March/April 2020

| 40 | March/April 2020 www.smartmachinesandfactories.com | SMART INDUSTRY EXPO 2021 UPDATE | D FA Media Ltd, organiser of Smart Industry Expo and co- located shows, says it has been actively monitoring and following advice regarding the Coronavirus outbreak (Covid-19) over the past weeks. As a consequence, it has decided that Smart Industry Expo and its co-located events will be postponed and rescheduled for 25th- 27th January 2021, which will take place alongside MACH Exhibition. Managing director of DFA Media, Ian Atkinson, organiser of the co-location of events, commented: “As the effects, actual and projected, of Coronavirus have become increasingly evident across all aspects of our lives both here in the UK and across the globe, it was necessary, as a responsible events organiser, to take the necessary steps to ensure the health and wellbeing of all our exhibitors, contractors and visitors (many of whom face travel restrictions), which is our top priority.” He added: “It is therefore with reluctance that we have taken the decision to postpone the event until January.” However by working closely with its venue partners, THE NEC, Atkinson said DFA Media has been able to secure rescheduled dates for these events in January, alongside MACH, explaining: “Current modeling projections suggest that the virus will peak in around June and decline thereafter during the following months allowing our exhibitors the opportunity to present their technologies, innovations and solutions in an upturning market with no restrictions on travel.” He added: “The rescheduled date provides clarity and ensures we have time and space to deliver the same high- quality event we promised, providing a safe and secure environment conducive to business, networking and career development for the manufacturing sector that we serve.” The new dates for the now firmly established Smart Industry Expo, will continue to offer visitors the ideal opportunity to learn about digitalisation and how to prepare and implement a strategy in this smart era as well as being able to discuss a wide range of issues from components to Predictive Maintenance 4.0, Logistics 4.0, and smart grid technologies amongst others. Other areas covered include: components for IT-based automation solutions that will bring fundamental change to all in-factory processes, IT security, as well as smart technologies that manage and coordinate power, gas and heat networks so that capacity can be balanced and optimally deployed across the entire energy system – integrated energy, plus much more. Drives & Controls Exhibition 2021 will also once again bring together key suppliers of state-of-the-art equipment representing the multi-tasking culture of today’s design engineer, covering critical areas such as energy efficiency, machine safety, drives, motion control, robotics and automation plus much more, all under one roof. With the advent of the smart factory, Drives & Controls Exhibition 2021 is an essential source of technological and engineering information and is fully supported by GAMBICA and EPTDA. MTC New for the rescheduled January 2021 date is the significant announcement that the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) has confirmed a 100m2 pavilion within Smart Industry Expo, and Drives & Controls where it will be joined by its members. Smart Industry Expo and co-located shows rescheduled to take place on 25th-27th Jan uary The biennial co-located events; Smart Industry Expo, Drives & Controls, Fluid Power & Systems, Plant & Asset Management, and Air-Tech Exhibitions – have been rescheduled to January 25th-27th 2021, due to the COVID-19 outbreak. These extra months will help give the industry the space to recover and the opportunity to present their technologies, innovations and solutions in an upturning market with no restrictions on travel. The events will continue to be co-located with MACH.