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The 24th PULIRE – The Smart Show came to an exciting conclusion in Verona, Italy. Presented by Afidamp Servizi and ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, the biennial event was larger than ever, drawing more than 17,000 visitors—an increase of 6% over the previous edition in 2017.
The three-day show, which ran May 21-23, closed with excitement regarding what the ISSA/Afidamp partnership—the ISSA PULIRE Network—will bring for the 2021 edition.
“PULIRE – The Smart Show is a significant event for the cleaning industry in Europe, the Middle East, and we are thrilled that it has grown both in size and in depth of content,” said ISSA Vice President of International Services Dianna Steinbach. “We expect to add much more for 2021 and continue this trend.”
Not only did attendance grow, but so did the variety of technology and solutions on display, with 30% of exhibitors from outside of Italy and 12% of companies exhibiting for the first time. Statistics revealed the clear global focus of the event in that exhibitors came from 21 countries, and visitors came from 111 countries, along with five entire foreign delegations from the United States, Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, and South Africa.
Attendees shared their opinions about PULIRE – The Smart Show as they departed, with comments such as, “interesting,” “sparkling,” “exciting,” and “intelligent.”
Exhibitors expressed confidence in generating new business with their leads, which were “more qualified than in past editions” of the PULIRE show. One of the factors that characterised this edition was how many nations were represented, which provided a broad base of industry professionals to exchange ideas and do business.
To facilitate networking, the show collaborated with the ICE – Italian Trade Agency to set up an international lounge for B2B meetings. The five delegations of foreign operators represented strategic and representative markets in the world of distribution, facility service providers, and integrated services for the professional cleaning sector.
Innovation was another cornerstone of PULIRE 2019, including an Innovation Award contest reviewed by a jury of industry leaders. Among the innovations—in terms of products, machines, and cleaning solutions—attention was on ergonomics, the environment, recycling plastic, and intelligent consumption of water. Among the groundbreaking products presented were floor cleaning machines with lithium batteries, a remote-control system for product consumption, multi-function trolleys, odor-control toilet paper, ozone washing machines, and sweeping machines that recognise and follow the operator.
An equipped outdoor area enabled live demonstrations that put latest-generation sweepers to the test. AIISA (Italian Association of air duct system cleaning) and SNS (Scuola Nazionale Servizi), along with Afidamp, expanded their offerings with a new certification on air ducts and with new courses, reaffirming the value of training.
The event also hosted a window cleaner competition. Out of 20 cleaning professionals, Daniele Gardoni from La Spezia won the Henry Unger Trophy.
ISSA will offer three exhibitions around the world in June, with another two following later in 2019:
• ISSA Cleantex Africa, June 4-6, in Johannesburg, South Africa
• ISSA Expo Limpieza, June 5-7, in Mexico City, Mexico
• ISSA Show Canada, June 11-13, Toronto, Canada
• ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo, October 23-24, Melbourne, Australia
• ISSA Show North America, November 18-21, Las Vegas, USA
In addition, the ISSA PULIRE Network will next turn its focus to the Hygienalia+PULIRE 2019 exhibition, November 12-14, in Madrid, Spain.
“It is exciting times right now for ISSA members as ISSA and the ISSA PULIRE Network are poised to help expand go-to-market options through our family of shows and other options we will be developing and introducing on the international scene,” said Steinbach.
