THE ARB SHOW 2011: Success all around

“A fantastic show!” The ARB Show 2011 has been heralded a resounding success, with visitors enjoying a busy two days of impressive demonstrations, warm-hearted competition, sociable networking and great shopping from a full house of over 80 exhibitors. Jump to gallery of images.

Held over two days (10th and 11th June), the Arboricultural Association’s 13th annual trade fair welcomed arborists from across Great Britain and beyond to its new site on the picturesque Bathurst Estate in Gloucestershire. Escaping serious rain, almost 1,600 visitors and another 400 demonstrators, competitors and exhibitors attended the two days of the show, with numbers reaffirming the event’s standing as the country’s biggest trade show dedicated to arb.

Exhibitors report strong trade

Over 80 exhibiting companies lined up at this year’s ARB Show (making it a 99% sell-out), and reports from those with stands were of strong and positive trade.

Main show sponsor STIHL, who used the occasion to launch their new MS 201 T top-handled chainsaw, described the event as “A very successful show and an excellent platform to launch the new chainsaw which attracted strong interest and a lot of positive feedback from exhibitors” (Sally-Ann James, Product Marketing Manager, STIHL GB). Specialist arb supplies trade stands are inevitably busy at the Show, and among them Justin Jones of F R Jones, who has been exhibiting at the event for over five years, described “Yet another good show”, reporting “increased sales again year-on-year”.

Among the ‘big machinery’ exhibitors lined up, reports were again of a great show and strong interest from visitors. Lee James, Business Development Manager of Orange Plant, for example, said “Compared to other shows, this one may not get the quantity but definitely has the quality of visitors, and leads we have taken have been very strong”. Machinery dealer, TH White had an impressive display of Greenmech Chippers, reporting “A fantastic Show with good leads from old and new contacts” (Richard Lucas – TH White). And on the same stand, Julian Cullis – Regional Manager of Greenmech described it as “The best Cirencester show for a few years.”

Vermeer is another chipper company exhibiting at the Show, and Sales Manager, Martin Ward reported they had done good business from their stand, saying it had been “A very enjoyable event, and it’s been good to catch up with old customers and to meet potential new ones.”

Ken Reid of Jas P. Wilson was another exhibitor reporting strong sales, including two S350 firewood processors a kindling machine and 20 tonne log splitter. Commenting on the Show he said: “Very good. It’s rare to get sales at a show”.

Visitors enjoy a good day out

“Among the great benefits of spending a day at The ARB Show, is the opportunity to see, try and buy a whole host of specialist equipment, update skills and ask questions of industry peers”, says Nick Eden, Director of the Arboricultural Association. And visitors certainly had the opportunity to do all at this year’s event.

The Arboricultural Association, with the kind input of Robert ‘Noddy’ Knott of Treeworker, had laid on a series of seminars in the STIHL–sponsored Contractors’ Workshop, with subjects spanning the Association’s new ARB Approved Contractor scheme, an expedition to the rainforests of Borneo and the design and manufacture of arborists’ hardware. There was certainly plenty of variety and scope to attract all!

A busy programme of practical demonstrations also took place each day, attracting huge crowds of visitors keen to update their skills. Demonstrations ranged from ascent and access techniques to dismantling trees; the latter both from a work platform and a separate demo showing specialist pole work positioning and dismantling techniques. Visitors could also update important but admittedly rare-practised skills by watching a staged aerial rescue from spikes on a pole, and gained valuable paramedic advice on managing work site trauma and serious bleeds.

“We would like to thank all demonstrators and their sponsors for putting on such valuable and important displays”, says Nick Eden. Thanks to Kingswood Training sponsored by Fletcher Stewart; Mike Popham and Paul Poynter of LOLER UK; the Treeworker team at the Tree Climbers’ Forum and the Treepartner team sponsored by STIHL.

Feedback from visitors to date has been of a very positive Show, with the new site layout generating a real ‘village’ feel which Nick Eden describes as “capturing the unique and valued atmosphere” of the popular ARB Show.

Visitors prove they’re “Arb enough” in the 3ATC competition

Some 34 competitors entered this year’s 3ATC (Arboricultural Association Arborists’ Tree Challenge) at The ARB Show – all testing their skills in a simulated work climb. Sponsored by Arbjobs.com the 3ATC has become a popular event, known for its ‘open to all’ atmosphere and friendly rivalry. Three entry categories ensured all climbers from novice to premiere competitors were encouraged to take part, and the event at this year’s ARB Show introduced a special ‘Spirit of the competition’ award with a prize donated by F R Jones & Son. Winners and runners-up across all categories left with a great scoop of prizes and Nick Pott of Arbjobs.com thanked all who had donated prizes and given their time to set up and judge the event.

3ATC Winners:

Premier Category: Ben Connan

Expert Category: Geoff Pugsley

Novice Category: Joe Stanely

Spirit of the Competition: Barry Kelly (Ireland)

A full list of winners, runners-up and their prizes is available on the 3ATC website. Between them, competitors climbed a total of nearly a kilometre over the course of the event; that’s more than 11 times the height of America’s giant Sequoia General Sherman.

Thanks all round

Speaking after the Show, Nick Eden acknowledged the great contribution of sponsors (STIHL – main sponsor, Horticulture Week – media sponsor, Arbjobs.com – competition sponsor), plus the exhibitors, service providers and volunteers who had made the Show such a great success. He also praised and thanked visitors for their fantastic support of the event: “Every year we strive to make The ARB Show better and better, so that visitors gain the most from spending time at the event. It was great to see so many new and old friends and faces at this year’s Show, to see so many new and innovative products being introduced to our industry and to give professionals working in our sector some good sound advice to ensure high standards of tree care. Here’s to next year’s Show – we’ll be working even harder to make that the best one yet!”.