MORE CONTRACTORS JOIN THE AEC

The Association of Exhibition Contractors (AEC) is showing signs of rapid growth with thirteen new members having joined since the beginning of the 2006. John Sanders, AEC Deputy Director, said “As the name and reputation of the association increases we are finding more and more companies pro-actively wishing to join the association.” The AEC sits alongside the AEO (Association of Exhibition Organisers) and the AEV (Association of Event Venues) and all three are part of the newly formed EIA (Events Industry Alliance – a new marketing arm that speaks for the exhibitions and events industry. Sanders continued, “The co-operation between the three bodies under the EIA banner has enabled us to make considerable progress on issues that affect the contractors and suppliers to the exhibition industry. High profile solutions to difficult issues, such as the recent agreement on Electrical Testing at venues, (see notes to editors below) has demonstrated our ability to serve the needs of our members. We now offer a very attractive proposition to all exhibition contractors” The 13 members signed up so far this year are: 4D Design and Display Ltd City Furniture Hire Ltd Clearview Imaging Services Fastsigns (Guildford) Ltd Fishers (Harrogate) Ltd Hire Intelligence UK Platform Europe RefTech Services Ltd Resolutions Showforce The Corps Unibox Zig Zibit For further Information contact John Sanders at the AEC on 01442 873331 Association of Exhibition Contractors 119 High Street Berkhamsted Herts, HP4 2DJ Tel: 01442 873331 Fax: 01442 875551 Email: john@aec.gb.net website: www.aec.gb.net (ENDS) JPEGS available on request – photo of John Sanders – AEC Deputy Director ___________________________________________________ Notes to editors: The Association of Exhibition Contractors is a trade association representing contractors and suppliers of goods and services to the exhibition industry. It is part of the Events Industry Alliance (EIA) and shares the EIA secretariat with its sister organisations the Association of Exhibition Organisers (AEO) and the Association of Event Venues (AEV) thus benefiting from a central information source and all the services developed by the EIA. Aims of the AEC The aims of the AEC are to work in partnership with organisers and venues to promote quality and value for exhibitors thus raising the profile of exhibitions as a medium and to offer support services to its members to help them achieve and maintain these standards Electrical Testing The NEC and AEC recently announced that they have a new testing procedure for electrical testing of exhibition stands at the venue, which will come into immediate effect at the venue. The new system will ensure that all exhibition stands are tested pre-show by qualified electricians. The system builds on the original industry guidance, which had been in place since the late nineties with a greater emphasis on the competence of testers and a more detailed and comprehensive test form – something the local authority required to demonstrate compliance with health and safety legislation. For more information and the full press release on this issue visit www.aec.gb.net