Fluid Power & Systems and Air-Tech 2018 triumph

24 May, 2018

New extended BFPA & BFPDA pavilion

As the result of a joint initiative between the British Fluid Power Association (BFPA) and exhibition organiser DFA Media, the BFPA introduced a new extended pavilion that included a dedicated Distributor feature at Fluid Power & Systems 2018.

The Knowledge Hub

The Knowledge Hub – located in the heart of the co-located events – took the highly respected free seminar and conference programme to a different level. The structure of the Knowledge Hub programme provided visitors with a unique learning experience with one of the most comprehensive speaker programmes of the year.

Support

Sponsors for Fluid Power & Systems 2018 were: Custom Fittings, IMI Norgren, Metal Work, MP Filtri, Schwer Fittings, Pirtek, SMC Pneumatics, Stauff and Tom Parker Ltd. Media partners for the show were: Hydraulics & Pneumatics, Drives & Controls and Process Engineering. Sponsors for Air-Tech 2018 were: Gardner Denver, Hertz Kompressoren, Huba Control, Ingersoll Rand, Mattei and Teseo. Media partners for the show were: Hydraulics & Pneumatics and Plant & Works Engineering.

Annual Motion Control Industry Awards

The third annual Motion Control Industry Awards Dinner, held on the evening of Tuesday 10 April at the National Conference Centre near Birmingham, once again provided a fitting celebration of business and professional excellence. Co-located with the Fluid Power & Systems, Air-Tech and Drives & Controls exhibitions at the nearby NEC. The Awards event recognises the achievements of ‘motion control’ companies and individuals who strive to go the extra mile. For a report on this event, see page 36.

Biggest event to date

DFA Media’s commercial director, Ryan Fuller, commented: “This was our biggest co-located event to date, with even more exhibitors and more extensive floor space than we have featured in the past, together with an extended seminar and conference programme. In addition to the performance of the shows, I was also delighted to witness the growing success of the Annual Motion Control Industry Awards Dinner. Now in its third year, the event really has become the industry’s main awards event. Now, although it might seem like a long way off, it’s time to start preparing for our shows for 2020.”

DFA Media managing director, Ian Atkinson, said: “As the organiser, we were once again delighted to hear positive reports from exhibitors and visitors alike. We feel this reflects the health and positive outlook of the shows’ target technology and industry segments. The entire team at DFA Media would like to thank the exhibitors, seminar presenters and visitors for making the event our biggest and best so far.”

Popular choice

Fluid Power & Systems, which has the full support of the British Fluid Power Association (BFPA), is the only exhibition in the UK totally focused on hydraulics, pneumatics, systems and related equipment, and as such has proved to be the popular choice for fluid power system manufacturers and distributors. Chris Buxton, CEO of the British Fluid Power Association (BFPA), incorporating the British Fluid Power Distributors Association (BFPDA), said of Fluid Power & Systems 2018: “Visitor numbers to the exhibitions were encouraging and the BFPA pavilion was busy throughout the three days of the event. It was evident among many of the exhibitors that the continuing trend towards automation and wider motion control continues apace, whilst those visitors seeking a range of added value learning opportunities seemed pleased with the range of topics covered in the seminar programme. We are now looking ahead to the 2020 event.”

Only dedicated UK event

Air-Tech covers current key themes related to the very latest in air compressor and related technology from companies from around the globe. The event is fully supported by the British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) and is the UK’s only dedicated event for the compressed air and generators market.

Vanda Jones, BCAS’s executive director, commented: “Air-Tech was a great show for BCAS on several fronts. It was the first time I had worked with DFA Media and the process was seamless. Even before the show started the exhibitor website made planning and marketing very easy.

“Once at the show, BCAS hosted its spring conference which was attended by members from both the manufacturer and distributor sectors. For the end users we were also able to use the platform to launch our end user survey, our technical guide and the new knowledge base on the website. Show traffic was brisk on all three days and it was an excellent opportunity for us to provide impartial expert advice to exactly the right audience. All in all, a very successful three days; it enabled us to link with new contacts and existing members.”