Constructionshows
It’s almost unbelievable that it was over a year ago (January 2011) that the CEA (Construction Equipment Association) announced its plans to host PLANTWORX, a new biennial working plant show, which will take place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire 14th – 16th May 2013. The show is now over 45% sold and has more than 60 exhibitors committed to the inaugural exhibition.
The companies that have signed on the dotted line and have committed to exhibit at the 2013 event, range from key OEM’s including JCB, New Holland, Volvo Construction Equipment and Terex, who will be exhibiting and demonstrating in the Dig Zone. Merlo, Manitou and Bomag, who have secured stand space in the No Dig Zone, to specialist suppliers including Ashtree Glass, Spring Masters and Webtec, who have taken their place in the undercover Pavilion. Spillard Safety Systems, Probst Handling Equipment and Geoff Agg Engineering have all booked terrace stands, located in the Dig Zone.
Construction Minister, Mark Prisk gave the show his full support when it was first announced and has been following its progress, in a recent statement Prisk said, “I was very pleased when the Construction Equipment Association announced its plans for PLANTWORX in May 2013. One year on from that launch I am encouraged to learn of the progress that has been made and that so many key companies are committed to being involved.
“The UK’s construction equipment industry remains a key element of this country’s manufacturing base and is one of our key export sectors with some 75% of UK production going overseas. PLANTWORX can provide a showcase for our companies to demonstrate their world class products and services”.
It’s PLANTWORX aim to provide the exhibitor whether small, medium or large the perfect platform to showcase their products to the widest possible audience ‘a one stop shop’ where the visitor can purchase anything from a small hand tool, replacement parts, business software, right up to a large excavator, dumper or crane.
Simon Frere-Cook, PLANTWORX exhibition director commented, “This is an exciting project and it is important for us to cater for all types of potential visitors and exhibitors. PLANTWORX will not only be about the “big boys’ toys” but will aim to reflect the whole spectrum of equipment and services. We believe that the key to this show’s success will be the largest demonstration areas ever provided at a UK event. For those exhibitors not demonstrating we offer competitively priced ready to exhibit stands including the undercover pavilion for ancillary products.”
The PLANTWORX team has shaped the show by listening to what exhibitors want from a UK construction event – the ethos behind the show is ‘a show for the industry by the industry’. A key point which was raised on a number of occasions by the smaller exhibitor was that – indoor events restrict demonstration – these exhibitors wanted an event where they could demonstrate their products to the wider construction community whether it be a small hand tool, an attachment or an application. PLANTWORX offers just that – and you don’t need a huge marketing budget to do this. The whole point of the show is there is a place for everything and it’s a ‘back to basics’ event where machinery, tools and equipment can be shown ‘working’ – in a see it try it and buy it scenario!
“We have consciously designed the show to maximise demonstration potential, not just for the large OEM’s but for exhibitors across the board,” said PLANTWORX sales manager Angela Spink. “We have a large selection of stand options and sizes on offer to ensure all exhibitors can find a space that will fit into their budget.”
An exhibitor that has been actively part of the PLANTWORX ‘working group’ is Webtec Products, the company has taken its place in the show’s Pavilion. “We manufacture hydraulic valves and portable test equipment for the mobile machinery markets,” said Adrian Cooper UK sales manager for Webtec,” so when the CEA announced it was to host a mobile plant demonstration and exhibition, Webtec was one of the first companies to step forward and pledge its support.
Being longstanding CEA members, Webtec recognises the benefits of face-to-face marketing and has taken up an offer to work directly with the CEA organising team to ensure the success of this inaugural event, by incorporating a fresh and innovative approach. PLANTWORX 2013; it’s what the mobile plant and support industries have been waiting for.”
Probst Handling Equipment was one of the very first exhibitors to reserve a stand at the show, the company has booked a terrace stand in the Dig Zone with a demonstration plot directly opposite, Probst sales manager Nigel Hughes said, “PLANTWORX 2013 is going to be a key event in our exhibition calendar. Static plots enable us to show our range of products but with this show we have the added advantage of having a demonstration plot to show visitors just what our kit can do. I think this is vitally important to a buyer. We are looking forward to the show next year and will be showing our full range of handling and laying equipment for the construction industry.”
Geoff Agg Engineering specialise in waste fluid draining systems, which are all based around the Femco Drain Plug, the company booked its stand in November of last year and has been a supporter of the event since it was announced. Engineering director, Geoff Agg said, “Our products fit on every vehicle on the road and one of our key sectors is the construction vehicle market. We have booked a stand in the dig zone and we have also reserved a demonstration space. We want to demonstrate just how our Femco drain system works and for this we needed a ‘digging area’ to show a ‘live changing of oil’.
We were keen to support PLANTWORX and I admire the fact that the CEA had the ‘get up and go’ to organise a new show. It’s particularly well located for us and we can commute to and from the event. So the logistics make it more economical and we can use that saving to invest more into our stand and our demo. We don’t do a great deal of marketing but we do like to be seen and show that we are serious contenders – and what better place to do just that than at a brand new UK exhibition? It’s also a perfect opportunity to invite existing customers with whom we haven’t met – put a face to a name and ‘shake hands’.”
PLANTWORX is also a show where new technologies will play a fundamental role – times are changing rapidly and new innovations on how to work more efficiently are pivotal to achieving a high level of success in our industry. The CETA (Construction Equipment Technology Alliance) was formed by four companies, GKD Technik, Halomec, MOBA and OnGrade as an organisation to help promote the use of technology-based systems on construction equipment. It is CETA’s mission to encourage safer, more efficient and effective working in the construction industry. The group has booked its space in the Dig Zone where it will be demonstrating their diverse range of products and services.
MOBA Mobile Automation’s managing director Alistair Brown (a CETA founder member) said, “As a new company to the UK this is MOBA’s first time at such a large and prestigious exhibition. We are looking forward to using the excellent marketing reach of the PLANTWORX team to assist us in bringing advanced technologies, together with our CETA partner companies GKD Technik, Halomec and OnGrade, to the benefit of as many UK contractors as possible assisting them in improving their competitiveness in these challenging times.”
Mark Evans, RDS Technology business technology manager said “PLANTWORX is a dedicated showcase for the UK’s construction machinery industry providing a focused event that is sure to appeal to end-users interested in discovering the latest products and technology in a ‘live’ environment.
We look forward to highlighting the operational and economic benefits of our on-boarding weighing systems and how they add significant value at operational level. Our emphasis will be advising the correct selection of instrument to carry out accurate truck loading and check weighing tasks more efficiently reducing vehicle movements and increasing site safety.”
Preparations for PLANTWORX 2013 step up a notch with the “One Year To Go” event at Stoneleigh Park on 24 May 2012. The programme includes the launch of the CESAR-CITS Plantworx Security Village, a report on developments and happenings at Stoneleigh Park (including the proposed HS2 railway from London to Birmingham) and other interesting topics. Put the date into your diaries – more details will be published in due course.
Don’t forget you can keep up date with news as it happens on the PLANTWORX web site at www.plantworx.co.uk or follow the show on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
Source: Plantworx News Room
