TOTAL: Your verdict

London -- Many thanks for the insightful and constructive comments (below) about the TOTAL Processing & Packaging 2007 show at the NEC. The consensus among respondents was that the event overall was heavily weighted towards packaging and did not reflect the breadth of the process industries.

On the flip side, TOTAL 2007 received a more upbeat assessment from those exhibitors that were more focused on the packaging industry — though there were also some reservations here, particularly about the duration of the show.

Comments:

Hugh Cunning, project engineer, SAFC Epichem:

As a member of the process engineering community, I attended the previous TOTAL event. What I found was that if you wanted a high-speed packing machine, it was the place to go. However for the process kit, for example filters, pumps and valves, it was thin on the ground. For that reason we chose not to attend again. It was the waste of a day.

I can remember back to my college days when Eurochem and bulk solids handling were together and crossed more disciplines. This made for a better exhibition, as both, were relevant to my career at the time.

Ian Robinson, Farley Stationery

I didn't attend the TOTAL show, because I only saw a handful of pump / valve companies exhibiting. Also what's the connection between packaging and process … no not a trick question?

But I would have thought that there's very little, as processing in the chemical and petrochem industries involves fluid transfer etc, whereas packaging conjures up visions of putting articles in boxes.. ie totally dry processes.

Whether you will attract a sufficient interest in hosting a "chemical industry" show on its own may be questionable. The last Eurochem show seemed to be poorly attended.

Either exhibitions have had their day, because you can get so much information at the touch on a keyboard, or you need to look at why Achema and shows like ISH still seem to attract a reasonable turnout.

We last participated in Eurochem some 12 years or so ago, and at that time, spent a lot of money on the stand and NEC restrictive practices. I doubt if we would get a reasonable return on an investment in another show. Irrespective of how another show was arranged, it is questionable if we could justify the expenditure, as there is always a finite budget and you want to get your "best bang for your buck".

Antony Hare, operations manager, Farleygreene Ltd, Aldershot, Hampshire:

We did not exhibit at the show, we only visited. We felt that the show was mainly packaging-orientated. As we walked around the show only max 15% was of any interest to us with regard to other process equipment manufacturers. We met people we knew who were showing there and they were pretty downbeat about the amount of enquiries received at the show.

We were in fact quite relieved we did not show there !

I have to add that we decided to exhibit at the POWTECH show in Nurnberg a month earlier instead. Whilst we had a small stand, as we were 'dipping our toe' there, the show was aimed at Processing as a whole. The scale and relevance to our industry was amazing. I am not sure of the overall attendance figures but it was always busy and other companies there do the show yearly so it must be worthwhile. It was obvious that a lot of money was spent on the stands and the equipment on show.

Sat Panesar, sales director, Process, BHR Group Ltd, The Fluid Engineering Centre, Cranfield, Bedfordshire:

A dedicated process industry exhibition would be of interest. The post-Eurochem Total events have been too broad to justify our participation.

Frank-Peter Kirgis, industry segment manager for consumer industries, ABB Robotics:

The UK packaging industry deserves a showpiece event because there is no easier or better way to identify and compare new technologies that are essential for a healthy future. Visitors and exhibitors need to know that attending the event is vital for their industry.

TOTAL Processing and Packaging 2007 was a successful show but with the caveat that a three-day duration would be better than four. We had good quality visitors and leads, especially from the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Ian Dickson, food & packaging manager, Bosch Rexroth GB:

TOTAL Processing & Packaging was very well supported by exhibitors and international members this year, however, the visitor numbers were not as high as we would have liked. It may be an idea for TOTAL to follow in the footsteps of other industry exhibitions, which have found that a three-day, rather than a four-day exhibition is extremely effective.