Reed Exhibitions, owner of National Manufacturing Week (NMW) and AMTIL, owner of Austech, have jointly announced a number of significant changes to Australia’s only national manufacturing industry event, which will next be held in Sydney from May 11-14, 2010.
These changes include a shift to a new venue for the Sydney exhibition, and a range of innovative new events within the show.
“NMW 2010 will introduce a range of innovative new events within the exhibition aimed at aligning it even more closely with the needs and latest developments in the manufacturing industry,” said John Gorton, Group Director of Reed Exhibitions.
“A prime example of this will be our Manufacturing Outlook Centre, a program of interactive presentations and discussions, which will see industry leaders debate key topics affecting the future of Australia’s manufacturing industry.
“In terms of bringing the industry together, National Manufacturing Week has long been the premier event on Australia’s manufacturing calendar,” said Gorton. “However, many in the industry have told us that in light of the challenges they are currently facing, they wanted NMW to focus more on the issues and opportunities facing this sector right now in this economic climate.
“The parallel events we will introduce at National Manufacturing Week 2010 will do this, helping the industry make better informed decisions and take advantage of new opportunities,” he said.
In line with these significant changes and increased focus on the “here and now”, NMW 2010 will be moving right into the heartland of manufacturing in NSW, to the Sydney Showground at Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush Bay. NMW will continue to alternate each year between Sydney and Melbourne.
“Moving National Manufacturing Week 2010 to Sydney Olympic Park is strongly supported by key exhibitors and visitors to previous Sydney editions of NMW, as it brings the event right into Greater Western Sydney,” said Gorton.
“This is the largest manufacturing region in Australia, with more than 10,000 manufacturing businesses employing 110,000 people, and generating A$12.3 billion in Gross Regional Product (GRP) from manufacturing alone.
According to Gorton, the new Sydney venue offers many advantages to both exhibitors and visitors.
“Access to Sydney Olympic Park is far more convenient for both exhibitors and visitors, with the site being adjacent to major freeway connections, and much closer to Sydney- and state-based manufacturing operations,” he said.
“As a dedicated exhibition site, access for exhibitors wishing to move in heavy equipment is much easier, without the need to negotiate inner Sydney’s traffic snarls.
“For visitors, the new site offers unlimited low-cost parking and easy access from all parts of Sydney, as well as from regional centres of the state,” Gorton said.
“As part of this move, we will be working closely with western Sydney-based manufacturing and employer groups, as well as with federal, state and local government authorities who are looking to expand, attract and develop manufacturing in the region,” he said.
Making the move to Homebush with National Manufacturing Week will be the Austech manufacturing technology and advanced manufacturing exhibition organised and managed by AMTIL, and which has co-located with NMW since 2000.
Shane Infanti, CEO of AMTIL, said the move to the Sydney Showground is strongly supported by AMTIL members and Austech exhibitors.
“This is a significant change for our event and a decision that has been made after much industry consultation”, he said.
“A detailed process of talking to both exhibitors and visitors of previous Sydney-based shows has been undertaken.”
“We are confident that the venue at Homebush, which is closer to the heartland of manufacturing, will provide easier access for manufacturers, particularly those based in New South Wales, to visit the exhibition and attend the range of parallel events,” said Infanti.
In addition to Austech, National Manufacturing Week will maintain its “show-within-a-show” concept, offering a number of specialist pavilions catering for specific subsections of the manufacturing industry.
These include:
• General manufacturing (AIEE)
• Air technology
• Automation and robotics
• Computer technology (CIMTech)
• Health and safety
• Process, control and instrumentation (ICEX)
• Logistics, materials handling and distribution (LMHD)
• Welding, joining and heat-treatment (WeldTech)).
• Electrical technology in manufacturing (Electrix)
• Electronic and circuit board technology (Austronics)
NMW 2010 will be held from May 11-14, at the Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush.