IMHX 2007 at the NEC in Birmingham, UK.

The International Materials Handling Exhibition (IMHX) 2010 has been postponed from March to November next year in response to exhibitor requests, the show organiser says.

Quartz Publishing & Exhibitions Ltd managing director Paul Michael says the company believes the decision to push back the show date should be an "industry one" and "not imposed by the organisers".

"All the exhibitors were asked to vote for one date or the other, and the overwhelming number voted for the November option," Michael explains.

According to Quartz, major exhibitors had told the organiser they had reservations about exhibiting on the show's original date because of the economic climate, and suggested the show be moved to a later date. Quartz had negotiated with the show venue, the NEC in Birmingham, and secured the alternative tenancy in November.

"We are convinced that this eight-month breather will place the event at a more favourable point in the economic cycle, at a time when the economy is anticipated by most indicators to be in recovery mode," Michael says.

The format of IMHX 2010, now from November 16 to 19, 2010, remains unchanged. Quartz claims a large percentage of stand space has already been sold.

Major forklift companies contacted by Forkliftaction.com News for their reaction to the new show date did not respond by press time.