Drives & Controls Expo a huge success for SMC
15/05/2014 SMC Pneumatics (UK) Ltd
A change in exhibition strategy and a three day appearance at the recent Drives and Controls Expo at the NEC looks to have been a worthwhile exercise according to SMC, the world-leading expert in pneumatics and fluid control. The Milton-Keynes based manufacturer, a subsidiary of the Japanese industrial giant SMC Corporation, says the venture to attend an event with such a broad-based audience - rather than an industry-specific show - looks set to pay off.After an absence of seven years from the exhibition circuit, since 2008 the company has showcased their products at industry-specific events such as the PPMA show, Appetite for Engineering and Hillhead.
However with the Corporation continuing to launch around 40 new products or product variations every year, and having been listed as one of the world's most innovative companies for three consecutive years by US publishing giant Forbes, the decision was taken to appear at an exhibition with a much wider audience.
"It took a huge amount of work and a significant investment just to get us here - financially and in terms of manpower - before the show had even opened", said SMC's Head of Sales for the UK, Nick Pittwood. "To operate one of the largest stands in the entire event for three days involved almost every display from our showroom, and took around a quarter of our salesforce off the road for the duration. To commit to doing that, we had to be sure the outcome would be worthwhile.
"The initial indications are very positive: our stand was incredibly busy on all three days - in fact we were still speaking with visitors 20 minutes after the doors closed on the final day, while other stands were dismantled around us! We passed our target for how many visitors we wanted to speak with by around a third and - most importantly - the quality of those leads was very high.
"Because SMC is known worldwide for manufacturing pneumatic components, we challenged show visitors to come and discover products that they wouldn't normally associate with us, and we're confident that we were able to surprise a lot of people by demonstrating products like electric actuators, chillers and control systems".
For anyone who was unable to visit the NEC for the exhibition, tours of the SMC manufacturing facility and showroom at their Milton Keynes headquarters can be arranged by emailing InnovationsCentre@smcpneumatics.co.uk.
For more information, please contact:
SMC Pneumatics (UK) Limited
Vincent Avenue
Crownhill
Milton Keynes
Buckinghamshire
MK8 0AN
Tel: +44 1908 555017
Fax: +44 1908 561185
Email: sales@smcpneumatics.co.uk
Web: www.smcpneumatics.co.uk
Print this articleShare article:
Process and Control Today are not responsible for the content of submitted or externally produced articles and images. Click here to email us about any errors or omissions contained within this article.