15 March 2011
COMPANIES and organisations across the spectrum of supply chain, freight and logistics services are becoming ever more aware of the value of the UK’s sole multimodal exhibition.
Multimodal 2011, the fourth consecutive annual event, which takes place at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre on April 5-7, promises its strongest exhibitor contingent yet, with some 200 lined up, including 40 that are opting for the first time to take advantage of the event’s unique opportunity to put them in touch with leading purchasers of freight and logistics related services.
The ideal showcase for an ever widening range of specialist service suppliers, Multimodal 2011 promises to fill Hall 4 and consolidate its unrivalled position as the UK’s only gathering of its kind, with exhibitors drawn from ferry companies, container shipping lines, ports and terminals, equipment suppliers, software and IT services, freight forwarding, road haulage, distribution, 3PLs and 4PLs, consultancy, trade associations and specialist media.
The exhibition, which is now a whopping 100 per cent larger than when it started in 2008, saw visitor levels rise by 26 per cent last year, and more than 4,000 high-level retail, manufacturing, import and export executives are expected this year.
Encouraging numbers of consistent exhibitors are now putting the final touches to plans for their stands and marketing strategies again his year. Among well-known names that have embraced Multimodal into their annual promotions calendar are DSV, DB Schenker, SDV, , ZIM, GEFCO, Autostore, Mann Lines, Associated British Ports, Kewill, Dachser and Freightliner.
According to Nick Lowe, Managing Director of total freight solutions provider Dachser UK, which is returning for its third Multimodal, the event offers more enduring potential than just immediate sales gains.
It is more a question of getting increased exposure in the general market, increasing awareness of our presence and what we are doing,” he explained. “It is all about promoting the brand to the wider market and in this respect, with almost 4,000 visitors last year, there are a lot of potential customers and you do make good contacts.”
Multimodal 2011 comes at an opportune stage in the development of Dachser UK’s core European export and import, UK pallet distribution and contract logistics services, network connections and ocean and airfreight forwarding capabilities. The company will use the event to highlight those European network connections, IT and high levels of integration as its UK business further expands and incorporates its Rochdale hub into the network
Also returning to Multimodal for a third year is the University of Hull’s Logistics Institute, which specialises in executive short courses for supply chain management and business improvement, full MBA programmes, the coveted Lean Six Sigma Black Belt accreditation and research and consultancy services focusing of multimodality, freight transport and supply chain risk.
According to The Logistics Institute Commercial Manager Richard Faint, Multimodal has always provided a good caliber of contacts – both corporate for consultancy and short courses, and individuals for the MBA programme. “It is a good way of meeting a large number of people quickly,” he said. “Multimodal is very much an event for senior operational managers and these are exactly the people that come on our short courses.”
Among first-time exhibitors keen to tap into the benefits of having a Multimodal 2011 presence are Agility Logistics, DP World Southampton, Geodis UK, APL Logistics, G2L, Cargotec, Widdowson, Laser Transport, CargoWise, Direct Rail Services, Forth Ports, Toyota, Transcontainer, Imtech Logistics, Redler, Pentalver, Elddis Transport, TAILgate, Azyra, Liebherr, Pall-Ex, Terberg Logistex, Palletline, Klinge, Bishopsgate and Fortec.
Forth Ports Plc will put its Multimodal introduction to prime use by showcasing its Grangemouth, Rosyth and Tilbury gateways, where there is strong emphasis on customer partnerships, lower costs and a greener supply chain.
“Multimodal is the key event in the industry calendar,” commented Business Development Manager Nik Scott-Gray. “It is the best place to ensure that we reach all our important logistics and industry audiences.”
Concurrent with the exhibition, a comprehensive free-admission series of briefings and seminars is being organised by The Shippers’ Voice and Trade Extensions Briefings tailored to tackle essential issues and developments from the perspective of manufacturers, retailers, importers and exporters. A host of networking opportunities will also be available, including the Multimodal Hog Roast on Wednesday, 6th April, sponsored by Kewill.
To register and find out more about Multimodal 2011 please visit www.multimodal.org.uk
For further information about Multimodal 2011, please contact:
Robert Jervis, Event Director,
Clarion Events Limited
Tel: +44 (0) 207 370 8373
E-mail: robert.jervis@clarionevents.com