Behind the scenes: 60 seconds with Show Director Oliver Greening
As the countdown begins to LIFTEX 2025, Show Director Oliver Greening tells us what’s happening behind the scenes in planning the next event.
It has been three years since the last LIFTEX, what has been happening in the background?
Although it may seem like a long time, three years fly by when it comes to event planning!
Since LIFTEX 2022, we have been meeting and consulting with our steering group to gain insights and feedback on what worked and what we can refine. We launched the sales campaign in February and were impressed by the response. The show sold out by the end of June, and we have had to extend the floorplan to accommodate the demand. We now have a waiting list for stands, which is a great position for us to be in so far ahead of the event.
What were the results from LIFTEX 2022?
There was a 22% increase in attendance when it took place in October 2022 at London’s ExCeL. It attracted 4,000 attendees – the biggest yet and had over 100 exhibitors from 12 countries, including the UK, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA. Usually staged in May, the event was postponed to October that year due to Covid.
We were thrilled with the results, particularly as it was post-pandemic, and we were unsure of the future of live events at the time. It was also the first time we had the breadth of industry representation from contractors, service companies, component suppliers and organisations from support services. The overwhelming message from visitors and exhibitors alike was that LIFTEX plays a vital role in supporting the UK lift and escalator industry. Many we spoke to told us they couldn’t miss it for that very reason.
Can you give us the background to the show?
LIFTEX has been running for 37 years. It was launched in the 1980s by Turret-Wheatland Exhibitions, a UK-based events company and originally called The International Lift Exhibition. LEIA took it over in 1997 and it has run every three years ever since.
Are you seeing any trends yet for the 2025 show and who will be there?
Take a look at our exhibitor list, but the host of names include A & A Electrical Distributors Ltd, Jackson Lift Group, Lester Control Systems Ltd, NDC Elevator Drives, Sassi Lift Systems and Shorts Industries.
We’ve also got exhibitors from the UK and representation from: Croatia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands and Turkey. Next year’s exhibition will also see 14 new exhibitors joining for the first time.
A trend we have noticed is the increase in overall stand sizes, compared to previous years. Exhibitors are telling us they plan to go bigger and better than ever before with their brand presence.
What do you have planned for LIFTEX 2025 and is there a theme?
Aside from the packed exhibition, we’re compiling another comprehensive educational programme. A key feature will be the Building Safety Act and its implications for the lift and escalator industry, as well as those who manage and specify lifts and escalators. In addition, we’ll cover the topics of modernisation, evacuation, standards and regulations. Keep your eyes peeled for the seminar programme in the new year.
How can visitors get the latest show updates and when does registration open?
Registration opens in January, but visitors can register their interest in attending before that. This will add them to the database to receive show updates and newsletters. Anyone who registers will be kept up to date with emails from the team, but you can also follow the show on social media. We’ll be running a monthly LinkedIn newsletter, so make sure you subscribe when that goes live in January.
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