A revolutionary, computer-aided system designed by The NEC to provide exhibitors with faster, more efficient installation of their stand electrics has been used to its full potential for the first time at the Birmingham venue.

The first installation of its kind at a UK exhibition venue, the pioneering £5 million ‘Plug and Play’ system marks a change in both the reliability and efficiency of this vital exhibitor service, providing computer control over an exhibition’s full electrical installation and requirement. Power can be made available for immediate use, and can be adjusted at the touch of a button, without interruption to the existing supply.

Since its installation in August 2008, Plug and Play has provided power for all exhibitions staged at The NEC. However, its capabilities and benefits for exhibitors have never been fully explored, as the contractor community would need to implement some changes to the way they work.

Sign & Digital UK, organised by Faversham House, was the first exhibition to fully utilise the system’s complete range of benefits, with exhibitors able to draw power directly from ‘live’ plugs located in The NEC halls’ services ducts.

Electrical contractors Bill Moule & Sons, who provided stand wiring services to Sign & Digital UK, were the first to unlock the full potential of Plug and Play, both in terms of cost and time-savings, through the use of their modular, pre-tested ‘Connecta’ system, linking exhibition stands directly to the live sockets in the ducts.

Describing the use of Plug and Play as their “smoothest and most efficient build up of an exhibition”, Bill Moule & Sons were able to offer a much faster installation, with over 100 mains connected in just two hours.

Kathryn James, Managing Director, The NEC, said: “The introduction of The NEC’s Plug and Play system, and its full use can offer a considerable number of additional benefits for all of our customers.”

“While we have had the system in place since August last year, it wasn’t until Bill Moule & Sons took the groundbreaking step of connecting to it using their pre-tested and pre-wired Connecta system that we have been able to fully demonstrate the potentials that Plug and Play can provide in terms of speed, safety, and cost saving.”

“This is the first system of its kind to be installed at an exhibition venue in the UK, and we believe that it offers genuine benefits for all parties. While the full integration of this system will require changes to be made to suppliers’ existing equipment, following the success of this test with Bill Moule & Sons, we are hopeful that Plug and Play will be recognised as beneficial and forward-facing, and will be seen as the industry standard in the coming years.”

Amanda Barnes, Chief Executive of Faversham House Group said, “This is a fantastic benefit to our exhibitors and helps us offer an even better exhibitor experience. On a show like Sign & Digital where there is heavy electrical usage for digital equipment, it is of paramount importance to our exhibitors that power is delivered efficiently with the minimum of delay. Our exhibitors have been delighted with the level of service they have received and we have had far fewer issues, making this one of our smoothest ever build-ups”.

Barnes went on to comment, “We are one of only four companies in the country who have achieved accreditation from BSI under BS 8901 Sustainable Event Management Standard and this new, more sustainable way of handling our electrics on site fits exactly with our drive to make our events ever more sustainable.”

Peter Moule, Managing Director of Bill Moule & Sons Ltd said “This must be the smoothest and most efficient build up of an exhibition we have ever had. The power was live and our responsibility from the start of the tenancy, which meant we could energise stands as soon as they were ready and tested. We also had the advantage of no unsightly mains cables and isolators to the stands. We have received outstanding comments from exhibitors, the organisers, H & S and the venue.”

John Revington, Health & Safety Officer CERTOSH, AIIRSM commented “From a health and safety perspective, the level of integration of this new system represents a massive step forward in the safe operation of the electrical systems at exhibitions.”