Materials Handling Exhibition 2003 records visitor increase of 40 per cent

Most exhibitors reported a huge trade turnout, leading to serious inquiries which either fructified into business or showed promise of developing into business propositions at a future date.

"While the increase in the number of visitors encouraged the exhibitors, what is even more significant was that they came from the target markets, including officials and professionals connected with airports, cargo complexes, ports, free zones and the construction and logistics sectors," said Micheal El Nayal, Managing Partner, Epoc Messe Frankfurt, organizers of the show. "The visitors got to see highly advanced new equipment for logistics handling and catch up with developments in the industry through a series of conferences and seminars organized by major exhibitors."

Among the diverse range of products and solutions showcased at the show were freight movement equipment, cranes, hoists, conveyor systems, warehousing services, packaging, forklift trucks, weighing equipment, pallets and pallet systems. Exhibitors expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the exhibition.

"This was our fifth participation in the show and we are very pleased with the response," said Sanjoy Roy Choudhury, Sales Manager of Linde, the company that launched a new hydrostatic counterbalance truck at the show. "We received a steady flow of trade visitors who showed great interest in our exhibits. We are confident that quite a few of inquiries will turn into firm orders."

Ghassan Daniel, Regional Project Manager of SPAN, the company that specializes in storage, materials handling and warehousing management systems, described the visitor response as excellent. "This is the second year we are participating in the show and we have noticed that the response is getting better each year."

Still GmbH, the German manufacturer of electronic forklift trucks, exhibited its showpiece, the RXX, the forklift of the future presented for the first time outside Europe by Al Shirawi Enterprises L.L.C. "We were overwhelmed by the visitor turnout, specially trade visitors from the UAE and the Gulf. We expect many inquiries to firm into business propositions. The response showed that the industry is heading for re-growth."

Al Thika Packaging, a first-time exhibitor, made many head turns by showcasing its self-propelled pallet wrapper, the Robopac Robot 2003. "We were impressed by the category of visitors. We received a lot of inquiries, including a serious offer from Sudan. There was a huge response to our heavy duty and end of line packaging systems. We could not have thought of a better venue to launch our Robopac Robot," said Tim Ansell, Sales Manager, Al Thika Packaging.

"The Materials Handling Exhibition and Conference 2003 helped bring under one platform leading players responsible for innovations in the field," said Geoff Dickinson Managing Partner, EPOC Messe Frankfurt. "The response to the show underlined the region's growth potential reflected in the expansion and construction of airports, ports, free zones, shopping mall, hotels and numerous other projects that are creating a huge demand for materials handling."