Brussels 2008
EPTDA, Brussels 2008
Convention Review
ENTERING A NEW DECADE OF GROWTH AND SUCCESS
EPTDA celebrates its 10th anniversary with a big bang!
With the theme "Creating Value Together", EPTDA marked its entry into a new decade of success and growth as it celebrated its 10 years anniversary in the European Capital, Brussels. More than 320 CEOs, Managing Directors and business leaders of the Power Transmission and Motion Control industry gathered at the beautiful Dolce La Hulpe Hotel to mark the beginning of a new era for EPTDA. With more than 27 different nationalities represented, including two new members from Japan and South Africa, the event lived up to its theme of creating value together, especially in tough times like today.
- A strong foundation
- Welcoming 20 new members
- Sharing best practices with other industries
- Exchanging ideas
- Donating for a worthy cause
- The entertainment programme
A STRONG FOUNDATION
The 2008 Annual Convention was a unique celebration of EPTDA's 10 years history, foundation and valuable members who made it all happen. The association thanked and recognised its founding members who have, till date, continued to support EPTDA's objectives and activities, and serve as real ambassadors of the association.
WELCOMING 20 NEW MEMBERS
EPTDA's growth chart continues to point upwards despite the ongoing consolidation in the industry and difficult market climate. The association welcomed 20 new members this year, the majority of whom were present at the Annual Convention in Brussels.
SHARING BEST PRACTICES FROM OTHER INDUSTRIES
As this year's keynote speaker, EPTDA invited the celebrated millionaire and businessman, Simon Woodroffe. Simon is the founder, owner and creative force behind the YO! brand. An icon in the entertainment business for the last 30 years, Simon believes in shaking things up. And that's exactly what he did at his keynote speech at EPTDA Annual Convention. Sharing his life's journey and the lessons learned along the way to stardom, Simon demonstrated how his iron-will of never ever giving got him through the most difficult moments in life. He also shared his thoughts on "innovation" and "creativity" and its importance in any business' success.
EPTDA also invited Tom Blackett from Interbrand to share the excerpt of their research on the winning and loosing brands on the Top 100 Best Brands of the World. He brought forward some valuable insights on the importance of building a good brand, fostering its awareness and to preserve the brand values. Tom's presentation made it very clear that Brand is one of the most important assets of a company, which should be carefully managed and protected. He explained that any company's success relies greatly on its ability to continue to deliver on its brand promises consistently.
Growth is much sought by most companies, but how do we make sure that it is continuous and profitable? Dr. Isaac Getz, Professor of Idea, Involvement and Innovation Management at the ESCP-EAP European School of Management (Paris), ranked N°6 in Europe by Financial Times and Visiting Professor at Cornell and Stanford Universities and at the University of Massachusetts, showed how world-class companies involve all stakeholders - from its people to its partners, to drive growth and decrease costs through collaborative out-of-the box initiatives and innovation.
The fourth workshop of the day was conducted by Marc Binnemans, the CEO of Belgium's Group Antilope, which is the market leader in innovative solutions for printing and online communication. Marc demonstrated how a brand can be speeded up with the help of new and effective online tools. This workshop was built around a real-life case study which showed the audience how the implementation of brand guidelines and proper management through modern techniques and online tools can influence your bottom line profits.
EXCHANGING IDEAS
MD-IDEX (Manufacturer Distributor Idea Exchange) is continuously rated as the most tangible membership benefit by EPTDA members. This year again, the association hosted 53 MD-IDEX tables to provide an open dialogue platform for its manufacturer and distributor members.
DONATING FOR A WORTHY CAUSE
EPTDA is strongly committed to promoting responsible business practices amongst its members and partners. In addition to defining a roadmap for all stakeholders on ethical business practices, the association also invites its members to make a charity donation every year. This year, it partnered with Belgium's King Baudouin Foundation and Vlaamse Vereniging Autisme to support raising the awareness on autism in Belgium. The association's President, Manfred Beitel and Past President, Roberto Cugnaschi, handed a cheque of EUR 10,075 to the representatives of both organisations.
THE ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME
The 10 year celebrations brought a big bang to the city of Brussels. The event kicked off with the "Diamond Welcome Reception", where 10 member companies won a real diamond and the rest took away a souvenir of this magical evening. EPTDA also invited its delegates and spouses to an authentic Belgian evening tasting the signature flavours of beers and other delicacies which the country is known for. With beautiful natural and serene settings, in which the Dolce La Hulpe Hotel (convention venue) is located, the delegates also enjoyed the Opera "La Boheme" at the hotel's very own auditorium. And the grand finale, the "Cotton Club" hosted at the fabulous AutoWorld museum, was the icing on the cake, where the musicians and dancers put on a highly energetic and entertaining show from the 1920's.
Speakers presentations
Speaker presentations are available for download in the password-protected Members Area: click here
Convention pictures
Remember the nice moments of EPTDA's 10th anniversary celebrations - click here to view convention pictures