With a final registered attendance figure of 40,869, ISE 2012 has delivered the events strongest performance to date. This has been achieved in spite of the current financial situation in Europe and the recent problems experienced by the eurozone. At the official press briefing just prior to the opening of the show, Integrated Systems Events […]
With a final registered attendance figure of 40,869, ISE 2012 has delivered the events strongest performance to date. This has been achieved in spite of the current financial situation in Europe and the recent problems experienced by the eurozone.
At the official press briefing just prior to the opening of the show, Integrated Systems Events managing director, Mike Blackman, expressed the hope that attendance would exceed 40,000 for the first time. In fact, that figure had been achieved by 15.00 on the second afternoon of the show. The total registered attendance is 17% higher than in 2011, continuing a growth trend that has been sustained consistently ever since the first event in Geneva in 2004.
“ISE is now clearly established as the best-attended event of its kind anywhere in the world,” comments Blackman. “To be able to post record numbers in every key area against an uncertain economic backdrop is a fantastic achievement, not just for ISE but for the industry it serves.
“Beyond the statistics, the sheer excitement generated by so many professional people converging on a show full of dynamic new technologies created an atmosphere unsurpassed by any previous ISE.”
The AV and electronic systems integration industry received the best possible start to 2012, after Integrated Systems Europe broke all records. A total of 825 exhibitors occupied 11 halls of the Amsterdam RAI.
ISE 2012s exhibitor total included almost 200 companies new to the show. Sam Verellen from one of them, Totem Acoustic, reported seeing “a strong range of new faces together with existing customers, all of them of good quality we will definitely be returning in 2013”.
ISEs ability to build new business connections among its many stakeholders has come to the fore once again. Alun Williams of Future Automation enthused: “This was our sixth year here and we are still meeting new people. Its been a lovely show with a very high quality of visitors to our stand.”
The space-rebooking process for ISE 2013 began on the second morning of the 2012 show, and resulted in a total of 28,300 net square metres of exhibit space being reserved for next year a 5% increase on the equivalent figure 12 months ago. Many companies have chosen to enlarge their stands, with Samsung, Sony, Digital Projection, Sennheiser, Barco, AVC Group and Optoma among those taking the opportunity to size up in 2013.
Mitsubishi Electrics AC Ter Meulen summed up the mood of the event when he said: “ISE is always a busy show for us but this year has been particularly so. Our stand was the largest weve ever taken, but I have no hesitation in saying that the decision to expand our presence at ISE has been proved right. Weve seen more people, and had more kinds of conversation, than ever before. This is a measure of how the show itself is growing and broadening its appeal.”
