The UK home automation and AV industry is looking forward to EI Live! 2022, taking place at the Farnborough Exhibition Centre from 14-15 September. Amy Stoneham talks to David Kitchener, managing director of EI Live! about the show.
AW: What will be covered at this year’s show?
DK: EI Live! is the only dedicated residential AV and home automation show in the UK and is the main event for the industry, including smart products from the world of electrical contracting. It attracts an audience of quality customers, most of whom are decision makers with specific purchasing power.
Visitors are drawn by the range of exhibitors that can’t be found in one place anywhere else, together with our reputation for promoting emerging technologies and innovations in the sector. We pride ourselves on being the best face-to face sales opportunity for industry suppliers, generating new custom for our exhibitors. With over 400 brands on show, if you are a custom installer / integrator, it’s a show not to miss.
AW: How many visitors are you expecting this year?
DK: We achieved some 2,000 visitors through the door last year across the two days of the show. This year we are shooting for 2,500.
AW: Are there any standout features/focuses this year?
DK: Karma-AV (Stand 102) is delighted that EI Live! will be the stage for the UK launch of Perlisten’s S7i and S7ic in-walls, the world’s first THX Certified Dominus architectural designs.
The Antiference (Stand 116) team are excited to showcase new products and developments at this year’s show. New for this year are additions to the Clear Flow wireless network range including trade/multi packs of three access points of the ever-popular Air 3 & Air 13 products.
simPRO (Stand 83b) will be offering its unique take on field service management software designed to help streamline business processes and ultimately increase profit and productivity.
Snap One (Stand 111) will unveil a host of innovations across its product ecosystem. Anchored on its two platforms, Control4 Smart Home OS 3 and OvrC Remote Management, the raft of new products encompasses leading brands in lighting, speakers, amplifiers, multiroom audio, surveillance, power and surge management, film screens, racks, mounts, cables connectors and wiring.
D-Tools (Stand 42), provider of core business management software that improves financial results for thousands of system integrators worldwide, officially launches its cloud-based platform to the UK market and introduces new capabilities for System Integrator Software at EI Live!.
Fresh off the back of the Invision House Party celebrations, Invision is pleased to announce that it will be bringing its 20th anniversary party to EI Live! on Stand 53.
Exhibiting at EI Live! for the first time in the company’s own right, Mode Lighting (Stand 36) will be showcasing its range of lighting control solutions focusing on the eDIN+ range of modular components which enable any size of project to be created from standard modules, all designed and manufactured by the company’s own team in Hertfordshire, UK.
First time exhibiters QMotion UK (Stand 142), specialists in motorised window treatments, will be promoting a series of integration, installation and design innovations. These will include the company’s latest integrations with KNX, Loxone, Crestron Home and Rako lighting control, a new blind concealment box solution, a Designer Series of decorative brackets and endcaps and the latest high quality fabric collection.
AW: What have you done to improve on last year’s show?
DK: Clearly footfall is the main ingredient for any show, and this year we are not only reaching out to custom installers and systems integrators, but we are reaching out to the electrical retailers as well as electrical contractors and security installers.
AW: Can you give us some information about the Smart Building Awards?
DK: Held in the Village Hotel, Farnborough, this year’s Smart Building Awards will bring back the full gala dinner programme and really will knock your smart home socks off, providing fantastic networking opportunities, great food and drink, and, of course, the 2022 awards presentation.
The smart building awards gala dinner serves as a chance to mingle with the most pre-eminent players the industry has to offer. Guests will also get the opportunity to see who will rise to the top when the winners of this years’ categories are announced. As with last year, there will be 24 awards presented on the night, to the who’s who of the AV and home automation world.