IFSEC International (www.ifsec.co.uk) has reported 24,933 total attendees (subject to ABC audit), in May, a clear increase in the pure security audience and a 25 per cent rise in end-users attending the annual NEC show. IFSEC International 2013 runs from May 13 to 16, 2013.
IFSEC event statistics:
· 24,933 total attendees in a non-Firex International year
· 11,000-plus downloads of the IFSEC International visitor app
· 2295 visitors attended education sessions
· IFSEC Connections saw over 40 meetings taking place
· Security Awards with over 600 attendees, the highest number for several years.
Established for almost 40 years, IFSEC International took place at Birmingham’s NEC, from May 14 to 17, as not only UBM Live’s flagship security exhibition. More than 700 exhibitors were present at the show, including over 100 companies exhibiting for the first time. The show reported a 68 per cent increase in the number of visitors attending education sessions at the show, representing about 10pc of total attendees.
Keith Crouch, Loss Prevention Manager, Super Group, visited the show and said: “We work in retail so we’ve picked up things that would help improve our systems. We’ve made good contacts which has been really useful, and the CCTV seminar session run by Tavcom Training was excellent.”
Thomas Wigley, Home Retail Group, added: “I came to see what’s available on the IP market and there’s a massive selection here. I’ve concentrated on some of the bigger suppliers; Norbain, Panasonic, Samsung, yet the entire show has been really useful.”
Show organisers UBM Live set up the new Security Management Education Theatre, created for security managers and those responsible for managing the security of their organisation, such as facilities, estate and building managers. Organisers point to a significant increase in end-user visitors from across the retail, transport, and facilities management sectors.
Eng Fernando Mendes from IVV Automacao LDA also visited and had the following to say: “I come every year to this exhibition and think it is one of the most important exhibitions in Europe. We are professionals; we are importers and distributors of this stuff so we have to come. This year is better than last year – more people – I will be coming next year.
“I come to IFSEC to check out latest technology that’s available and how it is moving forward all the time. I found a number of products suitable for the environment I work in. We looked at the seminar on 2012 and IP which we found very interesting”.
A topic for the industry and reflected at IFSEC 2012 was IP and the move towards convergence. IFSEC debuted the ipAssured Education Zone, presented by Anixter, offering presentations on leading industry trends.
Theresa Stenebring, EMEA Program Marketing Manager, Anixter said: “We chose to come to IFSEC because it is the most international show in EMEA. We wanted to take on an international event, and then also seeing that the time is right to talk and educate about IP and the migration. We want to help people, both end-users and channels, to really get into the whole new world of IP, which is not so new anymore. IFSEC feels like it’s a bigger show this year, than the previous. Even if we haven’t exhibited before, we have of course been visiting. It seems that the people are here to learn and to understand, and see new solutions and products. It’s good quality, we’re very excited about it.”
“IFSEC is a place where all of the manufacturers of security products merge together. In four days you can accomplish what would take you a whole year to do if you had to meet separately for meetings and arrangements,” said Glenn Fletcher, UK & Ireland Sales Manager, Milestone Solutions.
IFSEC International is supported by industry and government associations and organisations; British Security Industry Association (BSIA), UKTI/DSO, ASIS, National Security Inspectorate (NSI), Security Institute, Fire Industry Association (FIA), the Association of Police & Public Security Suppliers (APPSS) and the International Security Industry Organization (ISIO).
James Kelly, Chief Executive, British Security Industry Association said: “The British Security Industry Association enjoyed another successful year at IFSEC International, welcoming almost four times more visitors to its stand than in 2011.”
Huw Edwards, Marketing Communications Director, Norbain said: “IFSEC International has always been a great forum for networking and meeting with new and existing customers. This was a particularly exciting IFSEC for Norbain as it gave us the opportunity to launch and gather initial feedback on a range of new services, including Service Plus, Norbain Academy and my-nvc.com. Using the touch screens on the stand was a very effective form of taking quality leads that have subsequently led to new accounts being opened. Our expanding IP portfolio was of particular interest to visitors, along with the seminars that were all very well attended.”
The 2012 show saw the introduction of a number of product areas, such as a first Lone Worker Protection Product Area, sponsored by Connexion2; and How Lighting Affects Surveillance; and the ipAssured Education Zone, hosted by Anixter.
The IFSEC Security Industry Awards, produced in association with the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) and sponsored by Norbain Group, on the Monday night, hosted by BBC sport broadcasters, Mark Lawrenson and Dan Walker, saw more than £4,000 raised for the charity ActionAid.
Charlie Cracknell, Event Director for IFSEC, said: “IFSEC International defined itself as the must attend event that represents the ‘entire security buying and influencing chain’ from across the globe. With a strong proposition combining the leading security and fire manufacturers, integrators, training via first-class free education, new show features, interactive experiences and networking, IFSEC International stepped up to the challenge. This has only been possible with the support of our partners and exhibitors and the commitment from our visitors.”
There were eight country pavilions including China, Taiwan, Korea, Germany, France, Italy and the USA, accommodating manufacturers and suppliers.
IFSEC International is part of the UBM Live Protection & Management Series which encompassed Safety & Health Expo (Europe’s definitive annual event that brings together the safety and health industry) and Facilities Show (the UK’s largest facilities event). Other IFSEC Global Events include IFSEC India, IFSEC Saudi Arabia, IFSEC South Africa, IFSEC West Africa, IFSEC Southeast Asia and Bezpeka powered by IFSEC (Ukraine) & Global Security Summit visit www.ifsec.co.uk/global for more information.
