The world of transport and logistics will meet from the 26th to the 28th of March 2013 at the Parc des Expositions, Paris Nord Villepinte Hall 3 and 4 for four major events: SITL Logistics Solutions with Eco Transport & Logistics, the RFID exhibition and the first edition of Intralogistics Paris.

This convergence between materials handling, transport and logistics through the provision of products, solutions and sustainable services responds to the needs of a changing market.

An interview with Alain Bagnaud, Director, Reed Global Transport Group.

2013 is a pivotal year, why?

Adaptation, Innovation and Internationalisation are the three pillars which have made SITL one of the leading transport and logistics events in Europe. 2013 is, however, exceptional because it is the first time in France that we are presenting an "end to end" offering by simultaneously staging Intralogistics Paris, the new exhibition for handling equipment in manufacturing and distribution, SITL Logistics Solutions enhanced by ECO Transport & Logistics and the RFID exhibition.

All the links, products and services in the supply chain will be presented in one location, at the same time which underlines our commitment to provide the most in depth offering, which is a formula already proven internationally with success in India and Brazil.

Who is reached by this global offer? Why, in your opinion, this evolution?

In 30 years SITL has welcomed, sometime anticipated and always been in step with the great transformation of logistics, which has become a strategic function serving the sustained growth of business. True to this aim, the 2013 event responds to the close proximity and convergence between logistics and materials handling. This is a global trend and is reflected in the consolidation of what s available and an increasing opening to international trade.

In materials handling, automation, management of stock, the flow of goods and the partnerships recently concluded by Fives Cinetic and KLS, Cegid and Clerversys or the purchase of software house ISA by Jungheinrich are an example of this evolution.

With regards to transport and logistics service suppliers, the international developments towards the emerging markets and the external growth of freight forwarding illuminate the trend towards a global offering.

The economic environment demands continuous improvement in productivity, competitiveness and customer satisfaction. It is also a source of opportunities for innovative companies looking for solutions and partners. Holding SITL jointly with Eco Transport & Logistics and Intralogistics supplies answers to these issues. Major support for Intralogistics from the professionals in the sector confirms the relevance of our choice.

This movement towards globalisation takes place at the same time as an increased complexity across the entire supply chain. What is your response to this requirement??

The performance of an extended supply chain assumes robust and competitive links with individual specificities and specialised offerings. Intralogistics Paris and SITL 2013 respond to this with thematic approaches centred on Transport & Logistics Services, Regions and Infrastructures, Information Technologies and Systems and Logistics Real Estate.

Over time, SITL has highlighted this by creating the European Rail Freight Days 3 years ago, organised over 2 days in 2013 and the pavilions which provide a complete and diversified offer on the key issues in the sector.

I will mention three: the new Industrial & Logistics Real Estate Show, with a 50 place agora and a conference programme totally dedicated to logistics property. The E-commerce & Cross-Channel, Safety and Security, Forecasting and Planning pavilions will be centres of exchanges and meetings between offer and demand. The first edition of the Maritime Days, conceived on the same principals as the Rail Freight Days, is another example of this thematic approach. All are unique events, created to provide information and discover innovations in the company of experts, renew professional contacts and do new business.