5-7 March at the NEC, Birmingham, can be made by contacting Jerry Dawson on +44 (0)20 8843 8823 or email Jerry.Dawson@easyFairs.com.
For further information visit www.easyFairs.com/MAINTECUK.
