IMHX is the leading show in the UK for materials handling, and a place where brands want to be seen. That visibility matters not just in terms of lead generation, but in how the brand is positioned within the sector. You want to associate your brand with the go-to show, so that your brand becomes the go-to brand.

Beyond visibility, IMHX also gives us the chance to:

Showcase current products and future developments Meet decision-makers from across the industry Discover new technologies and market trends Build relationships with both end-users and fellow exhibitors

Rather than targeting one narrow vertical, BIL Group sells into almost every industry imaginable. A logistics operator may need sack trucks or conveyor rollers. A manufacturer may require heavy-duty movement systems. A food production environment may need high-temperature wheels capable of moving equipment from ovens to freezers. Elsewhere, automotive and aerospace applications create demand for specialist mobility solutions.

This diversity gives us resilience and flexibility. No single customer accounts for more than a small percentage of overall turnover, which means the business is not overly dependent on one sector performing strongly.

That also makes IMHX especially valuable. The event attracts a broad cross-section of businesses, which mirrors BIL Group’s equally broad customer base.

For BIL Group, exhibiting is not just about immediate sales. It is about starting and deepening relationships that can last for decades.

We see huge value in getting customers away from the day-to-day distractions of the office and into an environment where they can give products and conversations their full attention.[LD1] That face-to-face time allows visitors to see the full scope of BIL Group’s capabilities, from small capacity castors through to heavy-duty solutions capable of carrying far greater loads.

The ability to physically engage with products is also a major advantage. Visitors can touch, test, and better understand what is possible, which often opens up conversations that would be difficult to have through a catalogue or email alone.

We’re less interested in a single sale from one person; we want to deal with that company for the next 20, 30, 40 years.

That long-term approach is backed up by results. Some of the customers first met through IMHX are still among our top accounts today.

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We stuck around until the end of the event, picking up an order for around 800 trucks in the last half an hour of the last day. That decision to be there until the last minutes paid off with one of the company’s biggest orders from the event secured towards the end of the event.

The lesson was simple: at a show like IMHX, you never know who will arrive, or when the most important conversation will happen.

Like many exhibitors, BIL Group sees ROI in more than one way.

There is the immediate impact of leads, orders, and new opportunities, but there is also the longer-term value of relationships, brand recognition, and pipeline growth. IMHX has helped deliver both, including exposure that has contributed to wins with major blue-chip companies.

We’re also becoming more sophisticated in how we track event performance. Visitor interactions are scanned, logged, and tied into internal systems so the team can monitor what business develops from the show over time. The app (introduced in 2025) was a real success for us, and it made it easier to measure:

Leads generated at the event Sales linked to event contacts Long-term customer value from show-originated relationships Overall return against exhibition spend

For a company with a wide and technical product range, seeing solutions in person makes a real difference.

Catalogues and brochures have their place, but IMHX gives customers the opportunity to see products off the page and understand how they can be adapted to suit their own application.

That is especially important when visitors may arrive looking for one type of solution, only to discover broader capabilities once they are on the stand.

When you want something right in front of you and then you say, ‘Actually, I want that, but with these tweaks,’ that’s a lot easier.

In-person exhibiting creates a more practical and more productive conversation. It allows us to demonstrate not just the solutions and products we provide, but how we can problem-solve for individual customers.

IMHX has never been a one-off exercise. It’s a long-term investment in the brand.

Each edition is an opportunity to reinforce market presence, showcase different messages, and build on previous relationships. That continuity matters, both for customer confidence and for the company’s own growth strategy.

It is also why we have already committed to IMHX 2027.

Rebooking reflects confidence in the event, confidence in the audience it attracts, and confidence in the role IMHX plays within the company’s wider commercial plans.

Be ready for anyone 
You cannot predict who will walk onto your stand, so preparation matters. Every conversation could lead somewhere significant.

Stay present until the end 
Leaving early can mean missing the best opportunity of the show. As BIL Group’s own experience proved, major business can happen right at the close.

Put the phone away and engage 
As a first-timer, you should focus on genuine interaction. People come to events for conversation, connection, and hands-on engagement – don’t spend too much time on your phone!

Keep it honest 
A frank, open discussion is often the best way to win trust and start a strong customer relationship.

There’s a reason these people have come to the show. They want some interaction.

The exhibition landscape has changed over the years, and there are several ways IMHX has adapted to meet industry and exhibitor needs.

These include strong on-site exhibitor support and useful digital tools, including the app and lead scanning technology that contribute to a smoother exhibitor experience and faster post-show follow-up.

BIL Group’s decision to rebook for 2027 sends a clear message. IMHX remains an important platform for visibility, relationship-building, and long-term business development.

The event gives us the chance to meet new prospects, reconnect with established customers, demonstrate the full breadth of our capabilities, and stay close to the wider direction of the industry.

For a business that values partnership over quick wins, that makes IMHX a natural fit.

BIL Group is a materials handling specialist bringing together multiple businesses under one group structure. Our offering spans castors and wheels, aluminium sack trucks, moving systems, and Evo Skate dollies, serving a highly diverse customer base across logistics, manufacturing, food production, automotive, aerospace, and many other sectors.

That breadth is one of the company’s core strengths. If something needs to be moved, there is a strong chance BIL Group can support it.