26/10-10   -   Press releases

IFSEC SA 2011: The not-to-be-missed security event of the year

IFSEC South Africa 2011 will be the security event of the year, and a must-see show for any security professional operating in South Africa’s ever-changing business environment.

According to Grant Mills, Managing Director, Montgomery Africa, South Africa’s premier security event has experienced significant growth in the number of visitors and exhibitors. The 2010 event enticed 5,844 security professionals from 45 countries, a 6% increase in visitors from the 2009 event. “Next year the show will elevate its status even further, offering both visitors and exhibitors an unforgettable experience filled with knowledge, expertise, innovation and the latest developments in security, comparable to any leading global security exhibition," he says.

IFSEC South Africa 2011 will be held at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand. “What was most encouraging was the increase in both exhibitor and visitor numbers for the 2010 event which bodes well for the move to Gallagher next year, where we aim to double the size of the event by including a homeland security element, as well as the co-location of the OSH Expo Africa alongside IFSEC SA 2011," says Mills. “This makes Gallagher the perfect venue for the show with its abundance of exhibition space, all available on one floor, in the middle of Gauteng’s busiest business hub."

Gallagher Convention Centre has the added advantage of offering visitors up to five exhibition halls, 10 000 parking bays and all the amenities that both visitors and exhibitors require. An exciting development is that visitors will now also have the option of accessing Gallagher Convention Centre via the Gautrain and shuttle service which will run through the brand new Midrand station next year.

The move to a much larger venue coincides with a repositioning of the event from the current, predominantly commercial security exhibition, to become an exhibition and conference relevant to both government and commercial buyers and influencers. It will bring together local and international solution providers with the key-decision makers and influencers from the South African Government, other African governments and private industry looking to identify and procure the latest innovations and technology to meet their respective national/homeland security needs.

“We will be identifying, inviting and hosting the key representatives from the South African Government, as well as representatives from the African region responsible for national security – border, maritime, airport and transport security, critical infrastructure security and disaster management," adds Ross Cullingworth, Commercial Events Director, Montgomery Africa.

IFSEC is widely recognised as the event of the year for key decision-makers end-users, security installers, and security buyers to meet with the cream of the security industry, from market leading international players right through to smaller local firms.

The show is divided into six main categories, namely: Integrated Security: IP & Network Solutions; Access Control, CCTV; Intruder Alarms; Counter Terror & Physical Security; Security Solutions and Fire Solutions - and offers something for any security professional involved in absolutely any type of organisation. IFSEC gives security professionals and risk managers the opportunity to discover new ideas, get educated on the latest developments and network with other professionals.

“By now, most people are familiar with the IFSEC South Africa SECUREX show," says Cullingworth, “As of next year the show will simply be known as IFSEC South Africa. The reasoning behind the name change has to do with the organiser’s decision to align the show more closely with its global partner," he added.

“We believe that the decision to elevate IFSEC South Africa to meet global standards will be a very positive move for the local industry in terms of innovation and improved efficiency," says Cullingworth. IFSEC is an internationally recognised brand and delivers to the exhibitors, the decision-makers that are ready to source and buy the very latest products. “Furthermore it offers our visitors valuable networking opportunities with South Africa’s leading organisations and professionals."

In addition to the action-packed three day event, IFSEC South Africa 2011 will include educational seminars, conferences and the much anticipated Exhibitor Awards. “The show will be the best that the industry has yet to see, and we look forward to welcoming the industry to this incredible event," concluded Cullingworth.

Companies interested in exhibiting at IFSEC South Africa 2011 should contact Ross Cullingworth, Commercial Event Director, Montgomery Africa rossc@montgomeryafrica.com (011) 835 1565