While many in the industry are focused on CeMAT in Hannover in May, the materials handling event calendar for 2016 is heating up.

Organisers are expecting more than 1,500 exhibitors at WIN EURASIA 2016 from 17 to 20 March in Istanbul, a cluster of events that includes Materials Handling EURASIA.

Last year, 156 exhibitors supported the materials handling event, attracting a significant proportion of the 77,244 visitors at the combined shows.

"Turkey is a country in transition - and, as such, a very exciting market for international exporters, particularly providers of intralogistics solutions," says Wolfgang Pech, Deutsche Messe's senior vice president responsible for intralogistics events worldwide.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, two world-class distribution, materials handling and storage expos have been added to the Cape Industries Showcase (CIS) taking place from 13 to 15 July 2016 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in South Africa.

The Cape Logistics Expo and the Temperature Controlled Storage and Distribution Expo join the established CIS events comprising the Oil & Gas Africa Expo, the Maritime & Offshore Marine Africa Expo and the Empowertec Cape SME Expo.

"Cape Town has not had a dedicated materials handling and logistics exhibition ... for many years," says event organiser John Thomson. "Six of South Africa's eight major marine ports are situated in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, which jointly handled 7.6 million T of bulk cargo, 3.9 million T of break bulk and 1.8 million containers during 2014. This clearly shows the region's importance to the logistics sector, and the relevance of the two logistics expos."

A number of leading industry associations are backing the shows, including the Namibia Logistics Association, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport South Africa (CILTSA), the Railroad Association of South Africa, the Southern Africa Refrigerated Distribution Association, the Southern Africa Shippers Transport and Logistics Council and the Supply Chain and Logistics Group.

Separately, in the United Kingdom, Dave Sparrow, managing director of the Association of Industrial Truck Trainers (AITT) has been announced as a key speaker at this year's Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) Safety Conference. In his presentation, he will explain the role of the Accrediting Bodies Association (ABA) and the very significant benefits its formation has brought to employers - and to workplace safety standards.

The annual Safety Conference will allow delegates from every sector to hear presentations from companies who have dramatically enhanced safety on their premises and to share experiences, case studies and practical advice.

The FLTA Safety Conference takes place on Wednesday 29th June 2016, at the Heart of England Conference and Events Centre, near Coventry.