Focus on man and the automobile

Automotive Industries, Spring, 2008 by James Hilton

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This year's edition of IMAGINA--the European 3D Community Event-focused on industry, architecture, landscape and territory and media and entertainment.

Automotive Industries (AI) interviewed Laurent Puons, General Manager, Monaco Mediax/IMAGINA.

AI: What's new at IMAGINA for the automotive industry?

Puons: Approaching such a substantial economic sector requires IMAGINA's content to be truly relevant, and we will continue organising the Driving Simulation Conference in collaboration with Renault. Thus, 2009 will be the DSC's 10th edition, bringing together over 150 international driving specialists. We will also be offering round tables and a variety of conferences, in cooperation with a number of international associations. We have a good idea of themes we may be focusing on, but nothing has yet been finalised. I believe we will be looking at "Man and the virtual applied to the automotive environment". In addition we will be implementing a marketing campaign, with the objective of attaining a total of over 50% of exhibitors from the automotive industry.

Given the great success of 2008, we feel we can count on this year's exhibitors returning in 2009. We have already reached agreements in principle with new exhibitors such as Virtuel City, Craft Animations, Forum 8, Oktal, Antycip Simulation, Bionatics, RDV Systems, and Genesis.

AI: How does IMAGINA highlight innovation in design and engineering solutions for the automotive sector?

Puons: Several topics were addressed in this field thanks to Autodesk, with the "Creative Bridge" for Marketing and Communication request adopted by Chrysler, for example, OPTIS for drive glare simulation, light and optics CAD or Lumiscaphe, with a new paradigm taking into account materials, textures, and colors in the CAD process.

AI: This year, IMAGINA had a partnership with Renault. What automotive partnerships will your 2009 show have?

Puons: Whilst our partnership with Renault is ongoing, we are aware that we also need to attract the other constructors to our event. With this in mind, we will be working with professional associations so as to further boost participation figures.

AI: What are the dates for IMAGINA 2009?

Puons: IMAGINA will take place from the 4th to the 6th of February 2009. The 2009 edition should, in all logic, vindicate our repositioning strategy launched in 2006. In the wake of the 2005 edition we realised that we needed to reposition IMAGINA and reach out to other sectors who call upon 3D technology. Amongst these we identified those of architecture, landscape and urban planning. This policy proved a success, encouraging us to continue down this route for 2007, and we announced our desire to open up to industry, in particular to the automotive world.

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The positive feedback from the major 3D software solution publishers, who themselves service these different sectors, fully vindicates our concept--that of offering the best venue for professional meetings in Europe for both buyers and vendors of 3D solutions in the major markets concerned.

AI: What percentage of participation in IMAGINA comes from automotive exhibitors and visitors?

Puons: This year, from a total of 1600 participants approximately 30% came from industry. Over 40% of our exhibitors were involved with the automotive sector. For the 2009 edition we are going to do even more to develop this trend with the implementation of a communication plan, in partnership with the major trade associations of the automotive sector. We shall also be present at major global events such as Laval Virtual, SIGGRAPH, EuroMold and IBC. Finally, we can also count on excellent brand visibility, not least through our partnership with you.