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IN 2014 VISITOR NUMBERS ALMOST DOUBLED: 11.171, + 67 %, 330 EXHIBITORS, OVER 70 INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS, MORE THAN 400 SPèAKERS
From 19 to 21 October 2016, at BolognaFiere comes back, the thirteenth edition of H2O, the International Show for technologies for the treatment and distribution of drinking water and wastewater treatment, after the success of last October in the new location.
The three days confirmed the show’s status as the top meeting place for the whole water services sector: for over 20 years it has been bringing together producers of materials, technologies and equipment, public and private companies for the integrated management of water services, municipalities and contracting firms.
The Show’s move to Bologna from Ferrara benefitted from Bologna’s central location, seeing 67% more visitors: from 6,711 in 2012 to 11,171 this year (figure certified by ISF CERT, the Certification Institute for Exhibition Industry Statistics). This success was acknowledged by the exhibitors themselves, who unanimously endorsed the strategic nature of the new location, deemed to be more appealing at both national and international level.
Almost 400 B2B meetings were organized with buyers from Bulgaria, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Montenegro, Rumania, Serbia and Brazil.
Over 70 meetings and technical seminars with more than 400 speakers of international standing were attended by key public and private representatives of the water sector from Italy and around the world, the most highly accredited trade and sectorial associations and prestigious research centres and universities.
H20, which has maintained its individuality and its nature as an independent show, benefitted from being held at the same time as the huge 50th edition of the SAIE construction industry exhibition – and the simultaneous Smart City Exhibition: a European show dedicated to intelligent cities and communities, as well as other events dedicated to the construction industry.
Among the initiatives of particular prestige, a primary role was occupied by the International Conference “Water IDEAS 2014”, organized by the International Water Association. The IWA is the most important global association that brings together water service professionals, and has long played a key international role in spreading knowledge in the water sector concerning the environment, sanitary engineering, the protection of sources and plant technologies. Three days were dedicated to the presentation and discussion of the latest and most innovative strategies, techniques and applications in the management of urban water networks at an international level, focusing in particular on the involvement of scientific research, advanced management experiences and current European projects in the sector.
The packed conference programme dealt with all the latest and most topical issues, as well as traditional topics of general interest regarding regulation, technological innovation and economic, financial and management aspects. For example: the implementation of the water framework directive, saving resources and common property, water analysis and quality, the dynamics of investments and funding, tariff regulation, together with specific focuses on the protection of water networks, remote control and automation, flow measurement, analyses of sewerage networks, and the management of IT systems.
Important issues were dealt with in the context of CH4 conferences on the gas industry, with 15 study and training sessions involving the main experts in the sector, from managers of manufacturing firms to planners, installers, utilities and plant managers, and public administration officials. Among the most popular meetings were without doubt those dedicated to the new rules for the distribution of gas through the newly formed ATEM; safety in the use of combustible fuels; and energy efficiency.
