Oktoberfest 2012 – the North East’s biggest engineering and manufacturing exhibition – has been hailed a stunning success after all attendance records were dramatically surpassed in a sign of sector optimism.
Organisers are celebrating after more than 100 leading firms attended to showcase their products and talents to almost a dozen major buyers, with just under 1,100 visitors passing through the doors to sample what the region’s companies had to offer.
They say the fifth annual event – designed to display innovation, open up new contacts, and initiate business – was the best yet and has created opportunities and openings for many who took part.
John Lyle, of Derwentside Engineering Forum, part of the organising team, said: “This was undoubtedly our most successful Oktoberfest, and that is quite an achievement.
“I am absolutely delighted that so many firms took part and was thrilled to see exhibitors and visitors networking and creating contacts which will hopefully lead to some exciting business opportunities.
“The huge number of companies present goes to show how important Oktoberfest is to helping stimulate business and to acting as a high-tech hub for manufacturing and engineering in the North East.
“It offers businesses a tremendous opportunity to show what they can do and are capable of, and all under one roof in front of some very major companies who may buy their products.
“Oktoberfest has proved it is a vital and irreplaceable showcase event for companies both selling and buying from not only within the North East, but from throughout the UK.”
The event, held last month at the Xcel Centre, Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham, opened with an introduction by Councillor Neil Foster, Portfolio Holder for Economic Regeneration, Durham County Council, a long-term supporter of Oktoberfest.
He was followed by Dr Arnab Basu, Chief Executive of high-tech Sedgefield firm Kromek, a world leader of advanced 3D colour imaging for x-rays, a technique which has led to ground-breaking advances in medical imaging, security screening, industrial inspection and space exploration.
Darren Cumner, from Hitachi, and Mark Bickell, from Merchant Place Developments, also spoke and gave an update on the recently-announced £4.5bn inter-city train building project on which they are collaborating.
Newcastle-based MPD is developing a new factory in Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham, from where the trains will be built. Both took part in last year’s Oktoberfest for the first time and this year had exhibitor stands.
Other firms exhibiting included South Tyneside bespoke brush maker Cottam Brush, Banbury-based Laser Lines, a leading supplier of quality lasers and accessories, and 3D printers, and Alnwick-based Metrology Software, which creates advanced software that allows for the precision cutting of parts.
Firms and organisations present as potential buyers included American Air Filters, Caterpillar, Ebac, Hitachi, Husqvarna, MOD, Northumbria Water and NAREC.
Motor manufacturer Nissan was a sponsor along with Hitachi, MSP, EEF, Business Durham, UKTI, Parker Hannifin, Vanguard, Foam Techniques, GEM Professional Services and Teesside University.
A highlight was the ground-breaking ‘meet the buyer’ programme which gave exhibiting firms one-on-one introductions to buyers where they can broker new relationships and trade opportunities with some of the biggest names in the defence, automotive, consumer electronics, lighting and power industries.
Feedback from previous years has shown it to be a significant draw to companies aiming to exhibit, and has created many business openings.
Richard Toner, Commercial Manager of Elddis Transport, a family-owned hauliers based in Consett, Co Durham, also praised the event, adding: “This was our first time exhibiting at Oktoberfest and it was an extremely well organised event and very well attended.
“We’ve made a number of contacts which we’ll be following up. Events like this just go to show that the North East is a great place to do business.”
