JCtrans: Hello, Mr. Dehn we know that Materials Handling Middle East is the region's premium leading materials handling+logistics trade exhibition. So will you please make a brief introduction of this event?
Mr. Dehn: Materials Handling Middle East has been running since 2001 in Dubai - the central trade hub for the Middle East region and beyond. The forthcoming edition of the show will take place 25 to 27 September, 2011 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Sheikh Saeed Halls 2 and 3. A niche event dedicated to trade professionals. Materials Handling Middle East is an international meeting platform for everyone working within or associated with the logistics, supply chain, freight and cargo industries. It is the ideal place for exhibitors who wish to introduce their products and services to the Middle East, Africa and Indian subcontinent as well as to those who want to grow their presence further in the region. The range of exhibitors at the event covers a broad spectrum of this industry including: logistics; supply chain; freight and cargo; and automation and information and communication technology - products and services. In addition to this, in 2009 we introduced a containerization section to the event as part of our ongoing growth and development. Our product profile also covers a diverse range including: materials handling and loading equipment; packaging, containers and consumables; warehouse equipment; identification equipment and inventory management; transport; and logistics services and outsourcing solutions.
JCtrans: Would you please talk about how does Materials Handling Middle East benefit the industry?
Mr. Dehn: At Epoc Messe Frankfurt we believe that each of our trade events are a reflection of the industry as a whole. This is also the case for Materials Handling Middle East which aims to paint the picture of how the materials handling and logistics industry is across the globe. The exhibition acts as an interface between key industry players and local and regional suppliers and distributors. Its advantages are manifold - for exhibitors it provides the ideal opportunity to penetrate this rapidly emerging market and for visitors it is the ideal platform for sourcing new products and services which may not have been available in the market previously. It is not rare to see a product or service in use which was first introduced to the region through Materials Handling Middle East.
JCtrans: It is understood that the 5th edition of the Materials Handling gathered 175 industry leaders from 27 countries, which is a big success. Then what should we expect at Materials Handling 2011?
Mr. Dehn: Materials Handling Middle East will occupy two halls at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre and we expect to feature a diverse range of exhibitors from across the globe.
JCtrans: It is must be a great work to organize such an influential exhibition. So will you please talk about the most impressive thing at Materials Handling 2011?
Mr. Dehn: Until you are completely immersed in it, it is difficult to understand the entire spectrum of this incredible industry. Exhibitions are really special and are a very important facet of keeping the age-old tradition of trade alive. Materials Handling, as I mentioned earlier, is a very niche event focusing on a diverse and influential market. The forthcoming edition will feature the key names in the industry and bring together under one roof exhibitors and visitors from around the world. As many of the products within the industry such as fork-lifts, cranes, loading equipment and containers are quite large, you can expect to see some big stands, showcasing these products and services in quite an interactive setting.
Apart from the exhibition, there is a significant development within the Dubai market: after years of development, the initial stages of the Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport have been completed. This means that there is a direct connection from a sea port to an airport within a freezone available, adding a significant attraction to the Dubai Hub. By the time of the exhibition, this link will have been fully established and operational, making Dubai once again one of the most exciting logistic destinations.
Our demo area is a great place for exhibitors to display product innovation - visitors can see in real time the new innovations and developments of the marketplace in a hands-on, practical environment. Other features of this year¡¯s show will be a targeted marketing and communications campaign with special exhibitor opportunities within this. For this edition we have launched the concept of regional delegation trips. These act as an add-on for exhibitors who are given the opportunity to visit key regional countries with the Materials Handling team who will introduce them to a pool of contacts which they can then follow up with during the show. In addition we are also working on strategic business matching whereby the Materials Handling team will match key products and services to target groups, informing them of areas of interest at the show.
JCtrans: Materials Handling has been successfully held for several years. And we have come to the end of 2010. So what is your strategy for the coming year 2011?
Mr. Dehn: 2011 is a very important year for us. Since the last edition of the show in 2009 we have worked really hard with the key industry players, taking on their feedback regarding the show and in turn fine tuning the event to meet the needs and expectations of our exhibitors. With 2011 around the corner and the 6th edition of Materials Handling Middle East quickly approaching we are entering a crucial period. The team is working hard and some key industry names have confirmed their space for the 2011 event. It is now time to build on this momentum and to also ensure that those already in place receive ongoing customer care so they can make the very most out of their time at the exhibition. The team will be constantly on the go between now and the exhibition, pulling out every stop to ensure the continuous success of this important trade show.
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