Integrated Systems Europe Rusland succes

The first Integrated Systems Russia conference and tradeshow have closed their doors after delighting exhibitors, visitors and industry commentators alike. After four days of hectic business discussion, product demonstrations and educational sessions between 7-10 November, co-organisers Integrated Systems Events and MidExpo revealed that more than 7,200 attendees had visited the show at Moscow’s Gostiny Dvor convention centre.

The first Integrated Systems Russia conference and tradeshow have closed their doors after delighting exhibitors, visitors and industry commentators alike. After four days of hectic business discussion, product demonstrations and educational sessions between 7-10 November, co-organisers Integrated Systems Events and MidExpo revealed that more than 7,200 attendees had visited the show at Moscow’s Gostiny Dvor convention centre.

“We will look back on this inaugural show as a landmark event in the development of our industry,” comments Mike Blackman, Managing Director, Integrated Systems Events. “We always believed that Russia and the CIS countries deserved their own show dedicated to AV and electronic systems integration, and we’re delighted to have had that belief confirmed here in Moscow.”

Daria Nedumova, MidExpo Project Manager, adds: “We are proud to have hosted such a wide range of exhibitors from all over the world, and to have been able to introduce them to the leading players in Russia’s systems integration marketplace.”

Reaction on the show floor itself was equally positive. Michael Nevzorov, Regional Manager for the CIS countries at Mitsubishi Electric, reports “a lot of enquiries about our command-and-control solutions from the public sector, but also interest in projectors, flat panels and LED walls from markets such as education, presentation and digital signage.”

Roberto Segato, Sales Director for the region at Lighthouse Technologies, echoes the sentiment, having picked up a large number of leads during the show. “If we only win 10% of the business we will be pitching for as a result of Integrated Systems Russia, then our participation will have paid for itself,” he says.

A key factor in the show’s success was its ability to attract visitors from a wide catchment area. As Koen Pepermans, Managing Director, Vantage EMEA, puts it: “We already have some very successful partners here in Moscow, but what really pleased us is the attendance from elsewhere in Russia and from other CIS countries. I’ve seen potential customers from Ukraine, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and from as far away as Siberia. I ask myself: ‘how else would I have met customers from Siberia if I hadn’t done this show?’”

Integrated Systems Russia offered a showcase for a wide range of technologies, including large-screen displays, AV signal management, flat-screen and projector mounts, conferencing equipment and control systems. The event’s co-location with MidExpo’s Hi-Tech Building exhibition also gave visitors an opportunity to see the latest in IP network technologies, building management systems and low-voltage hardware.

On the eve of the show, a one-day conference entitled ‘Professional AudioVisual Solutions in Commercial and Residential Applications’ drew more than 200 delegates to Moscow’s President Hotel. Topics covered by speakers included market size and growth trends, a focus on specific applications such as healthcare and digital signage, and an insight into local projects such as ‘Electronic Moscow’, which is rolling out videoconferencing to all key administrative buildings in the city.

While the industry is unanimous in its praise for the first Integrated Systems Russia, there is a feeling that the best is yet to come.

“For us, this is only the beginning,” says Nedumova. “Next year we will move to the modern Crocus Convention Centre, which will give us more room to expand, and we are delighted that so many of this year’s exhibitors have already rebooked for 2008.”

Among those to have rebooked immediately for next year’s show, which takes place from October 30 to November 1 2008, are AMX, Mitsubishi Electric, Kramer, Projecta, Crestron, Chief Manufacturing, Vantage, Extron and Jupiter Systems. High-profile new exhibitors already confirmed for next year include Sony, ProColor and Barco.

For further information, please go to:

www.isrussia.ru