New for 2018, SALTEX say visitors can expect to see and experience the very latest groundscare ingenuity in a new area on the show floor which is purely dedicated to innovation and new concepts in grounds management.
According to the SALTEX 2017 visitor survey, 97 per cent claimed that their main reason for attending the exhibition was to see the latest innovations. Taking this feedback on-board, SALTEX event organisers have decided to host, for the first time, a dedicated Innovation Hub.
Visitors can expect to watch interviews with industry experts and those at the forefront of new groundscare innovations and listen to research and trial work findings.
Furthermore, say the organisers, a number of key speakers will take to the stage to discuss and explore current groundscare trends such as cordless/environmentally friendly equipment, robotics, GPS control machinery, pesticide alternatives, pitch lighting (including watering systems and oxygen) and pitch monitoring systems.
In this new feature, delegates will be able to engage in conversation regarding key topics or seek advice while using the opportunity to network with industry business leaders and exporters.
The new Innovation Hub will play host to the second ever Innovation Awards - which last year was jointly won by Rigby Taylor's Intelligent One autonomous robotic line marker
The Innovation Hub will also play host to the SALTEX 2018 Innovation Award ceremony - entries for which are now open.
Making its debut at last year’s show, the Innovation Award attracted a number of high-quality entries from across the globe spanning a wide variety of products, services and equipment.
The independent panel of judges, who based their decisions on a number of factors including what the entry offers the industry and how it makes life easier for the person using it, were unanimous in selecting four stand-out entries. In a tie for first place, Rigby Taylor’s Intelligent One autonomous robotic line marker and Fleet Line Markers’ MAQA line marking machine were announced as joint winners of the first ever award.
Second place went to Oregon’s Gator Speedload and third place went to the Etesia Hydro 80 MKHP4 E-Connect.
Due to the popularity of last year’s Innovation Award, organisers belive even more entries will be attracted this year - with all being revealed in the lead-up to the show.
Additionally, by referring to the show guide, visitors will be able to follow an Innovation Trail enabling them to see every single entry on the show floor.
SALTEX takes place at the NEC, Birmingham on October 31 and November 1.
