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The 9th instalment of PALME arrives in Dubai this month, and according to exhibition manager Eben Botha, it could be one of the biggest yet.
S&S: How many visitors/exhibitors do you anticipate attending this year?
Eben Botha: Visitor pre-registrations stood at almost 2,500 unique registrations six weeks before the show. Comparing that to the same time period in 2010, we were at 1,600 registrations and 2009 we had 2,200 registrations, so we are extremely happy with the response the show has received so far.
All in all we are expecting between 5,500 and 6,000 visitors over the length of the exhibition. With regards to exhibitors, we are looking at approximately 150 companies being represented at the show from all over the world.
At PALME 2010 the cumulative buying power of visitors exceeded US$1 billion. Considering the fact that the total size of the region’s AV market is approximately US$4 billion, it is extraordinary to have a quarter of it represented during just three days of the show.
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S&S: Are there certain sectors within the industry that are proving more popular this year in terms of registered visitors or exhibitors?
EB: There has been a huge jump in interest for video conferencing solutions at the show.
I think this comes down to the cost of travel increasing, companies cutting their corporate travel budgets and relying more on this technology for meetings with other companies across the globe.
3D technology in pro AV is a very hot topic at the moment as well. This is reflected in our conference program as it was one of the most requested topics in the surveys that we conducted before putting the conference agenda together.
S&S: Any new exhibitors of note this year that you can give us a heads up on?
EB: I would say the biggest news is Sony Middle East coming on board for the first time. They will be showcasing their latest technology in video conferencing solutions, digital home cinema and digital signage.
Prysm has joined PALME for the first time to display the latest technology in Laser Phosphor Displays (LPD) and we have teamed up with Reference Laboratories to host the first Educational Audio Cable Workshop in the region.
Wavex Touch will be displaying their 108-inch interactive touch screen with a Sharp display and Next Window interactive software integration for the first time as well as launching their HD Video Conferencing Solutions.
Lobo Laser GmbH, the global leader in multimedia laser technology, is back after a one year hiatus and will be displaying their state of the art laser shows with the latest in 3D sound technology in one of our feature areas on the show floor.
S&S: Are you seeing the ‘Install’ side-expo increasing or decreasing in size/interest this year?
EB: I think the Install side of PALME took a bit of a hit in 2009-2010 during the recession as a lot of developments were put on hold and the demand for high-end home automation systems declined.
This year however I feel there is a cautious optimism for this industry as we have seen an increase in interest in this industry as we are moving out of the recession. A clear indication of this has been the high level of interest in our Building Automation Conference running during PALME.
S&S: Why should visitors/exhibitors come to Dubai for an event like this?
EB: PALME Middle East is the only event of its kind in the region where professionals in the AV, systems integration, home automation and live events/entertainment sectors can network and see the latest technological innovations available to their markets to put them one step ahead of the competition.
We also host comprehensive conferences in building automation, projection technologies and lighting solutions as well as complimentary audio seminars with the SAE Institute and product presentations by the exhibitors.
S&S: Why do you think it’s important for the local industry to look local when it comes to seeing new technology, rather than attending shows like PLASA or Prolight?
EB: Although shows like PLASA and Prolight are very important for the industry in general, when it comes to getting in touch with regional suppliers, distributors and integrators, for instance, PALME is the only platform to facilitate that in the Middle East for visitors and exhibitors that are based in the region.
For global companies that do not have any representation in the Middle East, PALME is the ideal platform to meet local distributors or to get the latest updates on future developments to increase their presence and amount of business they do in the GCC.
S&S: Is there more pressure on the technical production of an event like PALME in terms of AV, for instance, given that the visitors/exhibitors are pro’s themselves?
EB: That’s a good question, and I would have to answer yes and no. Yes there is more pressure as the visitors and exhibitors would immediately know when we are using inferior products in our conference rooms and training areas and that in turn would reflect badly on us.
The reason I say no, is because PALME has built some very strong relationships with locally based companies that take care of all our AV solutions and that takes a lot of pressure away from our production and operation teams. We just tell them our requirements and they ensure that it happens – which makes our job a lot easier!
The facts from last year’s PALME show:
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