(Training courses, deep array of workshops, and multiple product lines on exhibit create vibrant day of learning and exchange at show; attendance sets a new benchmark) ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, September 5, 2006 - A thunderous, 10-round trivia contest capped the first day of the "Results-Driven Power Control" ABB Low Voltage Products Roadshow, held here at the Ritz Carlton on June 23 - 24. Teams, consisting of distributor and ABB sales personnel, after a day of intensive product training courses and briefings on the new technologies in 20 different ABB product lines, competed on knowing everything from identifying the most national flags, to identifying theme songs of favourite TV sitcoms. "It's a spirit we want to keep healthy and strong among our entire St.
Louis district," said John Wilmes, a district manager for the Control & Power Products Sales Team, ABB Inc. "Healthy competition for knowing our business and products, and how to help customers in this region apply them to best advantage." Internal and external salespeople demonstrated this spirit in abundance, working on the floor and in training sessions all afternoon, and staying long into the evening. The day is set up as a thorough briefing, Wilmes said, so that, on Customer Day, distributor personnel can help customers see what products and training sessions will help them most.
This briefing day also provides ABB experts and manufacturer representatives the opportunity to review new programs and introduction plans for valuable distributor tools, such as product Configurators, CAD programs, and new Documentation.
Focus on Customers
More than 200 prospects and customers attended the second day of the event - setting a record for attendance. "They arrived early and expressed enormous interest in the workshops and exhibits," said John Fahey, a principal of En-Sync, a manufacturer's representative for the district. "The workshops were packed, and personnel answered a lot of questions at the exhibits." The more than 15 workshops covered a host of topics, from "Common Cure for Harmonics," to "Trends in Wireless Technology." The show offers prospects and customers a close-up look at multiple low-voltage product solutions, and the chance to talk with the product experts on all product lines that are exhibited.
20 Sales Calls In One Day, With Every Prospect It's a whole team approach, with ABB sales and distributor personnel on hand -- in support of customers, and to introduce attendees to the wide array of industrial power control solutions ABB now offers U.S. customers through a single point of sales contact. "You will definitely leave knowing more than when you came and leave with some opportunities for applying these products and solutions in ways you'd not thought of," Wilmes noted. "It is that dynamic of the interchange and concentration on automation solutions that makes this event so valuable in a regional market.
Both users and salespeople see how they can improve customer applications." Prospects see new ideas, and customers also see a wide range of additional ways to add products, and put products to work, Fahey said. "It's also an opportunity to strengthen professional relationships, and meet more personnel from a vendor they work with every day."
The Roadshow, which makes stops in key regional markets, now travels to Cleveland; see www.abb-events.com for dates and information. ABB Inc., Automation Technologies, Low-Voltage Drives, is the world's largest manufacturer of electric motors and drives.
And ABB Inc., Automation Technologies, Low-Voltage Products & Systems is a leading manufacturer and supplier of control products. ABB Low-Voltage Products now offers both drives and control products from a single point of sales contact. ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 107,000 people.