POLLUTEC 2002 Expects 2,250 Exhibitors and Over 60,000 Visitors
The 18th Pollutec (the international exhibition of environment equipment, technologies and services for industry and local authorities) is on course to set a new attendance record from 26th to 29th November 2002 at Lyon Eurexpo.
As of 20th April, some seven months before the show opens, 75 % of the stand space has already been booked, suggesting that the target of 2,250 exhibitors will be comfortably achieved.
Over 60,000 trade visitors are also expected.
90,000 m2 of environment solutions
Over an area of 90,000 m2, which has required the extension of the exhibition centre, Pollutec will display the full range of currently available environment solutions (products, equipment, services) in the fields of water, waste, air, energy, soil decontamination, clean technologies, analysis/measurement/monitoring, industrial cleaning...
In response to the expectations of visiting manufacturers and local authority managers, several themes will be highlighted this year:
- Prevention and Management of Risks. This has become a major concern since the Toulouse accident and around 1 000 m2 of stand space will be devoted to prevention, detection, intervention and monitoring tools. There will also be a discussion forum organized by INERIS (Institute for the Industrial Environment and Risks), in conjunction with the CSTB (Scientific and Technical Centre for Building) and CEMAGREF;
- Coastal Development and Protection. Today this is a priority for many elected representatives, who will find the full range of tools for fighting accidental pollution, beach cleaning equipment, water quality management solutions and sea front development assembled at the show …
- Clean or Renewable Sources of Energy (methane generation, co-generation, wind…). Each year these have a bigger presence at Pollutec grows and they will also have a higher profile within it. In particular, a village and discussions dedicated to hydrogen and its energy applications have been announced.
- Finally, Noise, which is today regarded as an aspect of the environment in its own right and the public's fourth most serious environmental concern. This year, the sector will have a village of its own featuring the full range of innovative acoustic solutions grouped around the CIDB (Noise Information and Documentation Centre) and the Noise Task Force of the Ministry of the Environment.
A new international dimension
Pollutec will be more international than ever this year. So far as the exhibitors are concerned, ten countries have already announced that they will be organizing national stands (Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom) and large numbers of companies will be present on their own individual stands. More than 650 foreign companies are expected to exhibit at Pollutec.
On the visitor front, an unparalleled promotional effort is being mounted to significantly increase participation from Southern, Central and Eastern Europe, Northern and other parts of Africa, Latin America and Asia. Most significantly, China, which is one of today's most promising environment markets, will be the star of a special day, involving market presentations, business meetings and receptions for delegations of leading figures …
A major opportunity for exchange and discussions
As always, the show will be an opportunity for all those involved in the environment to survey the current status of technology and regulations through the numerous conferences organized by the industry's associations and professional organizations. Subjects that have already been scheduled include: biological indicators for water quality, residual urban sludges, industrial risks, sewerage services, training in industrial technological risks, methane generation from industrial effluents, cogeneration and triple generation…
In parallel, there will be several forum areas - to which visitors will have free access - hosting a continuous series of discussions and round tables on topical subjects: risk management and prevention (industrial, seismic, transport…), coastal development and protection (especially in the Mediterranean basin), noise, clean energies (wind, hydrogen, fuel cells…) as well as town planning and the environment or "research/industry" co-operation, illustrated by successful examples (such as the measurement of odours with the "electronic nose").
Source: ADEME
