Record attendance for Maintec 2014

The event – for the maintenance, plant and asset management industry – welcomed some 3671 unique visitors over the three days, suggesting that the strategy to take Maintec to the next level through clever co-locations has worked.

Maintec 2014 ran alongside two other shows: Facilities Management, an event for facilities management professionals; and the Health & Safety Event, which is run by a leader in the health and safety sector, Western Business Exhibitions. 

Senior decision makers and buyers attending Maintec 2014 were treated to content from the very forefront of the industry, including a return of the Business Strategy Forum which made such an impressive debut at the last show. This, once again, was hosted by Dr. Andrew Starr from Cranfield University, and featured sessions from Sellafield, Gatwick Airport and Network Rail. In addition to this, the Business Exchange featured a programme of 20 free, content-rich talks, offering advice, new innovations and case studies.

Attendees were enthusiastic about these educational seminars: Freddy Shamwana, social consultant of Digby Wells Environmental, being typical of many when he said: "There has been a wide array of exhibitors and seminars – very good.”

Maintec 2014 also ran its established show favourite, Lions’ Lair competition. This was won by Alpine Components, which secured the top innovation slot for its Ultraprobe, which uses ultrasound to economically and effectively detect leaks on equipment such as compressors.

On the exhibitor front Maintec featured a number of new exhibitors as well as numerous Maintec regulars, many of whom chose the show as the launch pad for new products or services. For instance IRISS unveiled its new range of permanent electrical safety device products; Schaeffler debuted its unique multi-point lubricator for rolling bearings on the show floor, while FLIR Systems chose Maintec 2014 as the global launch platform for its new FLIR Ex and Exx Series thermal imaging cameras.

The show has received strong exhibitor feedback. Cliff Matthews, managing director at Matthews Engineering Training, says: "The quality of visitors this year has been very high with a large amount of potential leads for us to discuss over the next month.”

Claire Cox, senior manager at eMaint, agrees: "It is our first year at the show and it has been really positive. There is a great interaction between visitors and future partners.”

Due to this success, 65% of exhibitors have been quick to rebook for Maintec 2015 which takes place from 24th to 26th March 2015 at the NEC, Birmingham.  Furthermore easyFairs has just confirmed that Maintec 2015 will be co-located with yet another compatible event – a brand new cleaning show called Cleaning Expo, which will include the Healthcare and Hygiene Expo and Street Cleaning Expo. 

Katie Morhen, event manager, concludes: "This year’s attendance figures were stunning – a real step-change moment.  We hoped the co-locations would drive even more visitors to Maintec and at the same time provide yet more relevant content to the community of maintenance and engineering professionals who head to the show every year. Now we’re looking forward to next year, and building on this success.”