Plantforce sponsored the Simulation
Zone, located at one end of the indoor
exhibition. Here, six state-of the-art
simulators replicated a ‘real working
construction site’ - but in a virtual world.
Each of the simulators was linked and
represented an individual construction
machine - an excavator, wheel loader,
tower crane, dozer or an articulated dump
truck - as examples. Visitors to the zone
were invited to work together on the
simulators in the virtual world to complete
tasks on a construction site. Spectators
were also offered oculus rift headsets,
allowing them to join the virtual world as
bystanders and offer encouragement and
support to the participants!
In another Plantworx initiative, students
from schools in the Peterborough area
came to the show on the third day. They
looked around the exhibits and also took
part in specially organised activities,
aimed at encouraging them to see
construction and engineering as good
career options for the future.
Particularly popular amongst the
students was Diggerland. The theme park,
part of HE Services, “world leaders in
digger hire”, which was exhibiting at the
show, brought some of its equipment for
young people to try. There were mini-
versions of excavators that the students
could use to dig holes, others with
converted arms that could play ten-pin
bowling or ‘hook a duck’, and even small
dumpers to drive around an oval track.
Great fun, and at least one Rail Engineer
staff member was spotted hooking ducks!So, was Plantworx/Railworx wet?
It certainly was.
But was it a washout? No way! With
almost 500 exhibitors’ displays spread out
over 140,000 square metres of the East of
England Arena, there was something for
everyone, and too much to see in a day.
One Railworx exhibitor, for example,
commented that, although the rain
had held some visitors back, he had
six really worthwhile meetings over the
three days, which he said made it all
worthwhile.
And there will be even more to look
at and discuss in 2021! Hopefully the
weather will be better but, in any case, it
will be an event not to be missed.
See you there!76 PLANTWORX/RAILWORX