The PPMA Show, the UK showcase for processing and packaging machinery, industrial robots and vision systems, has become the latest casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The event has been postponed a full year to 28-30 September 2021.
The organisers took the decision in July, before the government announced the intention to lift restrictions on mass gatherings from October.
In a statement the organisers said: “Further to detailed conversations with the National Exhibition Centre, and in the interests of health and safety for all concerned, the PPMA has taken the decision to postpone this year’s PPMA Show until 2021. We considered the implications for visitors and exhibitors in respect of everything from social distancing, availability of hotels, travel and the preparation time required.”
PPMA show director Richard Little added that this was the first time the show would not be held since its inception in 1988. He said: “While we are pleased that the COVID-19 infection rate currently appears to be declining in the UK, the future trend is by no means certain and the risk remains. There are too many unknown variables to consider and our utmost priority is of course to ensure the safety of all those involved with our show.”
The 2020 show had been on course to be one of the largest in 32 years, with over three-quarters of the exhibition space sold prior to the lockdown in March.
The website (www.ppmashow.co.uk) will remain as an information source for exhibitors and visitors, with enhanced media and video content.
The government had planned to allow conferences and events centres to reopen from 1 October, adhering to social distancing, subject to the success of pilots at a number of venues across the country from 1 August. The proposed pilots were put on hold along with other planned relaxations of the lockdown rules on 31 July.