The Hardware Show 2019 “the Best Show ever!”.

The Hardware Show 2019, sponsored by Intact Software, was a huge success according to the 2,000 visitors that came to the Show over the two days on 17th and 18th February. Delighted with a return to Citywest and the quality and variety of stands on display with over 150 exhibitors including 20 from Italy, exhibitors were also impressed with the quantity of buyers and owners who had travelled from across the country. Some exhibitors have been quoted as calling the event “the best Show ever”! Product innovation was represented in the categories of Home, Garden, Build and DIY. Highlights included The Innovation Awards, celebrating and showcasing product inspiration in the sector; The President’s Ball on the Sunday evening of the Show and the Italian Pavilion, representing 20 Italian suppliers.

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Irish rugby star and hardware/DIY fan Cian Healy arrived on the opening morning to kick off the Show, and had an opportunity to visit exhibitors and see some of the innovations on offer.

Innovation Awards

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This year’s Innovation Awards comprised five product categories – Home, Garden, Build, DIY and Overall Winner, along with two new awards – “Best Supplier Customer Experience”, which was voted by visitors to the show with the only condition that the supplier must be exhibiting at the Show, and ‘Best New Irish Product’. The judging panel, chaired by architect and Home of The Year presenter Hugh Wallace, comprised top purchasing managers and buyers in the sector, and the panel was blown away by the quality on offer at this year’s awards. The winners were presented with their awards at the President’s Ball on the evening of Sunday 17 February. The winning products were then showcased at the entrance to the Show for the full two days of the exhibition.

The winners and their categories are listed below:

Overall Product Winner
Winner: Elite Form (Elite Fencing) – The Kilally Fence

GARDEN
Winner: Elite Form (Elite Fencing) – The Kilally Fence

Commended: National Agrochemical Distributors Ltd – Viano MO Bacter Instant 2L

HOME
Winner: McLoughlin RS – Minky M Cloth Non-Scratch Anti-Bacterial Cleaning Pad

HARDWARE/DIY
Winner: Henkel Ltd – Click & Fix

Highly Commended: Hightower Painting Products Ltd – Hightower Painting System
Commended: Dulux Paints Ireland – Dulux Roller Tester

BUILD
Winner: DS Supplies Ltd – Adjustable Hole Cutter c/w Heavy Duty Dust Collector
Commended: Botament MC Building Chemicals – Botament PF1 Pavement Revive

BEST NEW IRISH PRODUCT
Winner: Hightower Painting Products Ltd – Hightower Painting System

BEST SUPPLIER CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
Winner: Glennon Brothers

Italian Pavilion

Inspired by building strong relations in Italy, this year’s Show welcomed suppliers from Italy at the Italian Pavilion who saw Ireland as a growing export market. Over 20 Italian suppliers brought their unique Dolce Vita over the two-day Show duration, including displays in products like fasteners and fixings, garden products and furniture, storage products, insulation, workwear and more.

Skills Zone

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The young apprentices from the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) and Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) made a welcome return to the show following their debut in 2017. Talented apprentices showed off their skills in the areas of Brickwork, Electrical and Plumbing/Heating. The development of these skills is now critical to the continued growth of the construction industry to cope with demand now and in the future.

The President’s Ball

The President’s Ball Gala Dinner and Dance took place on Sunday 17th February at Citywest Hotel, and saw over 460 key figures in the hardware industry welcome new HAI President, HPC Group’s Sean Moran. Sean opened the Ball with a rousing speech about future of the industry. After Innovation Awards judging panel chairman Hugh Wallace presented the winners with their awards delegates got to enjoy a look at some of the newest products in the workwear sector with the inaugural Workwear Fashion Show, including products from Origo, Portwest and Snickers Workwear. The evening concluded with a thrilling performance from Irish music group Sephira, and delegates got to dance the night away with the Conor McKeon Band.

HAI would like to thank all 160+ exhibitors, 2000 visitors, our main sponsor Intact Software, our President’s Ball sponsors, Citywest Hotel and everyone else who helped to make The Hardware Show 2019 another huge success. We’re looking forward to doing it all again in 2021.

Visit www.thehardwareshow.ie to see highlights and photos from The Hardware Show, The President’s Ball and The Innovation Awards.