SLM World 2024 Preview

Virgo’s pioneering event combines four experiential initiatives hosted at a single venue.

Virgo Communications & Exhibitions extends a warm welcome to all stakeholders from the vertical-transportation (VT) industry and its related sectors to experience an exciting new world of elevators, mobility solutions and advanced access control systems with our latest offering, Smart Lift and Mobility (SLM) World 2024. This integrated, comprehensive event, making its debut on March 1-3 at Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bengaluru, comprises an international expo, an engaging summit, prestigious awards and the first global Elevator Safety Run.

SLM World 2024 will focus on accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability, providing an exclusive platform to view cutting-edge technologies, enrich knowledge and competencies, receive accolades for excellence and participate in extensive campaigns to raise awareness about elevator safety — all under one roof. VIP buyers can access a select “by invitation only” designated meeting zone, the “Buy Elevator Lounge,” to interface and network with global industry leaders.

The Elevator Safety Run, organized in association with ELEVATOR WORLD, is a global-first initiative that emphasizes the paramount importance of elevator safety. It is designed to bring all stakeholders together to demonstrate their commitment to promote safety and raise awareness. Elevators and mobility solutions are utilized by millions each day, seamlessly facilitating the movement of people within buildings, enhancing convenience and efficiency. Consequently, ensuring the safety of these products is of utmost significance.

With SLM World 2024, Virgo has elevated the credibility factor for its events even higher. Quality Council of India (QCI), National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) and National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) Karnataka, are among the associations supporting SLM World 2024 with the Council of Architecture as knowledge partners. SLM World 2024 also has a distinguished advisory panel providing perspectives on how the groundbreaking concept can raise benchmarks higher still.

Sharing insights on the expectations for this comprehensive event, Amit Gossain, managing director, KONE Elevator India and South Asia, one of the lead participants of SLM World 2024, said:

“We all are thrilled to be a part of SLM World 2024. It’s a great place to present cutting-edge technology, not only from us, but from many of our vendors, suppliers and other manufacturers, as well. KONE is one of the most innovative companies in the world, not only for elevators and escalators, but for all industrial products. We have been featured in Forbes eight times in a row among the most innovative companies. It’s important that we showcase something for the industry, for the community and for our end users, so there’ll be a lot of innovation that we’re going to showcase on safety and quality, and that is extremely important for the end user.

“The Elevator Safety Run is a good concept because it is about awareness. KONE believes it leads not only our industry, but also any industry in general, for safety because we are very safety conscious. The Elevator Safety Run is very important, as it will showcase to everybody that safety is so important. We will participate in a big way for sure. The SLM Awards will provide recognition of the best practices in the industry. The important thing is to be neutral, to be transparent on how the awards have been given and to explain how the projects have helped society as a whole. If you can get this done, your awards will be very successful in years to come, and we’ll make it an annual affair.”

Yohan John, director of Johnson Lifts, which is among the lead participants of SLM World 2024, said:

“Johnson Lifts is a 60-year-old company, and we are the leading player in India at the moment, so we thought it’s our responsibility to support the industry and showcase new technology, along with the advantages of going with larger companies. One of the main reasons for us to participate in SLM World 2024 is that we’re the only Indian multinational company at the moment, so we’re trying to expand our markets to the Middle East and other parts of Asia. This is a good platform to showcase what we are capable of with our wide range of products, including many high-speed lifts and innovations that people probably did not know Johnson Lifts was capable of 10 years ago.

“Awards and recognition motivate people to provide a better product and better solutions. I think the SLM Awards are a great initiative because I don’t think the elevator industry has ever had something like this before. Going forward this is something that people would strive to achieve. The Elevator Safety Run is another great initiative. Many times, people — in general — do not consider the elevator as something they own. Bringing together people who are probably not aware that certain things should or shouldn’t be done, in a way that is not industry specific, needs to be taken forward. Much more attention should be given to elevator safety. We really encourage this initiative and see great potential in it moving forward. The whole Bangalore team of Johnson Lifts will be participating in this run, in large numbers.”

The building-access and people-flow management industry has come a long way and evolved with advanced smart technology driving it in the last decade. With intelligent buildings on the rise, having “smart” homes, offices, hospitality, shopping, leisure and even parking spaces is rapidly becoming a given. The resultant digital transformation has brought enormous innovation and integration of various systems, making access and people flow management a seamless experience and setting trends in the way people move in buildings.

Smart Lift and Mobility World 2024 will be hosted in Bangalore, also known as the Silicon Valley of India and one of the key business hubs of South India. It will be yet another path-breaking event that will create new opportunities for the VT industry to connect and converse with their buyers and other stakeholders about their latest offering and possibilities. The emphasis will be on highlighting technological and digital advancement, as well as its integration within real estate projects at the initial stage.