Week 2: Daylight at Flanders Technology International 1991

After the founding of Daylight bvba on 28 March 1991, Flanders Technology International at Flanders Expo was the first milestone in our 35-year history. Daylight had stand number 2136 at the 1991 edition, from 22 to 28 April. I am still proud that, as a start-up company, we had a stand at this forward-looking technology fair and that we even managed to stand out among the hundreds of stands. The thank-you letter from Gaston Geens was a wonderful trophy. Steven Vols was the fair's organiser and working with him was a real pleasure.

The first fair, called Flanders Technology, was held in 1983. From the next edition in 1985, International was added to the title as well. In 1987 the fair moved to Flanders Expo in Ghent.

Flanders Technology International came about at the initiative of Gaston Geens, the first Chairman of the Flemish Executive. Flanders Technology International was part of the Third Industrial Revolution in Flanders, the master plan for which had been drawn up by Kris Rogiers at the Flemish Economic Union (now Voka). The Flanders Technology International fair was meant to make the public and business leaders aware of the challenges of the third industrial revolution. Ref: Wikipedia

Now, 35 years later, Daylight is very actively involved in the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) with a great many automation projects.

On page 13 of the catalog we had an A4 full color advertisement that brought many visitors to our stand.

At the entrance we had created a link between our Led Display and the access-gate system of Unina from Namur. Every visitor was counted and this number was shown on our Led Display above the entrance. Our first Crowd management application had become reality. 35 years ago Daylight stood at the cradle of all Crowd management, which is why we also own www.crowdmanagement.com.

This automation application worked on the basis of a protocol code in machine language. Get in touch if you would like more information about this solution

At our stand we had multi-line LED displays, full color LED displays and currency displays. See the advertisement in the catalog below.

Advertisement text:

This is the age of visibility. This is the age of communication. This is the age of DAYLIGHT: the fast and direct way of communicating all kinds of messages throughout a variety of displays. Graphic Displays permit organizes to stay in touch with their public during showevents, commercial events or expositions. A fine example can be seen at FTI's entrance and at our stand . TEXT DISPLAYS can he offered in all kinds and sizes, passing through all kinds of messages. These messages can

be shown in red or green and are visible day and night. FINANCIAL DISPLAYS are suitable for banks or exchange offices , showing permanently the newest rates.

DAYLIGHT's products give a suitable answer to each individual problem. For DAYLIGHT, it's a delight to serve the customer with a maximum of creativity and flexibility. For· a demonstration and all further information, you're very welcome in our stand in Hall 2.

This is the catalog text for our stand:

Daylight sells and hires electronic displays in all kinds and sizes. As most important we distinguish : Graphic Displays (HI-LIGHT), Multiline Text Displays and Financial Displays,

Graphic display based on led-technology. Daylight's "Graphic Display" is an electronic information and advertising medium based on LED-technology powered by computer. Text as well as pictures can be programmed on the software. The following applications can be distinguished : advertising networks in larger cities, illuminated signs, advertising on commercial events and expositions.

Other exhibitors were: Proximus(then still RTT), Televic, Siemens, Philips, Alcatel, Imec, Agfa, Bombardier and hundreds of others.

There was also a cartoon competition. The cartoon by Hans Dierick ( Handie) is shown here, but all copyright of course rests with the author himself. Click the link to see his other work.