Multimodal - success breeds success

Multimodal 2009 attracted a host shippers and manufacturers to Birmingham’s NEC. Despite the economic background, there were plenty of service providers, OEMs and major infrastructure developments on show.

Over 130 organisations exhibited at the show, nearly 50% up on the previous year, while visitor numbers increased by 66% on the launch show in 2008.

Exhibitors ranged from ports, shipping lines, rail operators, airlines, road hauliers, and logistics providers through to equipment suppliers, technical and IT support providers, academic institutions, trade associations and government bodies. Visitors were drawn from the ranks of major shippers, retailers and industry.

“Met with existing suppliers and found some new ones. Found the seminars and informal talks on different stands to be informative” Sara Lee International

“I think the show has been tremendous, it’s the first time we exhibited and we found it hugely busy and we have been talking to the sort of customers and prospects we need to speak too. In general terms it’s been a great exhibition for us” Keith Batterson, Director, Cosco Logistics UK

“Gained some potentially good networking contacts” Ford

“With another strong performance, Multimodal has established itself as the strategic freight, transport and logistics exhibition for the UK. High quality delegates and the right senior decision making visitors make Multimodal a superior selling and networking opportunity” Andrew McKaig, Commercial Director, Central Systems & Automation Ltd.

“A good mix of companies - very useful” Sainsbury’s

"Multimodal 2009 was very successful for DSV. We are looking forward to Multimodal 2010 being even better!" Chris Malyon, Head of Sales & Marketing, DSV Road Limited

“Very good. We will see even more next year I think” Kellogg’s UK

“Multimodal gave everyone a lift! To have such a successful show in these difficult times, with attendance actually 66% up on last year and a lot of serious enquiries for our range of logistics services was fantastic. We hope that with some improvement in the economic climate by early 2010, the Multimodal show will come at just the right time to help us identify new business opportunities and justify our continued investment in client services.”  Stuart Taylor, Marketing Director, The Potter Group

“Very useful opportunity to compare the propositions from the leading logistics providers in one place” Unilever

“We have had a lot of interest in our products and services, some interesting enquiries and a good opportunity to develop the Dachser name in the UK. We certainly recommend Multimodal to other exhibitors in our industry for next year” Nick Lowe, Managing Director, Dachser

“Useful informative, good networking opportunity” 3M Touch Systems UK Ltd

“We had a fantastic show, a lot of people in the right place at the right time. For a company like ours we have to be there. We are really pleased with the outcome of Multimodal, we have got so many enquiries, so many leading names are here. It’s been a great opportunity to network and promote our new products” Craig Headford, UK Sales Manager, Freightabase

“The overall atmosphere was very useful in facilitating useful discussions with exhibitors. The pre-publicity weekly ezine also prepared me for these meetings” Irish Exporters Association

“This year we have had very good visitors to our stand and it’s been very positive. There was a lot more marketing carried out prior to the show, the VIP reception was well presented, a lot of people there and some good networking” Jeff Marley, Country Manager UK, Ewals Cargo Care

"We were busy from the very beginning - with our last customers leaving just before the end of the third day. As usual, the Multimodal team made exhibiting easy - the organisation was superb. It was a great show for Wincanton." Sarah Stanley, Marketing Manager, Wincanton plc.

“I found it a useful networking event where, in a single day, I was able to meet several suppliers, and also prospective customers. Thus it was an efficient use of my time” MOL (Europe) Ltd

“The best use of my time at an event like this since the last one. Great format, location, exhibitors and delegates. A real opportunity to meet people who are active – excellent” SGBD UK

“I found it both informative and interesting and enjoyed the variety of exhibitors” DHL Supply Chain

“Very Impressed, I hadn't realised it was such a large event. Came away with a lot of information” DLC Worldwide

“My visit was very worthwhile, both from the viewpoint of the exhibition content, and the contacts I made, and the discussions with these contacts” Huelin-Renouf Shipping

“Very interesting and informative plus the quality of the attendees was very high” Cap Gemini

“Introduced to new clients and obtained potential new suppliers” Norbert Dentressangle UK Ltd

“Multimodal is a great opportunity for shippers to go ‘shopping’ to find better ways of moving cargo and to reduce their supply chain costs. It’s clear that the transport logistics industry is still brimming with innovative ideas and can find inventive ways of beating the recession. I’m very pleased Multimodal 2009 has been instrumental in encouraging new thinking in logistics and transport." Robert Jervis, Event Director, Multimodal

Multimodal is unique. It is the only event in its field to embrace the complete spectrum of freight transportation and logistics. Multimodal is an educational, topical and informative experience for all. Whether you’re a buyer, seller, shipper, freight forwarder or equipment supplier, the event will provide a stimulating and interactive environment where you can build your business and expand on customer relations.

Multimodal at the NEC from 27-29 April 2010 is a ‘must do’ event and visitor registration is free. Find out more about the show, exhibitors and sponsors by clicking on their logos on the right of this page.

In addition, www.multimodal.org.uk is fast becoming a major focal point for industry news, and is updated daily with the latest news stories and features. Register to receive our weekly newsletter by clicking the Email Alert button on the left.

Companies that attended Multimodal 2009 included:

3M UK Distribution Centre, Aggregates, Agropharm Ltd, Airbus, Akzo Nobel, Alkor Draka BV, Argos, Army, ASDA, ASDA/Wal-Mart, Aylesford Newsprint, Aytac Foods Ltd, B/S/H/, Bioquell (UK) Ltd, BMW, BMW Motoren GmbH, BOC Ltd, Bombardier, Booker, Boots the Chemists, Boots UK Ltd, Bridgnorth Aluminium Ltd, Britishbookshops & Stationers, Brother Industries (UK) Ltd, BSW Timber, Burbank Produce Limited, Caledonian Alloys, Carrington Wire Ltd, Cemex, Chiltern Timber Supplies, Citizen, Coors Brewers Ltd, Costco, CP Foods UK Ltd, Cray Valley, Croda Europe Ltd, Cumerio, Dainippon Screen UK Ltd, Danone Baby and Medical Division, Danone Waters, Delice De France, Diageo, Direct Golf UK Ltd, Dow Chemical, Dr Oetker (UK) Ltd, DSCOM, ebuyer.com, Edrington Distillers Ltd, Eland Cables, Elementis, Epson (UK) Ltd, Euro Polymers International Ltd, Farrow & Ball Ltd, First Choice Coffee Ltd, First Quench Retailing, Flaktwoods, Ford Motor Company, Furniture Village Ltd, General Mills UK Ltd, Gerber Juice Company Ltd, Glanbia Foods Plc, Glen Dimplex Home Appliances, Griffith Laboratories, Hanson Aggregates, HM Forces – Army, Home Retail Group, Homebase, Honda Europe NV, Iggesund Paperboard, Ineos Nova Services BV, Infineum UK Limited, Irish Exporters Association, Ivory & Ledoux Ltd, Jaguar Land Rover, JC Bamford, Jewson Ltd, John Mills Ltd, John West Foods, Johnson Controls Automotive, Johnson Matthey Catalysts, Kao Brands Europe, Kellogg, Kenwood/Delonghi, Kinnarps, Kraft Foods UK, Linde Group, Lotus Cars Ltd, Marks & Spencer, Mars Chocolate UK Ltd, Marshall Aerospace, Matalan Retail Limited, MCM Select Foods Ltd, Miller Brands, MOD, Morphy Richards Ltd, Motorola, Mulder Onions, NA-Cumerio, Nestle Waters UK Ltd, Netto Foodstores Limited, Next Retail, NHS, Norddeutsche Affinerie AG, NSG Pilkington, Oakfield (Foods) Ltd, Oce (UK) Limited, Office Depot, Outokumpu Stainless Ltd, Palmer Timber Ltd, Panasonic Logistics Co Ltd, Panasonic UK Ltd, Paperchase Products Ltd, Pelicans Manufacturing, PZ Cussons International Ltd, Regatta, Rohm & Haas, Rolls-Royce, Rolls-Royce Marine, Rolls-Royce Plc, Sabic UK Petrochemicals, Sainsbury’s, Samsung Electronics, Sara Lee, Saudi Arabian Oil Company, SCA Hygiene Products Ltd, Shop Direct Home Shopping Ltd, Snap-on Tools, Stannah Stairlifts Ltd, Steel Plate & Sections Ltd, Tesco, The Health Store, Toyota, Triumph Motorcycles, Unilever, UPM-Kymmene (UK) Limited, Whirlpool UK Ltd, Wolseley, Yankee Candle Europe and Young’s Seafood Limited amongst many others.

Visitor Quality

Visitors to Multimodal 2009 were of an exceptionally high quality and comprised of:-

• 3154 Exhibition Visitors
• 135 Exhibiting companies
• Visitors attended from 32 countries
• Shippers - 34%
• Freight Forwarding/Logistics – 39%
• 68% - Senior Manager level or higher