Show Preview: PALME Middle East
A decade in Dubai P
ALME Middle East, the longest established event for show, lighting and
AV professionals in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, marks its 10th anniversary this year. “We are proud to be
celebrating the 10th anniversary of PALME Middle East,” says exhibition director Richard Brook. “2012 is all about recognising advances in the industry over the past decade, and while we have exhibitors that have participated since the very first show, we also look forward to welcoming new exhibitors and visitors.”
In those 10 years, the Middle East has seen a rise and fall in economic fortunes. But despite the global downturn, which stalled the once-unfaltering development in the UAE, signs of recovery are evident, with the Institute of International Finance estimating 3.1% growth in Dubai’s GDP for 2011. “[Dubai’s economic
recovery] is consistent with the huge amount of investment taking place in Saudi, Iran, Qatar and Abu Dhabi,” continues Brook, pointing out in particular the recent opening of the Qatar National
Convention Centre – a cutting- edge facility with a high- quality AV infrastructure. Other reasons for a
resurgence could include Qatar being named host nation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, or huge construction projects, such as the Habatoor Palace, a $1.3 billion hotel and theatre mega project in Dubai. Mark Flanagan,
communications manager at exhibitor Tannoy, points out: “There are still plenty of opportunites across the region; we are already plugging into spin-offs from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.”
Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, PALME Middle East has seen booming economies and global instabilities during its lifetime. James McGrath looks at what’s in store at this year’s event
The show will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2012
Signs of this revival are also expected in visitor numbers for this year’s PALME Middle East event, which are forecast to be around the 5,000 mark.
Event highlights New for this year at the show itself is a networking event for senior level visitors, which will be held at the end of the opening day of the show (1 May). Targeted at senior-level visitors and exhibitors, the reception is intended to bring together hosted buyers and their relevant suppliers so introductions can be made on a more informal basis. Also taking place alongside
the show is PALME’s 4th Lighting Solutions Conference, which will give attendees the chance to learn about the progression of lighting design. Topics to be covered include ‘New technologies and product in lighting design’, and ‘Energy efficient solutions and day lighting integration’. The Pro-Audio and Visual
Conference, meanwhile, will provide professionals with an opportunity to discover the latest technical advances in pro AV. Among the topics set for exploration are ‘How to control low frequency for events’ and ‘Turnkey visualisation solutions for venues’. Exhibitor-led technical seminars will also be on offer, in addition to expert-led seminar sessions.
10 IE April 2012
A number of products will be making their Middle East debut. Bose, Meyer Sound and Tannoy are all presenting new audio systems to the area, with Tannoy having played some part in each show since its inception 10 years ago. The Scotland-based
manufacturer will be appearing alongside TC Group family members
Lab.gruppen and Lake for the first time at the show. The TC Group is also set to introduce its Applications Engineers and Training (AET) group to the Middle East.
Regional firsts Among the products making a first appearance in the Middle East region will be Tannoy’s VLS (Vertical Line Source) passive column range. Designed for architectural install applications, the VLS uses transducer technology adapted from Tannoy’s QFlex steerable column range. Flanagan adds: “Despite the
growth in areas such as Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, Dubai remains the commercial business hub for the region, and the Middle East represents a significant part of Tannoy’s turnover.” The Lake LM standalone digital processor will also be making its first appearance in the region, as part of the
Lab.gruppen offering. Also on the
Lab.gruppen stand will be the new installation E Series
www.installationeurope.com
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