IMHX 2013: the home of intralogistics

by Events on 2012-02-08

With the next International Materials Handling Exhibition (IMHX) now just a year away, the show’s organisers are gearing up to stage the UK’s premier intralogistics event.

Eagle-eyed professionals in this industry sector will have noticed the increasing use of the phrase ‘intralogistics’ in place of ‘materials handling’ or simply ‘logistics’. Just as logistics managers up and down the UK were sighing with relief that – thanks mainly to the TV advertising efforts of a certain express shipment firm – they no longer had to explain what they did for a living at dinner parties, the industry lingo has become more complicated again!


What’s in a name?
Shakespeare’s Juliet pondered, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.” In other words, what matters is the content, not the name or description. Rob Fisher, Director of the Materials Handling Group of IMHX’s organiser, Informa, disagrees: “We’re embracing this new term, as it hones in precisely on the profile of the IMHX brand. The ‘intra’ prefix adds real clarity to what IMHX is all about,” continues Rob Fisher, “because our exhibitors and visitors are concerned primarily with what happens between the four walls of a distribution centre or production facility. It’s that key part of the supply chain from goods-in to goods-out that matters most at IMHX.”

Technically speaking, intralogistics is the organisation, monitoring and optimisation of internal material and information flows. As such, it encompasses a vast range of products and services: not only forklift trucks, conveyors and automated handling systems, but also loading bay systems; lifting equipment; health and safety systems; software and IT solutions; racking and shelving; storage systems; pallets and palletising equipment; access equipment; property; recruitment and training services; third party logistics; transport and distribution; flooring; packaging systems; handling system design; financial services; and warehousing.

IMHX now 75% sold
Taking place at the NEC from 19-22 March 2013, IMHX is the undisputed leader in UK intralogistics events. The show has a clear track history in delivering not only high-quality leads but also signed and sealed orders at the event. It is this pedigree that accounts for the fact that 75% of the space at IMHX 2013 has been sold a full year before its doors are opened. The show’s loyal exhibitors understand that IMHX presents them with a unique opportunity to engage with, and sell to, key supply chain professionals. The latest firms to sign up for IMHX include Barloworld Handling, Aetna, Bravi UK and Loadhog.

Not content to rest on their laurels, however, the show’s co-owners – Informa Exhibitions and the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) – are implementing a number of features to add further interest and appeal to this highly successful show. The popular Design 4 Safety competition will return, giving all 350 anticipated exhibitors the opportunity for valuable additional publicity. The exclusive VIP valet parking scheme will make a welcome return, allowing top executives to drive straight up to the show’s entrance, have their vehicle parked securely by a professional driver and enjoy access to the Premier Club Lounge with complimentary refreshments and Internet facilities. IMHX 2013 will once again feature an area for automation specialists – the AMHSA Zone, hosted by the Automated Material Handling Systems Association – that will be even larger than at the 2010 show. Visitors will also be able to benefit once again from a free seminar programme on a range of hot industry topics.

For further information on exhibiting at the show, contact Rob Fisher on +44 (0)20 7017 6986, email rob.fisher@informa.com or visit www.imhx.biz.


About Informa Exhibitions
Informa Exhibitions (www.informaexhibitions.com) is a network of exhibitions businesses within Informa plc that operate around 135 trade and consumer events in over 38 cities across the globe. Its main office locations are in London, Sao Paulo, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Mumbai, Singapore, Melbourne and Beijing. Each year the group brings together approximately 1 million professionals from every corner of every continent, all looking to meet, network and do business. Informa plc (www.informa.com) provides academics, businesses and individuals with unparalleled knowledge, up-to-the minute information and highly specialist skills and services. With around 8,000 staff working in some 150 offices in over 40 countries, Informa’s global reach and breadth of offer is unique.

About IMHX
The International Materials Handling Exhibition (IMHX) is jointly owned by Informa Exhibitions and the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA). Held once every three years, IMHX is one of the major European shows and, with some ten per cent of visitors coming to the exhibition from overseas, is worthy of its international title and status. In 2010, IMHX attracted 355 exhibitors and tens of thousands of visitors from virtually every industry sector including logistics, materials handling, transportation, food and drink production, retailing, pharmaceuticals, automotive, manufacturing, engineering and government. IMHX 2013 will be held at the NEC, Birmingham, from 19-22 March 2013.