Larger stands, with better designs and with greater quantity and quality of technology exhibited, was what could be observed in the fourth version of TecnoMultimedia InfoComm, held in mid-August at the WTC in Mexico City, a situation that reflected the 40% growth in the space of the commercial exhibition and that for attendees and exhibitors meant being in a show that grows and consolidates.
By Richard Santa
Undoubtedly, this is a sample of the maturity that the show has acquired for the benefit of the audiovisual industry of Mexico. There were even testimonies from integrators and distributors who say that the growth of their business has been above 20% per year, marked by their participation in the fair in recent years.
Manuel Montoya, from the crestron company, stressed that "this is the second time we have participated. We have a larger stand and a larger presence than last year, thanks to the results of 2013. The fair has given us very good results, we are very happy and next year we will have a bigger stand."
In the same sense, Guillermo López, from Kramer, said that "this fourth year the fair has shown a fairly good evolution and we are exceeding the expectations that as a company we have brought year after year".
The fair also served as a launching pad for startups in the Mexican market. This is the case of NTX Distribution. Edgar Álvarez commented that this is a company representing brands that gathers the experience of NTX, a company that integrates AV solutions and with 20 years of experience in the market.
But not only the commercial sample has generated interest in the Mexican AV industry. There is also a growing interest in updating and training. This was reflected in the participation of professionals in the different conference sessions: the rooms of InfoComm, Kolo Academy, TécnicoComerciales, the Keynote with the TEC of Monterrey and the panel on live events.
A special event occurred with the visit of a group of 60 students from the National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico and their teachers, who were able to learn from the industry. In addition, the increase in visitors was characterized by having end users from the different areas in which the AV industry has a presence.
A space for women
This year there were many activities that were carried out within the framework of the fair. Manufacturers brought together their distributors from all over the country, such as the meeting of Hitachi and Audio Representations with more than 50 integrating companies; the technical-commercial talks of several exhibitors; Kolo Academy's digital signage training and InfoComm International's lectures.
But without a doubt, a special moment was the meeting of AV women from Mexico. A space that opens for the first time in this country, and that will surely continue, in which women were able to share the experiences of the industry and point out their needs so that, together, they can support each other and continue to grow within the industry.
In a meeting, which was not allowed to enter any man to feel more confident, highlighted the women participants who are gaining more and more ground in an industry dominated by men. In addition, they highlighted the need to be more involved in the technical areas and facilities, and not to remain only in administrative or commercial positions.
On machismo, which has been one of the factors they have had to face in the industry, they argued that it is less and less. And they added that the discrimination has not been because they are men, since there are also known cases between women. So it's not a question of gender, it's the education and culture of people.
Margarita Reyes, manager of G$ audio and video and one of the promoters of this meeting, commented that this was a beginning of an important relationship, in which women from different generations who did not know each other met, and that it will give positive results in terms of technical training, in the contribution of women to the industry and, above all, to be increasingly respected.
Cecilia Poeck, from InfoComm International, pointed out that this meeting was supported by the association but the idea came from the same women from Mexico, who wanted to replicate the experience that was born in the United States a couple of years ago. He pointed out the reception that the event had, since to be the first time, in the room arranged for the meeting there was not a free chair.
He added that thanks to the good results of this experience, it will be replicated in other Latin American countries. At the moment it was confirmed that in November, prior to TecnoMultimedia InfoComm Colombia, they will seek to bring women together in Bogotá.
DS Awards 2014
Within the framework of the Tecnomultimedia InfoComm Expo, the DS Awards Mexico 2014, carried out by the Digital Signage Association of Mexico, were presented to the highlights of the sector. The winning companies of this award were: Mantenimiento Xtra (MAX) and Samsung Electronics Mexico with the Digital Poster Project of the Monterrey Bus Station, as well as the company Motion ADS with the content project for the end of the season BBVA Bancomer.
In the Digital Signage Project at the Monterrey Bus Station, architectural plans were designed for the correct installation of the screens, indicating aspects of design, connectivity, support placement and location.
A Video Wall was installed with groups of Video Walls of 66 screens (1 x 66) in Ticket Offices, 44 screens in Platforms and several screens in the waiting room. Likewise, all advertising was manipulated remotely from Mexico City for all screens, monitoring their operation.
Meanwhile, with the CONTENT project for the end of the season BBVA Bancomer, a screen of 2.5 meters high and 26.9 meters long was used, where the content of the 2013 end-of-year season was presented.
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