The International Solids Handling Advisory Board (ISHAB) is an alliance of MHEA, the Materials Handling Engineers Association (www.mhea.co.uk) and SHAPA, the Solids Handling & Processing Association (www.shapa.co.uk). ISHAB represents the UK centre of technical excellence for companies supplying and using goods and services in the solids handling sector.

ISHAB continues dialogue with UKTI regarding events that will benefit the UK Solids Handling sector such as exhibitions and conferences overseas, meet the buyer events etc. Recently, UKTI has produced a UK Solids and Materials Handling brochure which boasts a multi-billion pound industry in this area. To obtain a pdf of this document please click here

A total of 27 individuals representing 22 UK companies gathered in Prague during September to participate in various events associated with a Trade Mission to the Czech Republic organised by UK Trade and Investment and the BulkEurope conference organised by Vogel Industrie Medien GmbH. Following an approach by the ISHAB Council in December 2007, UK Trade and Investment agreed to provide funds to support activities based around the BulkEurope conference to present a higher profile for the UK solids handling sector.

The support package included:-

a) Trade Mission to enable companies to examine the solids handling market in the Czech Republic with the UKTI staff at the British Embassy arranging up to four individual meetings for each participant using the Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS),
b) Reception held at the British Ambassador's Residence attended by selected guests attending BulkEurope from outside Europe together with guests from the Czech Republic,
c) UKTI sponsored the BulkEurope Conference Dinner at a monastery with the initial drinks reception in a garden terrace overlooking Prague,
d) UKTI exhibition stand within the BulkEurope conference exhibition and refreshment area,
e) Directory of UK suppliers in the solids handling sector (download)

A total of 11 UK papers were presented at the BulkEurope conference by 10 speakers. The conference attracted delegates from across the globe and provided an ideal opportunity for one to one exchanges with key personnel in the end user, or major contractor sectors as well as consultants and others who could influence project specifications.

Steve Clewley - Chairman of ISHAB, President of MHEA and Introductory Speaker at the BulkEurope 2008 Monastery Dinner.

The overall results from the event appear to be very encouraging with many companies reporting a good return on their investment. The missioners all reported an exceptionally high standard of support from the UKTI staff in Prague with highly relevant meetings with potential agents or customers being arranged under the OMIS scheme. Two companies were so impressed that they have signed up to undertake further OMIS activity in other countries.

The BulkEurope conference had around 140 visitors with significant numbers of delegates and speakers from Australia as well as the Czech Republic, Germany, Mexico, USA and the UK.