Instrument companies sign up for Optrafair

Leading diagnostic companies have been rushing to secure floor space for Optrafair 2009 just weeks after the official launch of the show.

As reported in Optician, (News, May 30), the show organisers, the Federation of Manufacturing Opticians, announced several new innovations to enhance visitor experience to the event which takes place at the Birmingham NEC from April 4-6 2009. This includes introducing online registration so that first time delegates will be able to pre-register on the event's website by obtaining a barcode they can print off and take along on the day.

Giving his reasons for an early booking, Buchmann UK's chief executive officer, Barry Dibble, predicted that Optrafair 2009 would see a good turnout from UK practitioners, claiming that because of current currency exchange rates, they are unlikely to buy from overseas suppliers or attend overseas optical exhibitions.