Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2019, which ran at the RAI Amsterdam from 5-8 February, set all sorts of records for exhibits and attendance.  

It was the largest ever ISE show floor – 56,100 net square meters – housed 1,301 exhibitors across the 15 halls. Of these, 225 (17 percent) were companies taking space at ISE for the first time in the show's 16 years of existence. At the close of ISE 2019, 92 percent of the available floor space at ISE 2020 had already been sold. 

The overall number of registered visitors to ISE 2019 was 81,268 – another record figure for the show. Of these, 32 percent were attending ISE for the first time. Wednesday saw the largest ever one-day attendance figure for any show at the Amsterdam RAI, and the number of attendees on Friday passed 20,000 for the first time.

ISE 2019 Theme: Learn. Discover. Be Inspired

Following the event's key theme of how A/V technology enables creative imaginations to produce rich experiences, the Opening Address from master projection designer Bart Kresa, and the Closing Keynote given by Tupac Martir, creative director and co-founder of Satore Studio, both focused on this element. The entire educational slate involved 300 presenters. 

Mike Blackman, Integrated Systems Events managing director, notes, “As an exhibition, as an unbeatable source of education and professional development, and as a destination for a global industry to come together and do business – ISE 2019 has delivered. Our Opening Address, Closing Keynote, and our two projection mapping features were fantastic showcases for how event professionals and others can harness A/V technology to better realize their creativity.”

The day after his Opening Address, the world premiere of Bart Kresa’s latest projection mapping sculpture, Sviatovid, took place at the RAI.

Related: 3 More Show-Stoppers from ISE 2019: ‘Quite Revolutionary’

Constantly changing, highly detailed imagery projected all around the 5 meter-high figure, synchronized with a dynamic soundtrack, made for a compelling and memorable A/V experience.

In ISE 2019’s other projection mapping first, the façade of the soon-to-open now RAI Amsterdam hotel, just next to the exhibition center, became a projection mapping canvas, with video shot that day at the show forming part of each evening’s display.

Presented under the slogan ‘Learn. Discover. Be Inspired’, ISE 2019’s professional development program featured strong involvement from the show’s co-owners AVIXA and CEDIA, as well as conferences organized by vertical market specialists.

36 CEDIA Training Courses

CEDIA, which used ISE 2019 to begin its 30th-anniversary celebration events, had a four-day professional development program with over 36 different courses, covering pertinent subjects under the headings of Technical Skills, Emerging Trends, and Business Success. Additionally, its booth hosted free CEDIA Talks on topical industry issues each day of the show.   

Among the technology trends in evidence on show floor were 8K displays; smart building technology, including the Internet of Things; AI-equipped devices; the continued progression of conferencing and collaboration technology; 3D projection mapping; a wider-than-ever choice of curved, flexible, transparent and ever-smaller-pitch LED displays; and further developments in AV over IP and audio networking.

For AVIXA and CEDIA, the event offered the perfect opportunity to showcase their various initiatives for 2019 in the areas of professional development and industry representation. 

Tabatha O’Connor, CEO of CEDIA, says, “We’ve enjoyed an amazing ISE 2019! CEDIA chose this year’s show as the kick-off point for our 30-year anniversary celebrations and what an awesome week it has been. 

“Our professional development program has exceeded expectations, with delegates from around the world taking advantage of the excellent and varied training opportunities on offer. A number of classes, including our new full-day Home Cinema Design Masterclass, even sold out – which was great.

“The free CEDIA Talks on our booth also proved popular and we were delighted to showcase CEDIA Award winning projects with support from integrators and industry brand members on the ISE Main Stage,” says O'Connor. 

“Above all, ISE is a great place for the CEDIA global community to connect not just with the many exciting, new technologies on display but with their industry friends and peers as well. We met with many new and existing international members on the CEDIA booth, giving us the chance to share progress on our three-year strategic plan and talk about the many initiatives we have coming down the pipe.

“We also welcomed over 200 guests to the Heineken Brewery for our annual CEDIA Party and 30th birthday cake cutting – a fantastic evening enjoyed by all comers.  The show has been a terrific success and we can’t wait for ISE 2020!” she says.  

ISE 2020 will be held at the RAI Amsterdam from 11-14 February 2020.

For more images of ISE 2019 check out the slideshow!