Smart Molding International 1-2021

machinery 20 smart_molding international 1/2021 "T he large number of partici - pants and the very positive feedback from our custom - ers more than fulfilled our expecta - tions", says Ute Panzer, Vice President Marketing and Communications at ENGEL, drawing an extremely positive conclusion after the first live e-xperi - ence. "We have made a quantum leap in the field of virtual exchange with customers and partners." Focus on personal contacts "Even though no classic trade fairs are taking place, and restrictions ap - ply to personal meetings, we still want to exchange ideas with our customers, partners and interested parties and present our solutions and innovations. After all, Covid-19 does not mean that we are slowing down our development activities", says Dr. Christoph Steger, CSO of the ENGEL Group. Against this back - ground, the injectionmouldingmachine manufacturer developed a completely new virtual and interactive trade fair concept. Seven machine exhibits, an online specialist congress and one-on- one meetings with familiar local con - tacts and other experts ensured that the ENGEL live e-xperiencewas on a parwith a physical trade fair. "We succeeded in making personal contacts the focus of attention, even in virtual format," says Panzer. Many customers booked ap - pointments in advance andwere guided through the virtual showroomduring the meetings. ENGEL provided insights into the newmachine solutions and process technologies via video streams. Both the concept and the content im - pressed the participants. Therewas also very positive feedback on the function - ality of the platform and the excellent transmission quality. ENGEL had set up two streaming studios at its headquar - ters in Schwertberg. Participants from 90 countries "The reach is astounding. The par - ticipants came from 90 different coun - tries," says Ute Panzer, highlighting one of the main advantages of the virtual format. People who were unable to at - tend the event live still have the oppor - tunity to visit the machine showroom, independently of their time zone, and True passion, real innovation, virtual experience – this was the message which ENGEL put out for the first edition of the ENGEL live e-xperience in mid-October 2020 – and ENGEL was true to its word. Several thousand customers, partners and interested parties from 90 countries took part in the virtual trade fair and online conference. The keynotes, expert talks, one-on-one meetings and machine exhibits in the virtual showroom were very well attended throughout all four live days. All presentations are still available from the media library. First live e-xperience with several thousand participants