Plantworx attracted a record 450 exhibitors last year at its new Peterborough venue
Construction Equipment show Plantworx has been postponed from 2021 until 2022 to allow Hillhead, which was due to take place this year, to be delayed until next year.
The two shows are traditionally held in alternate years but Hillhead, originally scheduled for June this year, is now not going ahead as originally planned as a result of the coronavirus.
After discussion with the management of Hillhead Exhibition, Plantworx organiser the Construction Equipment Association (CEA) has agreed to postpone Plantworx by a year, freeing up the calendar for Hillhead to take place next.
Meanwhile, the Commercial Vehicle Show, due to take place next month at the NEC in Birmingham, has been cancelled.
CEA chief executive, Rob Oliver said: “Of course we didn’t want to postpone our show, but after discussions with the Hillhead management we concluded that it would be in the best interests of our exhibitors and the wider construction and quarrying industries if we reset the clock and allowed Hillhead the diary space in 2021. Few people expected the impact of coronavirus just a couple of weeks ago, so we thought it best to make a quick decision so the industry had some clarity. As a trade association now, we need to focus our resources on helping our members through the unprecedented challenges arising from coronavirus which affects both lives and livelihoods.”
Plantworx show director Simon Frere-Cook added: “We had some great plans for 2021, but they will remain intact for 2022. We will also make sure that there are Plantworx related activities right through to 2022 in support of our industry. The downside for me is not being able to keep our organising team fully employed due to the delay and disappointing the charities we had lined up to support via the show. A positive is a good relationship we have with our Peterborough venue and we will be working closely with them to deliver a great event in two years”.
