Once again, SMAGUA 2019 confirms it is the leading trade show in the Spanish water sector. Proof of it has been the rise in participating companies, B2B meetings and professionals visiting, from February 5th to the 7th, the longest-standing water trade fair in Spain.
The water sector, once more, showed their support for the trade fair and Feria de Zaragoza, after 45 years of working together to organise a first class national and international event.
Innovation, internationality, outreach and business were the core themes of the event, which this year also included SPAPER, the international trade show of machinery and equipment for the pulp, paper and cardboard industry. This is a new addition by the show organisers that complements SMAGUA, considering the synergies between both sectors, with water as a key element in the paper production process.
In only three days, more than 24,000 professionals visited SMAGUA and SPAPER, a technology showcase that hosted 625 brands from 29 countries across the world.
Zaragoza was again the international water capital and hosted different organisations in connection with the event. In this regard, we should note the participation and collaboration of organisations such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition, the Regional Government of Aragon, the Ebro River Basin Authority, the Water Institute of Aragón and the Water Cluster, a Spanish non-profit association, among others.
In only three days, more than 24,000 professionals visited SMAGUA and SPAPER, a technology showcase that hosted 625 brands from 29 countries across the world
SMAGUA stood out not only because of its potential regarding machinery and equipment, but also because of the quality of its technical seminars, run in parallel to the show, and where the main trade associations had a key role. The different rooms of the conference area at Feria de Zaragoza hosted more than 30 activities, with the participation of experts in different fields — irrigation, water treatment and reuse, sludge management, energy savings, automation, digital transformation in the water sector, etc. — and a high attendance, including the presidents of the main River Basin Authorities in Spain.
At the global level, SMAGUA was also a business meeting point for more than one hundred water managers from more than 30 countries. The 'International Meeting Point' hosted more than 300 B2B meetings during the first two days of the show. The SMAGUA brand stands for prestige, quality and innovation; thus, it travels across the world receiving the support of the most important and respected organisations linked to water professionals.
The decision of SMAGUA and Feria de Zaragoza to adopt a more dynamic, attractive and modern format for the event took the shape, among other initiatives, of a ceremony to present the New Technology Awards, to pay tribute to winning companies and to showcase innovation and the latest technologies in the market.
In this regard, 20 companies received awards, and four of them were recognised as 'outstanding' companies: Equipos Móviles de Campaña ARPA; BERMAD EUROPE S.L., that presented a 'smart hydrometer' that allows simple and reliable time or volume-based irrigation; Contazara S.A., with a device to read water meters and transmit the information installed in a central location; and Saint-Gobain PAM España S.A., for the development of a new line of joints made 100% of EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber).
But the main novelty this year was holding SMAGUA and SPAPER concurrently. The first edition of the trade show was a success, based on the level of satisfaction of participating companies and visitors. The event organisers took up the challenge of hosting at Feria de Zaragoza an international meeting of professionals from one of the cutting-edge industries in Spain and Europe. Given the very positive results, they will work to ensure the next editions of SPAPER grow in all aspects and become part of the top international trade shows.
SMAGUA stood out not only because of its potential regarding machinery and equipment, but also because of the quality of its technical seminars, run in parallel to the show, and where the main trade associations had a key role
SPAPER also had a space to discuss the current and future situation of the paper industry and the great transformations it is experiencing. The organisers set up a 'Smagua and Spaper Forum' in the pavilion, where professionals could carry out commercial activities and learn about the opinions of experts during a series of talks.
On the other hand, professionals attending the event could enjoy a more interactive, intuitive and productive visit thanks to the SMAGUA mobile application, where they could see all the information about the event (interactive maps, company location, dining services, bus services, registration, etc.) and they could set up business meetings with just a click.
SMAGUA 2019 closed its doors asserting its position as the technology capital for the Spanish water sector. In this year's event we may highlight a 25% increase in the number of participating companies, as well as an increase in the number of visitors, with 24,137 attending professionals, due in part to the added value of SPAPER. Moreover, the 2019 event saw an increase in business activity, and the stands of participating companies stood out for their thoroughness and appeal.
Next stop: SMAGUA 2021.
