PW June 07 P18-20.qxd 5/21/07 11:17 am Page 19
Show Review
www.parkworld-online.com
Spotlight on
Russian enterprise
A former aviation engineer
(as indeed are many of
senior members of RAAPA),
Dmitri Vlasov decided to
enter the amusement industry
The entrance to Hall 1 at the Dubai World Trade Centre
in 2002 following two years
of research. This led him to
“If you are pinning your hopes only on Dubailand, I Formula 1 and Atlantis projects,” noted Gerard
set up PlayWorld, of which
think you will be disappointed,” remarked Olaf Slenders from Zierer in Germany, which was due to
he is managing director,
Mordelt of Heimo Animated Attractions. “Things may install a family coaster in Kuwait immediately after the
manufacturing very high
happen, they may not.” show.
quality indoor and outdoor
playground equipment
Speculation was rife at the show that a major Those stopping on in Dubai after DEAL could if they
Currently his company, which
announcement would be made soon with regards to wanted to go get a first hand impression of the world’s
is based in Moscow, employs
Dubailand, and just days later so it was confirmed that appetite for the region’s attractions by visiting the 14th
30 people. Dmitri has
Universal is to develop a Studios park and other Arabian Travel Market, which took place at the same
supplemented his own
attractions as part of the resort. The presence at DEAL venue from May 1 to 4. There tour operators from products by obtaining a
of the Natural History Museum from London, which is across the globe came to see what was on offer from distributorship on behalf of
collaborating on the Jurassic-themed Restless Planet over 2,000 airlines, cruise operators, tourist attractions
German play supplier
attraction, was a reminder of some of the other and other sectors of the leisure industry. DEAL,
Kompan.
Dubailand components also due to take shape. meanwhile, returns to the Dubai World Trade Centre
Having exhibited at the
“I think a lot of people now are getting hot to the from April 20 to 22, 2008.
RAAPA Show for the last
three years, PlayWorld has
grown a substantial customer
base from all over Russia,
RAAPA 2007
with many repeat orders.
About 50% of the company's
new business now comes
from the internet, however.
Attendance up in Moscow
Dmitri considers the RAAPA
event to be the ideal platform
for him to display the quality
Now in its ninth year, the RAAPA Show in product being shown, including many Russian
and innovativeness of his
Moscow continues as one of Europe's most companies offering products as representatives of
equipment. Here he can be
seen standing on one of the
successful industry trade shows, recording a 7% Japanese, USA, German and other foreign
company's rope and plank
attendance leap to around 6,500 visitors over companies.
bridges at the show.
the three days (April 12 to 14). Gerry Robinson Non-Russian companies, 76 in total, accounted for
When asked about his vision
reports. around 42% of those taking part. As is being for the future, the PlayWorld
experienced with other international exhibitions, there boss stated that as more and
more suppliers of indoor
T
he show was opened by Bob Masterson, first was a higher presence from China and Taiwan (11),
vice-chair of IAAPA and president of Ripley as well as the same number from Italy. Regular
equipment come into the
Entertainment, who commented that he was very exhibitors from India, meanwhile, included Arihant
market place his company is
impressed with the exhibition, noting that the booths Engineering, Premier Irrigation and Syndicate Printers.
likely to concentrate on
were very busy and orders taken. He expressed his US suppliers may have been few and far between
specialist outdoor play and
leisure equipment, creating
surprise, however, at the lack of direct participation by but, taking advantage of the UK Trade and Investment
its own designs.
US companies; those that were involved were via grant scheme, there were a record number of
distributors. exhibitors from Great Britain, most of who were
Much in evidence this year was the wider variety of members of ALES-UK.
JUNE 2007 19
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