With just four months to go until Lockex 2018 – Security & Fire Safety, registration is already up by 20 per cent from Lockex 2016 and some people may be surprised to learn that it isn’t just locksmiths and auto-locksmiths signing up for tickets.

Rob Exley, director of The Locksmith Journal and organiser of Lockex 2018 – Security & Fire Safety explains, “Lockex 2016 was our first show with more than 80 trade stands from the locksmith industry. We welcomed over 1,700 visitors over the weekend and the feedback from all concerned was fantastic. Like all event organisers however, as soon as the doors closed for Lockex 2016, we started thinking about the next one.

“For the next show our motto was ‘bigger and better’ from the very beginning and with that in mind we decided to expand Lockex to reflect the ever-increasing concerns and considerations of architects and building specifiers; those of security and fire safety. Visitors that make the effort to come to these exhibitions do so to improve their product knowledge and progress in their profession, so we wanted to show that same forward-thinking when putting together Lockex 2018 – Security & Fire Safety.”

As the overall response to Lockex 2016 was that it offered a fresh perspective on a trade show; from the free bacon butties on arrival and lunch vouchers, right up to the money-can’t-buy workshop sessions. Demonstrations were as diverse as they were interesting including everything from setting safes on fire to locker conversion kits for the new style £1 coin. Visitors were also treated to the industry’s first ever auto locksmith event with a designated area devoted to car keys, fobs, remotes, transponders and more; this addition to the exhibition was echoed perfectly by one trade stand’s prize competition to win a luxury driving experience in a Jaguar sports car.

Now with their eyes fixed firmly forward to Lockex 2018 – Security & Fire Safety, the organisers (the same team behind The Locksmith Journal) have taken all the key parts that visitors loved from Lockex 2016 and added some extra aspects to make sure newcomers and past guests alike will be satisfied. While the show may have expanded its reach, however, there will be no compromise on the quality of exhibitors at the event, in fact, the inclusion of the brand new ‘Pavilion of Trade Bodies’ area will provide even more opportunity to get an one-on-one with some of the industry’s leading figures, while free workshops throughout the weekend give visitors the chance to get clued-up up on all the latest advancements in the business and earn some valuable CPD points.

Rob continues, “Lockex 2018 – Security & Fire Safety will be a one-stop-shop for builders, planners, and designers to advise and inform everyone in the industry of the latest designs and developments from across the globe. Trade shows can be very expensive – as well as taking up a lot of time – but with Lockex we wanted to get a real mix of exhibitors all under one roof so visitors could just circle one weekend in the calendar and not have to spend more of their valuable weekends – and money – at lots of different trade shows. In addition, we wanted to be able to welcome people to the show with open arms and not sting them with hefty parking charges and overpriced food and drink, which are all synonymous with these big events. Likewise for exhibitors, it would be unfair of us to get them to set up a stand, and then not make it as attractive as possible to get the visitors in for them to be able to showcase their products and services.

“The Ricoh Arena as a venue couldn’t have been more perfect in terms of size, facilities and location but we’ve reconfigured the space a bit differently for Lockex 2018 – Security & Fire Safety. Last time the speakers and seminars were placed outside of the arena, but this time we have situated the training area right in the centre the floor space, which means that visitors will be able to attend more seminars and waste less time walking in between classes. Again for exhibitors, this means greater footfall around their stands throughout all three days of the show without visitors leaving to attend workshops.”

Lockex 2018 – Security & Fire Safety takes place at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry on the 8^th, 9^th and 10^th June 2018. For more information and to register your interest at next June’s event please visit: www.lockex.org