The organisers of Materials Handling and Logistics, Epoc Messe Frankfurt, have announced that the show in its 3rd year is set to be approximately 30 per cent bigger than the last edition held in 2003.

With 120 exhibitors from 22 countries having already signed up to take part in the 15-17 May event to be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the show promises to bring to the region the latest and most innovative solutions for materials handling and logistics.
According to Amanda Westerman, group exhibitions manager at Epoc Messe Frankfurt, the 2005 edition is an exclusive trade event for freight, cargo, logistics, distribution, warehousing, airport and ports, construction and manufacturing industries. “Dubai is globally recognised as the Middle East’s fastest growing import and re-export market, making it the regional centre for trade fairs and commerce with its commercial ties covering virtually all five continents and nearly 190 countries”. 
Dubai Ports Authority with the Jebel Ali Port and Port Rashid rates amongst the top 20 largest container terminals in the World. Jebel Ali Port is the largest man-made port in the world. “Over 100 international shipping lines service the twin terminals of Jebel Ali and Port Rashid and 60 per cent of all cargo handled is for transshipment. Dubai is the distribution hub of the Arabian Gulf and one of the fastest growing distribution centres in the world,” explained Westerman.
With current statistics showing Dubai’s imports surged by 20 per cent to a record $29.6 billion in 2003 and re-exports jumped to $10.27 billion in 2003 from $8.06 billion in 2002, the demand for logistics and supply chain services is increasing at comparable rates. Testament to this is the forests of tower cranes installed for building  the emirate’s new airports, freight terminals, seaport facilities and warehouses.
One example of this is Dubai airport’s huge re-development and expansion. Whilst the new $650m+ passenger terminal is an obvious example, the airport’s $200m re-development of its Cargo Village provides further evidence.  Additionally, the construction of the new airport city in Jebel Ali will create the largest air-sea logistics and transportation centre of its kind in the Middle East, according to officials.  The project will cover 140 sq km, have an airport with a capacity for 120 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo.  The dramatic growth of Dubai has fast tracked the commencement of this project, which was due to begin in 10 years’ time.   In all, conservative estimates indicate that over $1 billion will be spent on the ports, airport and free zone.  The Materials Handling and Logistics exhibition includes multi-modal freight and cargo equipment, logistics, systems, technology and services, cranes, hoists, conveyors, warehousing systems, equipment and technology, ports, airports, terminals and free zones equipment and systems, commercial vehicles; insurance, fork lift trucks and attachments; security systems, tyres, batteries, among other things.
“We are very pleased to have won the support of various departments and associations such as the Department of Civil Aviation, Dubai, and the Dubai Ports Authority; the UAE Contractors Association; the National Association of Freight and Logistics; and the Materials Handling Technology Association, VDMA.”
The show has attracted some of the biggest names in the industry, regionally and globally, with pavilions expected from six countries. Exhibitors include Famco’s Storage and Handling Solutions, Siemens, Zerwa, Span IT and Automation Solutions, SSI Schaefer Middle East and Al Shirawi Enterprises.
Famco has been exhibiting at the Materials Handling and Logistics exhibition since its inception, explained Stuart Arbuckle, divisional manager, Storage and Handling Solutions Division. “We offer a complete solution to materials handling and logistics, including shelving, racking, office partitioning, archiving solutions all the way through to fully automated warehousing systems”, explained Arbuckle.
“Exhibiting at Materials Handling and Logistics allows us to showcase our latest solutions to our customers in one place, instead of taking them to various warehouses. We will showcase the latest Linde fork-trucks, conveyor belt systems, automated warehouse doors and much more.”
Famco will also be launching the latest Constructor Group “pick-to-light” conveyor system. “This is the latest and most efficient paperless picking system which is sure to attract a lot of warehouse managers,” said Arbuckle.
Zerwa Middle East Trading, another exhibitor, is a global electronics company serving industrial markets with professional electronic equipment within the Middle East region. The company plans to introduce a new product line called Shockwatch USA. These products allow monitoring the way goods are stored, handled, transported and shopped to prevent damage. “Damages monitored by Shockwatch products are impact, drop, tilt, vibration, temperature variations and humidity variations,” explained Jacquelyn Dunand, managing partner, Zerwa Middle East Trading.
“We are participating at Materials Handling and Logistics Exhibition for the first time this year as we believe this is the perfect way to get the word out that we have a product that will help reduce damage to shipping goods. We hope to generate the maximum amount of business for a market we will be meeting face to face,” Dunand concluded.