2013 Executive Hire Show almost sold out

There are 110 confirmed exhibitors for the 2013 Executive Hire Show (EHS) - the major exhibition for UK tool and compact equipment rental companies - with all but two of the stands in the main hall now sold.

Organisers said space was now also being sold for the upper floor, which was an additional area used at the 2012 show for the first time.

The show takes place at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK, on 6 and 7 February, avoiding a clash with the US ARA-organised Rental Show, which takes place in Las Vegas on 10-14 February.

The previous show attracted 1752 visitors - of whom 91% were rental company delegates - and the EHS is hoping to increase that in 2013 and attract more visitors from other European countries.

EHS is being staged in 2013 for the seventh time, but extends to 40 years the line of UK ‘hire shows': the first Hirex event was held in 1973 at Syon Park in west London.

New exhibitors next year will include Manitou, E P Barrus and Dual Pumps, while some of the previous exhibitors are returning with bigger stands, including Bomag, Duro, Metabo, SDMO, Thwaites and Volvo. Other exhibitors include Wacker Neuson, Hilti, Makita, JCB, Milwaukee and Husqvarna.

Mark Gunns, Volvo's marketing services manager, said; "We have considerably increased the size of our stand for the 2013 show. This event is about the quality of the visitor and not the quantity - we always have a good show."

An exhibitor meeting was recently held to plan for the event, and one change arising from that is a shift to a 9.00am start time, later than the previous 8.00am start. In addition, the exhibitors present at the meeting agreed to maintain the policy of only allowing entry for non-exhibiting suppliers from after 12.00 on the second day.