Press Releases

Turin, 18th March 2008
TURIN RAIL AND TUNNEL SHOWS EXPAND TO MEET DEMAND

Additional exhibition space is being provided to meet demand for stands at Italy’s only regular dedicated trade shows for the rail technology and tunnelling industries, which take place together in Turin from 20 to 22 May.

By the end of February, around 350 organisations had confirmed their participation in the two co-located events – EXPO Ferroviaria 2008 and INTERtunnel 2008, leading show organisers Mack Brooks Exhibitions to enlarge the amount of available floor space on offer to exhibitors.

By February companies taking part in EXPO Ferroviaria already totalled 275 from 20 countries. They include leading global rail systems suppliers such as Alstom, Bombardier, GE Transportation and Siemens. Also exhibiting will be major systems and equipment manufacturers, among them Balfour Beatty Rail, Consorzio Saturno, Faiveley Transport, Matisa, Plasser & Theurer and Poli. The exhibitor list additionally features specialist service providers such as rolling stock leasing firms Angel Trains and Dispolok and design bureau Italdesign Giugiaro, as well as representatives of every other sector of the rail supply industry.

Prominent names also feature in the INTERtunnel exhibitor list. 70 companies from 12 countries have so far confirmed their participation. Among them are Atlas Copco, Cegelec, Fogtec Fire Protection, Grechi Illuminazione, JSC Bamtonnelstroy and Lovat. Exhibitors will be covering all aspects of tunnel building and operation, from initial planning and construction to maintenance, safety and communications.

The last highly successful joint event in 2006 attracted some 6,000 rail industry, transport and construction industry professionals, winning wide approval from both exhibitors and visitors.

Welcoming the high level of interest in both events, Show Director Olivia Griscelli said: “This very positive response to EXPO Ferroviaria and INTERtunnel confirms the underlying strength of both markets in Italy. We are confident that these will be our most successful Turin shows yet.”

As well as learning about the latest developments in rail and tunnelling technology, visitors to this year’s exhibitions are being offered the opportunity to take part in a stimulating programme of associated events.

During EXPO Ferroviaria 2008 a programme of congress sessions is planned by the Italian College of Railway Engineers (CIFI) on: “High speed trains, requirements and responses for Italy” (20 and 21 May); “The design of railway vehicles” (21 May); and “Infrastructure technologies in the Italian AV/AC system” (22 May). Alongside INTERtunnel a one-day congress is being organised by the Italian Tunnelling Society (Società Italiana Gallerie - SIG) on “Tunnels: a strategic resource for an environmentally friendly development”.

A programme of technical visits is also being arranged for those taking part in the two shows.

EXPO Ferroviaria 2008 and INTERtunnel 2008 are organised by Mack Brooks Exhibitions. A world leader in the management of trade events for the rail industry, the company stages successful regular shows including SIFER and Infra-SIFER in Lille, France, Railtex, the UK’s largest rail technology exhibition, and Infrarail, also in the UK. It also organises in Exporail in Moscow, Russia, and last year launched a new exhibition in New Delhi – Exporail India.

INTERtunnel 2008 will be the second of these international events in Italy for the tunnel industry and follows a long series of successful INTERtunnel exhibitions in Basel, Switzerland.

May 2006
TURIN RAIL AND TUNNELLING SHOWS ATTRACT MORE THAN 6,000 INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS

Visitor numbers at the combined EXPO Ferroviaria 2006 and INTERtunnel 2006 exhibitions in the Lingotto Fiere in Turin exceeded 6,000. Industry professionals, decision makers, project planners and government officials representing all sectors of the rail and infrastructure markets attended the event, which took place from 16 to 18 May.

More than 400 exhibitors participated in the highly successful event, presenting the latest in railway technology and in systems for the construction and safe operation of tunnels and underground spaces. EXPO Ferroviaria exhibitors totalled 303 from 19 countries, while companies participating in INTERtunnel numbered 103 from 12 countries. Both shows recorded significant growth in exhibitor numbers, with participants including leading global suppliers in each sector.

This was the second occasion on which EXPO Ferroviaria was organised by Mack Brooks Exhibitions in Turin, following its well received launch in 2004. Having previously taken place in Switzerland, INTERtunnel was staged in the city for the first time, recognising the vital role that tunnels play in Italy’s national infrastructure and providing a showcase for the wider European market.

Commenting on the success of this year’s combined event, Stephen Brooks, Chairman of Mack Brooks Exhibitions, said: “We received very positive feedback both from exhibitors and visitors. And we have already confirmed dates for the next EXPO Ferroviaria and INTERtunnel exhibitions in Turin in two years’ time – these have been set for 20 to 22 May 2008.”

Mack Brooks Exhibitions is a world leader in the management of trade shows for the rail and tunnelling industries. The company stages a series of successful regular events including SIFER in Lille, France, INFRARAIL (Birmingham, UK) and RAILTEX, the UK’s largest rail show, next due to be staged in London in February 2007. It is also organising new events to serve the rail markets in Russia, – Exporail 2006, to be staged for the first time in Moscow later this year – and in Spain, with EXPO Ferrocarril planned for 2007.