PRESS RELEASE: Maintenance professionals will meet in Helsinki in March 2011

The congress is being organized by MaintWorld magazine, with the European Federation of National Maintenance Societies (EFNMS) and the Finnish Maintenance Society Promaint as key partners. The exhibition is being arranged by Expomark Oy.

Industrial assets in Europe are growing old due to low levels of investment. The question is how to keep European production competitive compared to emerging countries. The key is to optimize asset management and to ensure maximum overall equipment efficiency through systematic and planned maintenance. The First International MaintWorld Congress will address this question from all angles.

The keynote session on Tuesday, 22 March will have as its topic The Role of Maintenance and Asset Management Today. The congress will then continue on two separate tracks, one focusing on business and the other on technology. The business track will be divided into three separate sessions: Global Views to Maintenance and Asset Management, Strategic Issues in Maintenance and Safety in Maintenance - Key to Competitiveness. The themes in the technology track will be Technologies for Profitable Maintenance, Challenges in Information Management and Energy Efficiency and Sustainability. The concluding session will focus on the future under the theme of Visions on Maintenance and Asset Management.

Excursion to northern Finland

As part of the First International MaintWorld Congress, an optional excursion will be organized to northern Finland. This will include professional lectures and a visit to Agnico-Eagle Finland Oy's Kittilä Gold Mine. Accommodation will be at a major ski resort, where participants can enjoy different winter activities and local delicacies.

The congress provides an exceptional opportunity to learn what well-known business leaders such as Jan Brons of SKF, Martin Ivert of UHFG, Jarmo Heinonen of ABB and Christer Idhammar of Idcon have to say about maintenance and asset management. You can also hear academic thinkers such as Jay Lee, Adolfo Crespo, Marco Garetti, Stephen Evans and Jayantha Liyanage discuss current trends. All in all about 40 speakers from around the globe will gather in Helsinki to share their views and visions. There is also a possibility to hear the blessing of famous maintenance evangelist Joel Leonard.

An exhibition with rich traditions in a new framework

In spring 2011 the Industrial Services trade fair will take place for the first time in Helsinki. The event will be built around familiar themes: maintenance solutions, production services, information systems, storage technology and logistics services. Industry and the public sector are constantly looking for ways to improve production efficiency and energy conservation. The fair will focus on these needs and offer concrete solutions to boost productivity, energy efficiency and industrial asset management.

The venue is ideal for Finnish and international firms and visitors. Connections to Helsinki are excellent, and this is a good opportunity for participants to arrange other meetings in the Helsinki metropolitan area as well. The ChemBio Finland fair will be arranged by the Finnish Fair Corporation at the Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre on the same dates. The previous fair, in 2009, attracted nearly 5,000 professionals in the biology and laboratory field.

As part of the package the Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre will likewise host the easyFairs Subcontractor and IT-events, where decision-makers can have a look at companies that providing subcontracting services.

For more information, please contact:
Congress:
Ms Elisa Numminen, +358 (0)9 1509 453
elisa@maintworld.com

www.maintworld.com/congress

Exhibition:
Mr Juha Nyholm, +358 (0)10 830 0802
juha.nyholm@expomark.fi

www.teollisetpalvelut.fi