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Editorial comment ■
A welcome from
the editor
Whoosh! make a hell of a difference.
“What was that?” So, if someone were to ask me what impressions I came
“That was IMHX.” away with from IMHX 2007, I would say that, more than ever,
“Wow, that was quick. When’s the next one.” the difference between all these companies – ignoring the
“Sorry, mate. You’ll have to wait until 2010.” smoke and music and pretty girls and hand-outs – boils down to
Yes, and so after the months – years – of planning and build- the strength of relationship it builds and nurtures. Not “my bit
up, IMHX flashed by in a blaze of noise, colour and crowds. of kit is bigger or faster than yours”, but simply “we are here to
I’ve now lost my IMHX virginity and, to be brutally honest, it support your business, and we will be there for the long term.”
wasn’t all that painful at all. In fact, I actually think I really
enjoyed it. A big thank you to all of you who popped into the ShD comment
As a networking event, it was highly valuable. As a Diner at IMHX to come and have a chat with our team.
barometer of the industry, it said a lot. As a social opportunity, It was a terrific opportunity to download all the latest news
it was extremely enjoyable. But, most importantly, as a and gossip, and to get to know more of you in a social rather
platform on which to hang your company’s future prospects in than business environment. We were very flattered by your
the materials handling industry, it was peerless. positive comments about ShD and IMHX, and have taken on
Unlike other industry sectors – computing, say, or consumer board your suggestions to further enhance our offerings.
electronics – our industry rolls along quite steadily. Innovation It was very satisfying to be part of a trade show that bucked
comes at us gently, and the watchword is, generally speaking, the trend – the visitor figures were up rather than down – and
evolution rather than revolution. Therefore, I came away from the exhibitors I spoke to were praising the quality as much as
the NEC without the feeling that any one particular company was the quantity of the the visitors.
going to sweep away its competitors with a killer idea or product. So, all in all, IMHX 2007 was a big success. Here’s a new
Instead, what I learned was that we are actually in the people date for your diary – 2-5 March 2010. See you then!
industry. The old adage ‘people buy people’ still holds true, yet
this message is often overlooked when the doom-mongers
predict that the internet will eventually replace the good old
trade show.
What I saw at IMHX was a lot of very nice equipment, all of
which is capable of doing exactly what it was designed to do,
whether that is lifting a pallet or whatever. Where the edge
comes is in the people behind that product. In our industry,
Editorial
service is king, and judging by the number of IMHX visitors
and exhibitors I spoke to who have spent virtually all their lives Peter MacLeod
working – and enjoying doing so – in this sector, people still Editor
No wonder
we’re
‘Racking pains’
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www.PressOnShD.com April 2007 ShD 3
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