Matelec 08 : Matelec has already confirmed the participation of more than 800 companies
Matelec 2008: The International Exhibition of Electrical and Electronic Equipment, MATELEC '08, has already contracted out an exhibition area measuring more than 51,000 square metres, whilst 800 direct exhibitors have already confirmed their participation, with still nine months to go before the fair itself. We might also highlight the fact that the level of international participation has increased significantly, rising from 210 foreign exhibitors at the last edition in the year 2006 to 300 foreign exhibitors so far who have confirmed their attendance at the fair, which is due to take place between 28th October and 1st November next at Feria de Madrid.
The creation of a new International Marketing Department at Matelec, headed by Marcos Torres as Marketing Director, has given the international dimension at the fair a considerable boost. Thus, the majority attendance on the part of companies from Spain, the rest of Europe and the United States, will be complemented at this edition by a significant level of participation on the part of companies from countries such as South Korea and up-and coming countries such Turkey, India, China, Russia, Argentina and Brazil, among others.
Furthermore, Matelec '08 has strengthened its links with Spain's neighbouring country, Portugal. As a result of a series of meetings and agreements signed between the fair and the main Portuguese business association, ANIMEE, the International Exhibition of Electrical and Electronic Equipment will propose Portugal as a "Reference-Point Country", based on a series of specialised conferences, meetings and presentations of Portuguese companies, etc. Matelec welcomes almost 3,000 Portuguese visitors and maintains collaboration and exchange agreements with the fair, Endiel, which takes place in Portugal, alternating between its venues in Lisbon and Porto.
. Inmotics and Domotics in Hall 2
Furthermore, Matelec '08 will present an outstanding new feature. This will consist of a new demonstrations area, one in which all of the associations represented on the fair's Organising Committee will take part in developing and setting up a series of applications within the fields of integral building automation (inmotics) and home automation (domotics). This space will be known as KNX and will feature various different levels of automation, in addition to a photovoltaic installation.
In short, this section of the fair will target trade visitors and vocational training students at Matelec '08, offering them an insight into real applications under the headings of the intelligent home, home automation (domotics), integral building automation (inmotics) and energy efficiency, as well as focusing on the importance of alternative energies. And all this will be achieved by presenting equipment and solutions that are readily available on the market and that will be exhibited throughout the course of the International Exhibition of Electrical and Electronic Equipment.
All of the automated home systems and applications in the different parts of the demonstration will be set up under the European Installation Bus System standard, Instabas EIB-KNX. This consists of a standardised bus technology for all home and building control applications and is based on more than ten years' experience, following its predecessors, BatiBus, EIB and EHS.
This new exhibition and demonstrations area will be located in Hall 2 at Feria de Madrid and will feature the participation of all the business associations and federations present at Matelec'08, under the coordination of the Spanish National Federation of Electrical and Telecommunications Installation Businessmen, FENIE.
. New Exhibition Layout at MatelecThe fair has once again adapted its format to the needs of the market. In this respect, the event will present a new layout that improves the distribution of the products and services on show at the exhibition and caters for the growth of the various thematic sections that make up Matelec.
Thus, Inter- and Telecommunications will move to Hall 9, whilst Electronics and Industrial Equipment will be distributed throughout Halls 5 and 7. For its part, the Illumination and Lighting section will once again present all of its products in Hall 3. The rest of the sections at the fair, including Electrical Installation Technology and Electrical Energy, will maintain their customary layout in Halls 4, 6, 8 and 10.
Industrial Sub-Contracting is another of the sections that will be presented within the framework of Matelec'08. Following the staging of the first two editions, the exhibiting companies within the subcontracting sector have decided to offer an improved presentation of their products and services by organising them in accordance with the fair layout, thus enabling trade visitors to discover this segment within each field of application.
. Matelec and Its Commitment to the Industry
The International Exhibition of Electrical and Electronic Equipment, Matelec'08, has maintained its strong commitment to training future professionals within the industry. One aspect of this commitment takes the form of an always numerous attendance on the part of vocational training students from all over Spain, as well as university students from different specialised fields such as engineering, telecommunications, industrial engineering, etc.
Over the last ten years, Matelec has welcomed nearly 80,000 students, a not insignificant number bearing in mind the growing need for qualified labour that has been highlighted by the installer federations, FENIE and FENITEL. In this respect, these bodies have stated that qualified labour is essential in order to guarantee the continuity of installation companies, including both those working in the electrical and telecommunications fields.
With regard to its year 2008 edition, Matelec expects to welcome some 10,000 students, who will gain a fascinating insight into all the products and solutions currently available on the market. What is more, both students and these products and solutions will play a leading role in Hall 2 in the demonstrations area for applications within the fields of integral building and home automation. Thus, in this section the fair will organise a series of workshops and practical areas so that future professionals within the electrical and telecommunications industry can enjoy direct contact with real tools and applications.
