Intersec 2006, the region’s leading security and safety event which featured 450 exhibitors from over 40 countries, closed on a successful note with several exhibitors confirming multi-million dollar deals.

The event, which brought together some of the biggest names in the fire and safety and security sectors in the region also saw global leaders showcasing the latest as regards products and technology.
Naffco, one of the largest suppliers of fire equipment in the Middle East, which also exports to more than 70 countries, said that there was a substantial jump in the number of visitors to its stands. Naffco’s CEO, Khalid Al Khatib said: “This year we have received double the number of international visitors as opposed to the previous years at our stand. We have sold 10 fire trucks to Kuwait and another 20 to various other clients with an approximate value of Dh30 million ($8.16 million)."
“Intersec 2006 has been a tremendous success, with several visitors arriving from the gulf region,” says Roger Whitting from Citytec. The company put on display some of its innovations that included: Ls X-ray baggage screeners, EZI Truck stopper, AtlasOps incident management software and the Emergency Deployment Airelight. “We are currently finalising two deals worth $1.76 million and $1.5 million,” said Whiting.
UK’s premier brand of electronic safety equipment Norbain, says: “We’ve had visitors from North and West Africa, North Europe, Asia as well as the Gulf and Middle East. This is our eighth year and it has been very positive. We have met with 25 of our regional partners and have established many new opportunities.”
Making its presence for the fifth time at the Intersec, Saudi Arabia-based SFFECO, a specialist in fire equipment, said the show was a great success. “We have been able to consolidate our presence in the international market through the contacts we have made at the Intersec,” says a spokesman.
The show also featured the International Police, Fire and Safety Conference, which focused on safety and health and generated a lot of interest from visitors. Key speakers included Neil Budworth, president, Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, who talked about the organisation’s response to the “The Importance of Safe Working Practices in the Modern World”. Zyg Kowalczyk, director of The London Resilience Team, Government Office of London talked about “Preparing for Emergencies”. Kowalczyk made reference to London’s response to 9/11 and talked about how to prepare for a catastrophic incident.
Simon Ancliffe, managing director, Evacuation Strategies, UK spoke on “The Safe and Effective Evacuation of Buildings”. Other speakers included Dr Williem Pieter Labuschangne, head of Health Optimisation, Sasol Synfuels, South Africa who discussed “The Correlation between Occupational Safety and Health in the Oil and Gas Industry” and Stewart Kidd, director Loss Prevention, UK “Health and Safety in Modern Retail and Commercial Premises”.