The Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA), the International Communications Industries Association (ICIA/InfoComm) and the National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA) have formed a partnership to develop and produce joint trade exhibitions in Europe and Asia for the benefit of their respective members and industries. The three have a combined membership of over 5,000 companies and individuals that are located in over 60 countries.
The first European show will be held at the Geneva PALEXPO (a brand new exhibition facility) in Switzerland on February 3-5, 2004. A new name and brand for the show is under development, but it will have the advantages of NSCA's focus on integrated electronic systems for commercial construction, ICIA's expertise in audiovisual systems integration and communications and CEDIA's strengths in home networking and home automation.
In Asia, CEDIA and NSCA will join with ICIA in shows conducted in Singapore and China by InfoCommAsia Pte, Ltd. (IAPL). The first combined shows will be in 2004 for InfoComm China and 2005 for InfoComm Asia, when the exhibitions are replaced with the new show name and brand as used in Europe. A formal press conference and signing ceremony will be held on June 2 at InfoComm 2003 in Orlando, Florida. In attendance will be the executive directors of the three associations, the head of IAPL, the newly hired European managing director of the Europe show, Mike Blackman, and a representative of Geneva PALEXPO.
Interestingly, the alliance does not extend to the North American tradeshows conducted by CEDIA, ICIA and NSCA, which will remain independent.
(Ruth Rossington)
CEDIA - www.cedia.org
INFOCOMM - www.infocomm.org
NSCA - www.nsca.org
