“We’re delighted that the industry turned out in force to support this year’s CEDIA Home Technology Event at our fresh ICC London ExCeL home” says Robert Hallam, CEDIA Chairman, Region 1. “Visitors took the opportunity to explore some really exciting innovations, especially as far as 3D and HDMI were concerned. They were also able to take advantage of high quality training provided by CEDIA, Trade Suppliers and independent experts as well as meet and share ideas with the key exhibitors and their industry peers. Stand-outs for me included our 3D demo area which played to packed houses each and every day of the show and the Wired for Technology outreach conference which attracted a sizeable audience of electrical contractors keen to find out what CI is all about”.

 

“After a challenging 2009, it was clear to me that the industry is back on track and looking forward to the future with greater confidence and optimism. This show remains the single biggest gathering for the industry in the UK and the best annual meeting-place for doing business”.

 

Over 170 CI brands supported the event which attracted steady, high quality visitor traffic on the Tuesday and Thursday of the show, and brought in spectacular numbers on the middle day. The final attendance totaled 5,195 for the four day event, including a greater proportion of new, first-time visitors than in 2009.

 

Sponsored by AWE Europe, CSE Custom, Digital Projection and Pulse Marketing, the CEDIA 3D Feature offered visitors a fantastic demonstration of the capabilities of this radical new technology using content from Sky and Blu-Ray 3D. Built to replicate a dedicated home cinema room, this space integrated the latest 3D projector technology and a 4m acoustically transparent screen to provide an immersive experience, described by Sky’s Senior Product Development Manager, John Dollin as “the best he had ever seen”.

 

The Wired for Technology Conference, sponsored by Lutron and developed in partnership with Professional Electrician magazine and the NICEIC, drew more than 80 electrical contractors to the event. Speakers led by CEDIA Outreach Chair, Gary Lewis, and including CEDIA members, Guy Singleton (ImagineThis), Peter Davidson (Access-One) and Malcolm Heskins (Gold System) helped educate the audience on CI business opportunities and inform them of the problems and pitfalls that await those who fail to invest properly to understand the sector or skill up for the challenge. 

 

CEDIA Home Technology Event exhibitors showcased everything from hi-end speakers, amplifiers, receivers, players, home cinema projectors, whole-home audio systems, plasma, LCD and 3D screens to audio and video media servers, HVAC control, lighting control systems and automated mechanisms for lifting plasmas and other devices from beneath beds and garden decking. Also on display were security control products, audio and video cabling, switching, and distribution systems, touch-screens, apps, controllers, furniture and even an automated bath-filling system. In a show-floor demonstrating especially intelligent and creative use of space, CSE Custom and TDI Group triumphed as Best Stand at Expo and Best Shell Scheme Stand, respectively as part of the annual CEDIA Awards scheme.

 

An issues-led Show Floor Seminar Theatre programme proved another attraction. Headlined by interior designer Oliver Heath of TV’s Dream Homes show, the schedule also saw high level presentations from experts at BSkyB, the BBC, the Smart Metering Association and John Cullen Lighting amongst others. The industry’s own Steve Moore and Mike Heiss were also on hand to give their own unique take on what was-not-to-be-missed at the show.

 

Alongside the Wired for Technology education offering, CEDIA also ran three further Outreach conferences at the event, attracting more than 100 additional visitors from mechanical and electrical, interior design and architectural backgrounds. During the show CEDIA confirmed its commitment to build on these initiatives with more outreach events in the year ahead.

 

In total, the CEDIA education programme provided over 100 hours of quality training for delegates on and off the show floor. This content included a new series of Business and Marketing courses, plus a range of specialist technical sessions, workshops and popular round tables on HDMI, the iPad and 3D. The programme was supplemented by a substantial amount of free training courses provided by Trade Suppliers at the event.

 

Away from the show floor the usual mix of networking and fun once again proved to be a winning formula with the Habitech sponsored industry drinks reception offering some well-deserved R&R to exhibitors on the opening night. Over 300 attended the informal get together which was held in the Zero Sette bar and restaurant. 

 

The CEDIA Home Technology Event will return to ICC London ExCeL next year (training: 20-23 June 2010, exhibition 21-23 June 2011). For further information on the event, visit www.hometechnologyevent.co.uk