According to UBM statistics, key audiences on the Ifsec show floor saw growth this year, with an increase of the installer and integrator professions by 7% and significant international visitor participation at 34%, cementing Ifsec as the industry’s chosen global security exhibition. Ifsec also grew this year through crossovers from the co-located events, Firex, Facilities Show, Safety & Health Expo, Service Management Expo and Professional Clothing Show, with a higher interest in security this year leading to an increase of show-floor visits.

Gerry Dunphy, Event Director for Ifsec & Firex International, said: ‘’Ifsec 2016 was another seismic experience for all concerned, a fantastic display of the very best in world class security products and solutions. The new areas this year such as Home Automation successfully showcased a whole new range of technologies available to security professionals and the Drone Zone was an absolute floor filler proving that Ifsec can always provide exciting spectacles for the visiting audience. We have already planned the main themes for 2017, so the security world should look out for further developments in home automation, smart commercial buildings, Borders & Infrastructure for senior specifiers of strategic security management and Installer World - a definitive destination for engineers and installers. “

With security technology at the heart of the Ifsec community, this year saw the audience of 27,000+ security buyers with over 20,000 different security solutions on offer at this year’s event. Key to the product offering were new launches across video surveillance, cyber, access control and integrated solutions, with new products revealed from Suprema, Canon, Avigilon and Idis to name a few.

For the first time a complete home environment was created within Ifsec in the form of a purpose-built, smart house, sponsored by Yale. This setting, delivered by the Control4 platform, demonstrated the very latest tech for fully automating the home for safety and security measures. There were examples on show from Merit Lilin, Nest, Invixium, 2N Communications and many others, all of which integrated with Control4’s network to demonstrate the fully automated functionality of Home Automation.

With an enhanced focus on this year’s Physical & Perimeter Protection area, Ifsec saw a growth to 22% of the audience attending to view products across perimeter protection, locking systems, safes and more. With increased security threats from terrorism, the need to protect your business from external threats has never been greater, therefore this year’s success will develop into a fuller offering on the show floor as the event moves into 2017, with a new launch, Ifsec Borders & Infrastructure.

A further launch for 2016, the ARC Village, comprised of 13 exhibiting ARCs to meet the visiting installer needs. Within this first year, the attendance surpassed expectations, with over 2000 installers and integrators attending this area, designed to showcase the best in Alarm Receiving Centres, hosted in partnership with connectivity partner, CSL Dualcom.

The new Drone Zone also created a buzz throughout the Excel as people visited to see how the security world can benefit from this innovative new offering, with demonstrations expertly piloted to showcase the opportunities of this new technology to the crowds. With new legislation still being drafted and research indicating the drone market will be worth $80 billion by 2025, this new tech area showcased a unique and exciting alternative to the security industry in the future.

Ifsec International 2017 will take place from 20th – 22nd June, again at the Excel in London.