IMHX 2013 update l
With news of the acquisition of IMHX organiser, Quartz, by Informa Group having been well received in the logistics market, the new owner is already planning a strategy for the show’s growth.
Exciting growth N
ow that the Quartz team is ensconced in the offices of Informa Exhibitions – one of Informa plc’s key events divisions – in London’s
Victoria, the new owner of IMHX has turned its focus to the development of the show over the coming years. There’s no hiding the fact that Informa is pleased to have acquired the jewel in the crown of UK logistics industry events. Says Peter Hall, managing director of Informa Exhibitions, “The acquisition is a fantastic fit for us, as Informa has a long and distinguished heritage in publishing and events for the maritime and logistics sectors.”
This is not puff on Peter Hall’s part; although this is just one of many sectors that Informa is active in – others include printing, life sciences, energy, construction, retail, finance, IT
and telecoms – its roll call of exhibitions and magazines is impressive, featuring events such as Intermodal Europe, RORO Conference & Exhibition, TOC Container Supply Chain Europe and a variety of port, logistics and maritime conferences, along with publications such as Lloyd’s List, International Freighting Weekly, Cargo Systems and Containerisation International.
Now it adds the International Materials Handling Exhibition (IMHX) and the Temperature Controlled Storage & Distribution show (TCS&D) to the list, along with the leading materials handling title Storage Handing Distribution (ShD) and its sister magazine, Solids & Bulk Handling. “IMHX is one of the top shows in the world in this sector,” continues Peter Hall, “and the fact that it’s co-owned by the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) makes it unique. We see this as a key strength of the event, providing additional stability and ensuring that it stays an industry event. Actually, although we wholly own almost all of our events, we still see them as belonging to their respective industries. Event organisers need to stay close to their customers and it’s generally when they don’t that things start to go wrong!”
Increasing international appeal Informa’s strategy for growth with regard to IMHX is two-pronged. Explains Peter Hall, “We are looking not only to grow IMHX itself but also to use our enhanced strength in the logistics sector to create brand-new products. For IMHX, we want to increase its international appeal, both on the exhibitor side and the visitor side. As part of a large global business, we are
Above:
Visitors get down to business at IMHX 2010.
Below, left: Peter Hall,
managing director of Informa Exhibitions.
able to internationalise products very effectively and we definitely see this as an opportunity for IMHX. "Our experience of running very large exhibitions, combined with our huge databases – we have 20 million contacts through staging some 5,000 training courses and conferences a year in a variety of sectors worldwide – means that we can grow IMHX through engaging more exhibitors and visitors from outside the UK. "In today’s increasingly globalised economy,” continues Peter Hall, “international buyers are key. In terms of growing the IMHX brand, we see opportunities for new events offshore in emerging markets, the success of which will also enhance the profile of the UK event.”
Content and knowledge are key In the media business, looking into the future can be difficult, due to the impact of ever-advancing technology. Peter Hall is confident, however, that there will always be a place for
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www.PressOnShD.com December 2011 ShD 23
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