Member Article

Leading UK lighting event attracts exhibitors from across Europe to the Ricoh Arena

The UK’s premier event for the light and imaging technologies will attract exhibitors from across Europe to the Ricoh Arena.

Photonex is returning to the award-winning venue for the fourth successive year on Wednesday, October 15 and Thursday, October 16, with a larger exhibition than ever before ahead of notable recognition of photonics as an important technology by the United Nations who are making 2015 the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies.

Around 100 exhibitors are to attend the high technology conference and exhibition, organised by Xmark Media Ltd, in the Jaguar Exhibition Hall at the Ricoh Arena which brings together industry and research and design companies connected with photonics – the science and technology of light.

Laurence Devereux, of Xmark Media Ltd, said photonics is used in our lives at work and home and is second only to electronics in its importance.

“The United Nations’ International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies in 2015 will raise the profile of photonics to the general public and to industry,” he said.

“Photonics touches on everybody’s daily lives from when we switch on a light and the TV, to our camera and solar power, capturing photons. In science and industry it has many uses, which is why it attracts exhibitors from as far away as the USA, China and notably in Europe from Bulgaria and Germany.

“Photonex is an opportunity for the industry to showcase its strengths and expertise including growth market sectors where the UK has great expertise; imaging and lasers for example in clinical analysis, surgery, in the quest for greater capabilities in monitoring and care of the elderly, in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

“The show gives experts and professionals the chance to network and discuss research and new technologies in a supporting conference as well as meet suppliers from across each spectrum of photonics.

“The exhibition has been running for over two decades and for the last four years we have been at the Ricoh Arena since it is extremely accessible and because 30 per cent of those involved in the industry are based in the Midlands region.”

Last year 1,000 visitors attended the show which will once again be run in conjunction with Vacuum Expo, a further 40 exhibitors, which provides education and training, an exhibition and conference for suppliers, innovators and leading science groups centred on the industrial processing, science, space and energy industries.

Laurence added: “Vacuum Expo attracts visitors and exhibitors from education, government research establishments and industry who require their processes and physical measurements to be carried out under conditions of below-normal atmospheric pressure: in a vacuum.

“It gives delegates the chance to get a first-hand look at equipment, instruments and components as well as watch demonstrations while exhibitors can launch new products, and meet current and potential customers.”

Chris Owen, senior events manager at the Ricoh Arena, said the organisers of Photonex and Vacuum Expo had already booked for 2015 and 2016 which was a big show of faith in the Ricoh Arena.

He said: “There is no doubt Photonex and Vacuum Expo are the UK’s leading shows in their specialist sectors because of the range of areas which are covered by exhibitors and in the conference programme which last year had over 100 speakers.

“Visitors are welcome to attend the shows for free which shines a light on an interesting subject because photonic technology is increasingly important for scientific research, for industry and for the consumer.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .