Despite an economic situation that continues to be difficult, both French and international bookings as of 11th September were running at the same level as the year before. It is an indication that the world’s leading industrial subcontracting show is more than ever perceived by professionals as an effective tool for helping them through this demanding period, for strengthening their businesses and for expanding them through contacts with visitors offering very real and profitable opportunities. In 2014, MIDEST is coordinating a series of new features and special initiatives that include, for the first time, the choice of a North African nation, Tunisia, as the show’s country of the year, and a focus on a French region, Normandy, and one of European industry’s driving forces, the aerospace sector. There will be a number of new events such as the Destination Plasturgie MAJOR lorry, a reception by the FIM (mechanical engineering federation) for careers guidance officers from Ile-de-France colleges, and a focus on 3D printing alongside such popular regulars as the Awards, the business meetings, the conference programme, the TV studio…

1. Sections: Industry
Subcontracting
Shows
Diary
Press Information September 2014
MIDEST 2014: A GREAT SHOW IN PROSPECT
FROM 4TH
TO 7TH
NOVEMBER AT THE PARIS NORD VILLEPINTE EXHIBITION CENTRE
Despite an economic situation that continues to be difficult, both French and international bookings
as of 11th September were running at the same level as the year before. It is an indication that the
world’s leading industrial subcontracting show is more than ever perceived by professionals as an
effective tool for helping them through this demanding period, for strengthening their businesses and
for expanding them through contacts with visitors offering very real and profitable opportunities.
In 2014, MIDEST is coordinating a series of new features and special initiatives that include, for the
first time, the choice of a North African nation, Tunisia, as the show’s country of the year, and a focus
on a French region, Normandy, and one of European industry’s driving forces, the aerospace sector.
There will be a number of new events such as the Destination Plasturgie MAJOR lorry, a reception by
the FIM (mechanical engineering federation) for careers guidance officers from Ile-de-France colleges,
and a focus on 3D printing alongside such popular regulars as the Awards, the business meetings, the
conference programme, the TV studio…
Figures holding steady as of 11th September
The figures as of 11 September are running at the same level as in 2013, when MIDEST achieved a
final total of 1,702 exhibitors. Barring the unexpected, there is every reason to expect that exhibitor
numbers will be maintained at the 2014 show and that quality will continue to be very high.
French subcontracting continues to account for the bulk—around 60%--of exhibitors at MIDEST. The
pavilions of the 15 French regions at the show will host almost 600 companies and one particular
highlight is the return of Brittany, which is back with a 180 m² pavilion after an absence of 14 years.
Internationally, all of MIDEST’s foreign partners have confirmed their presence and they should bring
with them nearly 650 companies. So far, there are bookings from 35 countries and 18 of these will
have official pavilions in the joint venture sector.
In terms of industry sectors, plastics / rubber / composite materials, machining / screw cutting /
special machines, forging / foundry, industry services and electricals/electronics are all currently
significantly ahead of where they were at the same time last year. Wood, shaping and cutting
metals/boilermaking and microtechniques are all stable. Only the finishings / surface treatments /
heat treatments, materials / semi-finished products and fastenings sectors are slightly down at
present. NB: Technical textiles are making their first appearance at the show.
An event-packed show
Beyond its primary role as a catalyst for meetings and a generator of business, MIDEST works to shed
light on the main developments in global industry to its exhibitors and visitors.
It is no surprise therefore that this year it is highlighting what is probably the most dynamic sector of
all in not just European but world industry: aerospace. It is also staging two major firsts by making a
North African nation, Tunisia, its country of the year, and by featuring a French region, Normandy.
These will be the stars of two major exhibition spaces and, like aerospace, the conference
programme and the TV studio.

2. Other new developments in 2014: the presence of the Plastic and Composite Materials Federation’s
Destination Plasturgie MAJOR lorry, which will demonstrate the sector’s main technologies, and the
invitation to careers guidance offices from Ile-de-France colleges extended by the FIM to come and
experience the wealth of mechanical engineering trades first hand in its brand new “Place de la
Mécanique”. There will also be a focus on additive manufacturing, better known as 3D printing,
through a series of lectures.
Other highlights on offer to visitors and exhibitors alike include a fresh set of MIDEST Awards to raise
the profile of subcontracting excellence; a programme of free lectures, both short and
comprehensive, that will present the latest technical, strategic and economic advances; and the
return once more of the TV Studio and the business meetings, which are a major attraction for
professionals.
In recent years, MIDEST has also been working to serve its market beyond the four days of the actual
exhibition. And it has done so successfully. Over 50% of the visits in 2013 to www.midest.com were
made in the first eight months of the year and there was also a 25% rise in the number of visits in the
first six months of 2014 compared with 2013. The site has just launched its own YouTube channel
and it emphasizes real time content organized sector by sector. The goal is to exceed the 2.4 million
page impressions achieved in 2013, which was itself 10% up on the year before, and to beat the
350,000 plus visits, which were again 20% up on 2012. Finally, MIDEST has yet again stepped up its
presence on the social networks, whether it be Viadeo, where it has nearly 2,000 members, twitter,
with over 1,300 followers, LinkedIn for an English-speaking audience, and Facebook.
KEY FACTS – DIARY
Dates From Tuesday 4th to Friday 7th November 4 2014
Venue Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre - Hall 6
2013 exhibitors 1,702 exhibitors from 38 countries
Sectors Metal processing,
Processing of plastics, rubber, composite materials,
Electronics and electricals,
Microtechniques,
Industrial fastenings,
Surface treatments
Industry services,
Wood processing,
Technical textiles,
Industrial maintenance
Expected visitors 40,000 professionals from 70 countries
Web site www.midest.com
Information Tel.: + 33 (0)1 47 56 21 66 - info@midest.com
MIDEST 2014 is held in conjunction with MAINTENANCE EXPO, the industrial maintenance show. It
will also present the forthcoming MIDEST MAROC, THE industry event in Morocco, which will take
place in Casablanca from 10th to 13th December and which will consist of six major sectors:
subcontracting, machine tools, sheet metal, electronics, plastics and services.