Millions of reasons why they came to Traffex 2019
Millions of pounds worth of business was done, according to feedback from exhibitors and visitors to Traffex 2019 this year. Comments underline its international importance as a central trading floor as well as a hub for networking and scoping out new products and services.
“This year’s show reflected the phenomenal change in the highways and transport sector, and there was clear evidence that dramatic cuts to local authority budget have prompted widespread innovation,” says Adrian Tatum, Director of Content for the Traffex series of events. “The emphasis has switched to collaboration and harnessing technology to drive change on the road network.
“Realistically, we know that exhibitors are there to promote their wares and make sales … and that’s what happened. Dozens reported sales worth up to £500,000 and several report sales well in excess of this. The numbers already booked to exhibit in 2021 speak for themselves.”
Among the 10,808 visitors to Traffex and Parkex over the three days, spending figures were more freely given, with 30 – predominantly local authorities – saying they had committed to between £500,000 to more than £1 million expenditure.
Here’s what some of the exhibitors had to say: “Traffex has once again this year been a huge success and has given the whole of our sector the opportunity to demonstrate how technology is changing their businesses, but more importantly just how their new techniques and products and positively impacting road worker/user safety, the customer experience and the effectiveness of delivery. At Kier, we have been growing our technology offering over the past few years and I’m delighted that our stand was incredibly busy over the entire 3 days to allow us to demonstrate ‘where we are now’.
“I managed to attend a number of presentations and from the topics being debated in the various theatres it was obvious that Traffex did address the big strategic issues facing our sector today alongside the technical issues being tackled at every level of the supply chain.
“Attending Traffex has enthused me and makes me really look forward to Traffex Seeing Is Believing in 2020.”
Dave Wright, Executive Director, Kier Highways
“We are an LED Balloon Light manufacturer in Taiwan, and our main customers are from road construction, rental, highway maintenance and building construction. We found that Traffex is a very professional exhibition … very impressive. We will participate in Traffex 2021.”
Sunny Jian, Ching Yuang Enterprise Co, Ltd, Taiwan
“Traffex provides us two things: firstly it allows us to show our latest innovations, and on top of that, I can arrange a lot of meetings and I can condense them. We use it to showcase the company, and also to meet with our key clients and stakeholders so that we can condense what we have to do – this is the place, and we meet and greet here and generally discuss ideas with our clients.”
Wayne Johnston, WJ Group
“On a personal note I was really taken aback by the interest in our product range. Thank you to all who visited our first Traffex stand.”
Chris Webb, Director C&T Technolody
“We’ve come here because this is the UK market for traffic. You meet a lot of customers – very good talks, not just between customers and our staff, but also between other companies, so it really enriches – it gives you food for thoughts, it drives innovations – so I would say come here, exhibit here and present your products.”
Wilke Reints – MD, Siemens ITS UK
“Thank you to everyone at Traffex, especially colleagues at Mott MacDonald and Costain Group PLC for making the Future Mobility feature such a success! The Future Mobility Zone worked really well. People have been really engaged with the story we are telling, we’ve had a narrative of how technology will change over the next few years… our vision for how different types of technologies will come together and benefit …”
Alistair Gollop, Mott Macdonald
“Once again Traffex proved its worth, providing an excellent platform for meeting existing customers, familiar with our products, as well as many new potential customers.
The majority of visitors to our stand were from local authorities, contractors and consultants who are regularly specifying and installing our products.
“We used the show to demonstrate our range of Cycle Separation products and offered a Virtual Reality experience, for visitors to compare cycling on normal cycle routes and then routes with Cycle Separation and in particular Light Segregation to ‘protect but not trap’.
“Traffex continues to be the prime event for promoting our traffic calming and site safety products.”
Roger Marsh, CEO, Rediweld
“Traffex 2019 was a fantastic show! It was a great opportunity to make new connections and showcase our products to existing clients. We got ourselves really good quality leads. SVS Ltd would highly recommend Traffex to any companies in the highways business! We will be back in 2021!”
Peter Eccleson, MD Smart Video Sensing
“Traffex 2019 was a very useful event for Transoft UK. We were able to meet existing customers, and make contact with many UK consultancies and local Authority workers, engage with them, and discuss meeting their requirements regarding our Highways Engineering Solutions.”
Martin Quigley General Manager Transoft Solutions (UK) Ltd.
“Congratulations for the improved Traffex event this year. I particularly liked the content and delivery of the programme of presentations, talks and announcements.”
Devrim Kara, PTV Group
“As a first-time exhibitor, we are delighted with the quality of visitors and the interest in our products – GoodVision Video Insights. So pleased are we that we have already re-booked for Traffex 2021.”
Daniel Stofan, CEO, GoodVision Video Insights
“We had an important press announcement to make [on the day], which only became apparent at 9.30 when the Home Office gave type approval to a device we have. The flexibility of the organisers meant that I was able to actually give a press conference shortly after hearing the good news and sharing it with our market. That was a fantastic benefit.”
Geoff Collins, Jenoptik
“Traffex is always a very exciting week for us with lots of really good conversations. For the first time for Swarco at Traffex, we brought together all of our sectors in the UK: our parking capability, our vehicle charging capability, as well as our traditional traffic management solutions – signs, signals and controls and so forth. This generated so much interest among our customers.”
Jeremy Cowling Vice president of Swarco ITS
“Traffex was a huge success for us this year – it was busy even on the first morning and we got some really good leads. The organisers were so helpful and made it easy to manage and get right and there was a great atmosphere – we’ve already reserved a stand for next time!”
Claire Doherty, Rhino Asphalt Solutions
It was my first experience, I thought it was excellent. I met lots of new faces, linked with current members, and was supported throughout by the Traffex
Kealie Franklin, Association for Traffic Safety and Management
“Good overall show, high standard of visitors, plenty of contacts made.”
Sarah Dart, Advanced KFS Special Vehicles Ltd
“We’ve long described it as the future of mobility: it’s about transport, energy, communications, data; it’s about networks, the vehicles, the customers – and all of those things working together as an ecosystem. It’s going to be fascinating going forward over the next 5 to 10 years – and Traffex is going to evolve into something very different even from what it is now.”
Giles Perkins, Head of Future Mobility, WSP
“I think more and more that the two industries with such massive synergies so for me to be able to offer our members to come and visit our show but to make sure they are making those connections with Traffex 2019.”
Caron Fasetta, British Parking Association
“The stand’s been brilliant, the footfall has been very good this year – we’ve had a constant throng of people on the stand and it’s been a mixture of new and existing customers, so it’s been great to have such a diverse mix of conversations with new people.”
Wayne Stant – Clearview Intelligence
“If you only make one exhibition this year make it this one.”
Ross Bullerwell, Managing Director, Rennicks UK
“It’s always really useful to come to events like this. It’s great to hear from people about what their issues and concerns are and as I go around the exhibition, to see some of the new technologies and what they offer. At the moment the increase in digital technology and the fact that we have all go a very high-powered computer in our pockets is really changing our lives, it’s changing our cities it’s changing the way we travel, it’s changing the way we plan, book, pay for tickets how we bank, how we pay for things: this is an opportunity to think how is transport responding to that – and some of the safety implications of the new technologies. Hopefully it will give me some new ideas to take back to the Committee.”
Lilian Greenwood MP, Chair of the Commons Transport Select Committee
“An event like Traffex allows you to get everyone together and get a very wide range of views. Increasingly, as technology coalesces we will need more of a range of views because the technology will become more prevalent across the different sectors of the industry.”
Darren Capes – ITS Policy Lead, Traffic and Technology Division, Department for Transport
“To have exhibitors as we do now here and to have panels and discussions talking about access and inclusion and the need for an accessible environment is really important.”
John Welsman, Policy and Business Partner – Travel and Mobility, Guide Dogs
“Traffex is such an important event for all sorts of reasons and I’ve been coming to it for years, but to see it becoming involved in the road danger reduction and the road safety area has been really powerful. There have been some very impressive speakers from the UK and America as well.”
Nick Simmons – RoadPeace
“The attendance was really exceptional for this type of a meeting. There’s a good cross section of exhibitors. I’m looking forward to the next time you do it seeing more technology exhibitors and more international exhibitors.”
Scott Belcher, President and CEO, SFB Consulting
“I’ve really enjoyed Traffex 2019. I’ve been away working in Australia for most of 2018, so this has given me the chance to catch up with a lot of colleagues and acquaintances and really find out what’s going on in the industry. I’ve been really impressed at just how many people have come and how many stands and exhibitions there are this year.”
Sharon Kindleysides – independent consultant
“Traffex is one of the most important dates in my diary every two years. Not only do I get to see new products and software but the networking with others in the same industry is extremely important. I rarely get to sit in the seminars, but the general interaction with other colleges from other parts of the country has great value. While I was at TRAFFEX 2019 I did not place any contracts but I did arrange meetings with other suppliers because of their exhibits. We recently bought in new products from NAL, Lighthouse and several bollard companies because of the event.”
Colin Hill, Street Lighting Manager Bridgend Borough Council
“Very enjoyable day with a good range of exhibitions.”
John Curtis, Highway Engineer, Norfolk Council
“Managed to achieve what I aimed to do whilst visiting Traffex 2019.”
Marc Allen Highway Engineer, Bracknell Forest
“I visited Traffex many times while working for others but this was my first visit in my own right. One of my projects includes a new method of managing on-street parking which is disruptive and allows reservation so I wanted also to visit Parkex. I hoped to catch up with some former associates from Siemens, FLIR, NAL and a few more. I attended for two days to get to speak with those I wanted to and without rushing.”
Peter Jones, Managing Director & Consultant: Intelligent Mobility Solutions
“Traffex is evolving in range and scope as is the market and technology. All aspects seemed to be covered, and more. I attended relevant talks at the mini theatres and chatted to many companies at their stands. I came away from Traffex feeling very satisfied and even more positive. I hooked up with many former associates and all were very positive! I came away with two thoughts. 1) as I progress my ideas, I now have a number of specific companies I can work with and who are willing to work on my projects, and 2) that Traffex is an absolute Must for me. I will come again in 2021 and may also have something to present or display in 2021.”
Touching Blue Ltd and also Member of ITS-UK
“A great way to meet suppliers in one spot.”
Andy Wren, Transport Policy and Planning Manager, Hampshire County Council
“Without doubt the best Traffex I have attended in 20 plus years in the highways sector. There was a real buzz about the place and the different sessions all seemed to complement each other really well.”
George Lee Chief Executive, Highways Term Maintenance Association
“We’ve scoured every bit of feedback, including some of the niggling negatives which are outside our control. But it’s clear from the vast majority, Traffex becomes the hub of everything highways and transport over those three days,” says Adrian. “It’s a centre of excellence for all things new and a great networking opportunity – all taking place in the centre of the UK. But best of all, it’s proving to be the trading floor for millions of pounds of global business deals.”
