Interbuild 2007 will be staged over five days between Sunday 28 October and Thursday 1 November 2007 at the NEC in Birmingham.
Established since 1895, Interbuild is the UK's most comprehensive event on the construction calendar. A total of 44,436 (ABC audited) people visited Interbuild in 2006. 5,463 visitors were working on live projects with a total value of £16.19bn. The range of visitors is wide and varied from all levels of the market - from multi-disciplined specifiers through to specialist contractors, general builders, installers and end users.
"Encouraging sales led us to believe that this year's show would be a success from the start," says Interbuild Event Director, Gordon Thomas. "Now, with just weeks to go, I'm delighted to report that this is indeed the case and we're fast nearing capacity.
"The construction industry is a complex market place with a multitude of specifiers, influencers and decision making units. From an exhibition organiser's perspective, when working in such an arena it is often easy to over complicate the solution, but we have found over the years by listening hard to the market that the best trade exhibitions are the ones that are able to understand the complexities and respond by delivering a simple and logical format. And in order to keep it simple, you really need to understand your audience's true wants and needs, which goes far beyond simply mapping out the supply chain and buying in stats on the latest buying behaviours.
Changes for 2007
"One of the biggest changes for 2007 is that we have moved Interbuild to a prime spot in October. We have responded to customer feedback and they tell us that this would be the best time in the calendar to suit the buying audience. The survey of our 44,434 visitors and 1100 exhibitors advised that a mid-autumn, annual show would be much better to source new products and services. So its official, the next show will run from 28th October to 1st November 2007.
"Another major change is that we have redesigned the layout of the entire show and moved to the NEC's biggest halls, 3, 3a, 4 and 5. This will help us to make better use of the space available, and help halls link to ensure that visitors can navigate the show in a logical way," adds Thomas.
"Social trends have a dramatic impact on the industry and the response we've had to the new CEDIA area is a prime example. Home automation features are fast becoming highly sought after and property developers are tapping into this as a key point of differentiation.
"Another obvious key driver at the moment is sustainability," adds Thomas. "The Eco Interbuild initiatives have been well received with many exhibitors choosing to enter the new Eco Product Showcase. In addition, we're working with key trade bodies to put together a thought provoking seminar schedule and the BRE's talks on low carbon homes, in particular, have generated a lot of interest already - as well as similarly 'green' themed sessions proposed by RIBA CPD and TRADA."
iTSHOWCASE at Interbuild
Once again at this year's Interbuild, visitors can get to grips with the latest software and computer-based technologies at iTSHOWCASE at Interbuild, taking place in Hall 5.
Last year 6,343 visitors with a specific interest in IT came to Interbuild to see how the latest application packages could make their businesses easier, more efficient and more profitable. This year another encouraging turnout is expected with leading companies such as Sage, Google, Computers Unlimited, ConQuest, Integrity, Trial Systems and HBXL all exhibiting.
A series of 25 free seminars on IT in construction are being held in the dedicated iTSHOWCASE theatre. Here delegates can brush up on everything from the latest in Accounting to more effective GIS Mapping; Improving CAD Efficiency and gain some useful tips for Marketing Online.
The 30-minute seminars are taking place every day - Sunday through to Thursday, 11.30am to 16:30pm - with many modules repeated to give visitors more chance to attend relevant sessions.
"As well as the seminars visitors will be able to see software and products in action on the stands giving them a chance to try the systems for themselves," says iTSHOWCASE, Managing Director, Steve Jones.
"MAM Software, for instance, is launching its new 'Trader' package with special features to facilitate retail and wholesale order processing, purchase administration, stock control, ledger accounting and management reporting. We're expecting a lot of interest from merchants in this particular package."
Interbuild - latest innovations in building
Overall, a visitor will find over 1,100 exhibitors showing thousands of products that cover every aspect of construction - many of them with brand new products being launched right there at the show. If you are involved in the construction industry then Interbuild will be the must attend event of the year and the only place that you need to go to find the latest products and information.
Interbuild has long been renowned as an industry leader in terms of providing ongoing education, seminars and demonstrations within the event itself. Research has shown that visitors want even more - so with that in mind we are currently ramping up the seminar programme to make Interbuild the focal point for knowledge in the industry. All this is completely free to every member of the building trade at every level.
The aim is to build a bigger forum, an ideas interchange for the industry, where leaders in construction impart their wisdom to the wider audience.
At Interbuild 2007, there are nine seminar and workshop theatres located across all three exhibition halls. The majority of the seminars are short; sharp sessions covering a huge range of subjects yet in most cases lasting no more than three quarters of an hour. The seminars are all free of charge to visitors and will accommodate between 30 and 60 delegates.
In order to appreciate its true value, the trade exhibition should be evaluated only on what it professes to achieve. Interbuild is a place to share best practice, inform on new product development and review technological advancements. The show creates an exciting environment that brings buyers and suppliers together and helps create lasting relationships.
"Thanks to the calibre of exhibitors, a jam-packed feature schedule and already high demand for seminar places, we anticipate a tremendous turn-out at this year's event," concludes Thomas.
"We look forward to welcoming you Sunday 28 October - Thursday 1 November at Birmingham's NEC arena; Halls 3/3a, 4 and 5."
