The International Materials Handling Exhibition (IMHX), the UK's undisputed leader in logistics events and one of the country's top ten largest trade shows, will once again act as the launch pad for a large number of new materials handling products and services when it opens next year.
Taking place at the NEC in Birmingham from 16-19 November 2010, IMHX will span halls 17, 18, 19 and 20, giving a total footprint of some 45,000m2. With just 10 months to go until the doors open, over 140 exhibitors have signed up for the show, including many of the industry's leading British and European companies. Comments Event Director, Rob Fisher, "Despite the gloomy economic climate, IMHX is enjoying a fantastic sales position, with over 70% of floor space sold."
Edmolift UK Ltd - leading manufacturer and supplier of scissor lift tables, loading bay equipment, goods lifts, ergonomic lifters and work positioners - will use IMHX 2010 for the début of its new 'PitFree LoLoader'. Explains Darren Papani, Managing Director, "This will be a very important event for Edmolift, as it will be the launch platform for what we consider to be the most innovative loading bay product introduced for years. Despite the current economic doom and gloom, our engineers and designers have been hard at work developing the world's first pit-free low level loading bay scissor lift table, the PitFree LoLoader. This new product, which has been designed and manufactured entirely in the UK, requires no civil works and can be put into operation within 30 minutes of delivery."
Korean forklift manufacturer Doosan will be exhibiting a number of trucks from its extensive range at IMHX. Over 80 Doosan models are now available in the UK, from 1.0 to 5.0 tonnes for electric models and from 1.5 to 16.0 tonnes for IC models. Doosan markets two ranges of trucks under its brand: the higher specification Pro-5 series and the entry-level GX range. The dealer-based company has recently introduced six new IC engine models to its GX range, bringing the total number of GX models to ten. Says Doosan UK's General Manager, Tim Waples, "In the midst of an economic downturn, we know that businesses are keen to keep costs down as they invest to grow and survive. As such, the GX series is very popular with users that perhaps don't have as intensive an operation as some of our Pro-5 fleet customers, but still need reliability and performance from a proven machine."
Manufacturer of pallet inverters, tippers, stackers and destackers, Payne Pallet Inverters Ltd, will be giving live demonstrations of its machines on the company's stand at IMHX. Says David Payne, Managing Director, "Products demonstrated to visitors will include pallet exchangers, pallet inverters and pallet stackers, some of which will be to a brand-new specification and design. We received two significant orders from a major confectionery company at the last IMHX in 2007, so we're looking forward to another successful show."
Automated handling solutions supplier KNAPP UK Ltd is planning an exciting interactive experience for its stand in hall 20. Explains Craig Rollason, the company's Head of Sales and Marketing, "We'll be constructing a special 3D cinema in which visitors can pay a virtual visit to a warehouse by wearing 3D glasses and using a joystick to navigate their way around." The firm will also be promoting its new dispatch buffer solution - the OSR-DS - which uses technology from the company's proven OSR (Order, Storage & Retrieval) system. Designed to make dispatch processes both more efficient and more flexible, the first OSR-DS will be installed shortly at the site of the pharmaceutical wholesaler, COFEX, in Spain.
Mobile weighing specialist RAVAS will be introducing its new generation of scale forks for lift trucks - iForks - at the exhibition. The product is the first completely wireless scale forks system for fork-lift trucks, using Bluetooth technology to communicate with the cab-mounted weight indicator. With all components fully integrated in the forks, the iForks have no external cabling whatsoever. Dubbed 'plug & weigh' by RAVAS, iForks can be installed onto any truck in a matter of minutes to provide instant and accurate weighing of all loads.
Transmon Engineering Ltd, based in Leicester, will be promoting its fleet management and electronic control solutions at the exhibition. Says Paul Sercombe, Sales Director, "Our specialists will offer simple advice about reducing operational costs, heightening safety and enhancing efficiency." Among the products on show will be Transmon's Tyre Savure, a device that the firm claims can reduce tyre wear by up to 400% by preventing the driver from attempting sudden direction change while the truck is in motion or at high engine rpm. Easily fitted to any truck in just two hours and adjustable to suit any application, this system can significantly reduce expenditure, while also encouraging proper driving practices to enhance efficiency.
Loading bay specialist Stertil Stokvis will be officially launching its new 'P' series of dock levellers at IMHX. A parallelogram model, the new 'P' series can be pit- or frame-mounted/suspended, depending on the application. The firm claims that the new range provides an extremely smooth transition when loading or unloading, improving speed and minimising the impact on loading trucks and thereby minimising their maintenance. "I'm confident that with the 'P' series we have improved on anything we have produced in the way of dock levellers before," says Andrew Georgiou, General Manager of the Stertil Stokvis loading bay division.
Southam-based supplier of lightweight cranes, overhead conveyors and monorails, Niko Ltd, will be demonstrating its range of products on its stand at the show. Niko's Daniel Upton explains "Our stand will display our manual overhead conveyor system with localised power travel and our lightweight overhead crane with latching facility. Our experienced technical staff will be performing constant live demonstrations of these products to all visitors."
TVH UK Ltd - the worldwide supplier of forklifts, aerial platforms and spare parts - will use IMHX to launch several new products including SmartSweep, an environmentally friendly sweeper. Driven by a standard fork-lift truck without the need for a hydraulic connection, SmartSweep is up to 70% cheaper than a conventional sweeper. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use in dry conditions, SmartSweep features two pneumatic tyres and a rubber support wheel that combine to give a very small turning circle.
German supplier of electromechanical components to the forklift industry, Rema, will be launching several electronic devices to improve driver control at IMHX 2010. The company will also be staging a competition in which visitors will test their skills in manoeuvring a pallet truck using a stand-alone tiller head.
Leasing company Bibby Leasing Ltd will be addressing the issue of asset finance at the show. Explains Sales Manager, John Bradshaw, "Our group formed a specialist division, Industrial Equipment, in 2007 to provide funding facilities specifically tailored to the needs of the materials handling industry. We'll be explaining our range of services to visitors on our stand in hall 20."
Other exhibitors at IMHX 2010 will be featuring not only materials handling equipment but also health and safety systems; software solutions; racking and shelving; storage systems; pallets and palletising equipment; property; recruitment and training services; third party logistics; transport and distribution; flooring; packaging; handling system design; financial services; and warehousing.
For further information on exhibiting at IMHX 2010, contact Rob Fisher on 01895 454600 or visit www.imhx.biz