Last week's Logistica 2015 trade show is being described as a success, even though trade visitor numbers were down on 2012 levels.

Heffiq's stand

Over four days, the event attracted 19,167 visitors - 406 fewer than the last event.

Organisers say response from visitors and exhibitors was very positive, a view reflected by Rob Waldhober, marketing manager of Heffiq. "Logistica 2015 was well visited by various groups within the materials handling target group. A little less visitors than the previous edition, but qualitatively good," he says.

Other exhibitors were disappointed by the volume of visitors, but encouraged by the seniority and levels of interest.

Ravas spokesman Jacob Blom says it was "a good show (and) virtually all exhibitors were positive".

Egemin's Michael Coryn also notes visitor numbers below expectations, but adds that "the quality of leads we gathered during Logistica is more than satisfactory".

FROG on show

Heffiq's Waldhober is pleased with the strong interest from visitors in his company's expanded offerings. "The Logistica platform was very good for us to show customers and prospects our total product and service package. In the last two years (since we became Heffiq) we've really expanded our products and services (Utilev and Mora trucks, Ferretto racking and Kärcher cleaning equipment). Visitors were really enthusiastic about all this," he explains.

For Caroline Evers from FROG, the event had good potential. "The show offers you an extra stage to perform your sales skills," she says, adding that visitors were keen to talk about materials handling in general and automation (in particular)".

The Ravas team

Ravas' Blom was also struck by the interest in automation: "The focus is now more and more to AGVs - automation is the focus of all companies." He also detected strong interest in safety.

Coryn also noted increased interest and investment in automated materials handling in the Benelux market.

"There is a positive trend in investment projects for automated material handling in the Benelux market after several years of stagnation," he says.

Asked what topics dominated discussions at the Egemin stand, he said: "Mainly optimisation of their intralogistics processes to get a better control on their supply chain costs, to increase operational efficiency and safety and to reduce the error margins of logistics."

Camso shows off its brand

Nico van Vliet, supply chain coordinator at Camso, made "a lot of new contacts" at the event, although not as many as he had hoped.

His aim was to inform the market of the company's name change (formerly Camoplast Solideal), something he thinks he achieved in discussions at the stand.