On the map

For those in the roads network sector, Highways UK is an essential date on the calendar. The NEC-based event brings together those responsible for planning, developing and maintaining the road network, and Smart Display is firmly on the map this season with seven exhibitors out in force.

Highways has been a regular exhibition for Smart Display, even since we first installed the Messagemaker Displays stand at the show back in 2020. Our regular clients Westcotec, Valmont, Nexus Rentals and MSF soon came on board, and this season sees us welcome newcomers Nicander and MJ Church to the annual highlight of the road trade’s calendar.

For both Smart Display and our clients, having a portfolio of exhibitors at one event certainly has its advantages.

“There’s a bigger buzz amongst the builders when we have a few stands at one event,” says Smart Display’s production manager Shane Riding. “We have all our resources there in one location, and we can really pull on our experience of liaising with the event organiser. We tend to see a bit of camaraderie between the exhibitors as well because they help each other out during the build, not to mention a bit of friendly competition as to who can get finished first. The shared transportation is better for the environment, and we often find that our exhibitors get together for a drink in the evenings, which is really nice to see.”

It’s part of being the Smart Display family that keeps customers coming back season after season, and the company’s rate of repeat custom is testament to its service and quality standards.

“We’ve been working with Smart Display for over six years and our stand builds are always a positive and smooth process,” says Josh Lyne, UK sales manager at Messagemaker Displays. “The team are a bunch of friendly people who make our lives so much easier and design and make the stand to a superb level.”

As a regular exhibitor at Highways UK, Messagemaker Displays doesn’t underestimate the importance of face-to-face networking at trade events.

“Exhibitions are integral to our business model,” says Josh. “Most of the business that we do comes from these events and networking, and they play a vital role in what we do.”

As a specialist in LED traffic signage, Messagemaker Displays is looking forward to releasing its new high speed range at next month’s Highways UK.

Fellow exhibition regular Westcotec is also using Highways UK as a platform from which to unveil its new developments this season.

“We have a lot of new innovations including our Fatal 3 system that is connected to an external AI camera to detect speeding, mobile phone usage and driver failure to wear a seatbelt,” says sales director Olly Samways, who is taking his company to Highways UK for the third time. “That’s in addition to our new vehicle to infrastructure modules, a brand new website and our first ever competition for visitors to our stand.

“Our business would really struggle without trade exhibitions, especially since the pandemic. Innovation is at the heart of what we do, and we only continue to grow because we react and make bespoke products within a short timeframe. To do this, we need to speak to engineers and other professionals, which isn’t as easy as it once was with the increased popularity of working from home.  Trade exhibitions are a great way to tempt people out and essential in letting us network with our industry professionals.”

As one of Smart Display’s longest-standing clients, Westcotec has entrusted its stand design and build to us for six years for a variety of trade shows including Traffex, Intertraffic, CV Show and ITT Hub.

“Our experience of having our stand designed by Smart Display is always effortless,” says Olly. “The team at Smart has always executed our design briefs and stand builds perfectly, and the professionalism of the team is second to none. It shines through on the finished product, especially when you compare it to neighbouring stands at events.

“The way in which our company has been taken to the ‘next level’ by having an impressive stand built by Smart has transformed the way we do business.”

Westcotec is such an advocate of Smart Display that the company referred new exhibitor Nicander to us for this edition of Highways UK.

“It’s our second time showing at Highways but we came on board with Smart Display following a referral from Westcotec,” says Sam Brierley, Nicander’s business development manager. “We’ve had a positive experience with Smart Display so far, and are looking forward to increasing the recognition of our brand as software house delivering into the mobility sector. Trade exhibitions haven’t been a massive part of our business model as yet, but we are hoping to change that with our stand at Highways.”

Messagemaker Displays, Westcotec, Valmont, Nexus Rentals, MSF, MJ Church and Nicander will all exhibit at Highways UK next month on 18-19 October at Birmingham’s NEC. Around 15,000 exhibitors are expected to visit 375 exhibitors over the two days.

Drop us a line to find out more.