Within the space of 20 years SIFER has become the must-attend international event for stakeholders from across all sectors of the railway industry, from major industry contractors, equipment manufacturers, suppliers and sub-contractors, to public-transport operators and management authorities.
Staged biennially in Lille, in the heartland of the French railway industry – one of the most dynamic regions in Europe –, SIFER provides industry professionals with a unique opportunity to keep track of market trends, meet face-to-face, exchange ideas, and explore new avenues for business. For instance, it was at SIFER that the network of rail-industry clusters was formed.
Already in full swing. To date, more than 275 businesses from 18 countries have already confirmed their presence at SIFER 2019. And 103 of them will be participating for the first time. 92% of the available exhibition space has already been booked. Among the ranks of registered exhibitors are several digi-tech companies and business start-ups.
In 2019, SIFER will be opening up more exhibition space to accommodate the increasing number of businesses that wish to showcase their innovations during the 3-day event, but also to enhance the visitor experience. A significant part of the extra exhibition space is dedicated to the railway infrastructure zone, increasing its total floor space by close to 50%. The infrastructure sector is the main driver in today's railway market and accounts for more than one third of the total exhibition floor space, a figure which has doubled since this exhibition zone was first introduced in 2007.
This 11th edition comes at a critical time for the railway industry. As always, SIFER's primary focus is to serve as a showcase for the industry, casting the spotlight on the direction in which it is heading, its upcoming innovations, and its emblematic projects. The "Grand Paris" project and the digitalisation of the industry will be at the centre of discussions. Autonomous trains, predictive maintenance, project, route and data security, track maintenance, access to passenger information, the opening up of the passenger transport market, job roles of the future… are just some of the topical issues that will be addressed at highlight events hosted by SIFER partners and throughout the aisles of the exhibition.
Two years ago, the 10th SIFER exhibition attracted some 4,900 visitors. By all accounts, this 11th edition is gearing up for more of the same.