12 | Aycliffe Today Business
BIGGER
& BETTER
Manufacturing and engineering exhibition Oktoberfest comes to The Xcel Centre
again. Co-founder and organiser, DARREN RACE, talks to RACHEL WRIGHT…
The stage is prepared; the
participants are ready, as
the promotion of excellence
unfolds; as some of the most
successful companies in the
North East prepare to showcase
their world-class capability, skills
and talent in the national arena
of the biggest exhibition held in
the region.
Scores of companies from the engineering
and manufacturing sector from across the
North East and throughout the UK will be
coming together to share their knowledge
and expertise and provide new and
exciting opportunities at the North East’s
Premier Engineering and Manufacturing
Exhibition to be held at the Xcel centre in
Newton Aycliffe on October 17 2013.
,
Co-founder and organiser of the
exhibition, and Chairman of South Durham
Engineering and Manufacturing Forum
Ltd, Darren Race said: “This exhibition is
all about making new relationships and
wealth creation, this really does have to
be first on the agenda, this is what it’s all
about.
“When we decided to do this six years
ago, we looked at the three engineering
forums, North Durham, East Durham
and South Durham Engineering and
Manufacturing Forum, and thought we
can do something unique in creating an
inter trading event that would really bring
something back to the industry and the
region.
“So we decided to take some ownership
ourselves, we were confident we
could pull it off and we weren’t wrong,
Oktoberfest continues to grow from
strength to strength each year with this
year forecast to be our biggest yet.
”
This year the exhibition has no less
than 120 companies taking part with a
footfall this year estimated to surpass an
impressive 1,000 visitors.
“I want people to come along and see a
high energy business environment, said
Darren
“With business’s looking to sell and trade
and really get involved in promoting the
success of companies in the North East.
This is our chance to create success
stories, celebrate success in the region,
and to promote regional excellence.
“Not just that, it is also about building a
community, sometimes we don’t realise
that the company just down the road can
make the very item we want; which has
got to be better than looking overseas .
”
Sharing their success stories at the
event will be guest speakers Nifco from
the automotive industry supply chain
producing parts supplied across the UK
and European automotive industry and
Ebac who are the market leaders in both
the European water cooler manufacture
and UK dehumidifier markets, who are
now diversifying into manufacturing
washing machines and ground source heat
pumps. Both companies will be sharing
their inspiring stories of success and
motivating listeners during the day.
The event is sponsored by Business
Durham, Derwentside Homes, EEF and
South West Durham Training, Teesside
University, Husqvarna and Scott-Grant.
Spokesman, for the engineering forum’s
Oliver Vogt, said: ‘There is no doubt that
over the past six years the exhibition
has grown in size, with more and more
companies and service industries coming
on board.
‘But it has also grown in stature and
significance and those in the industries
now tell us it is the most worthwhile of
this type of event in the region. And some
come to Oktoberfest in preference to
national events.’
As well as the day long networking and
marketing opportunity, one of the big
attractions to the exhibition for smaller
companies is the high profile buyers
who will be present. There will be private
seminar rooms arranged for ‘Meet the
Buyer’ sessions where there is the golden
opportunity for business’s to speak and
present to bigger companies who might
buy from them.
Darren explains: “It was a sensible
addition to what we were offering at
Oktoberfest, many companies often look
to change their supplier and this is a
fantastic chance to be able to do that.
“This is an opportunity to impress buyers
and develop new business. Each company