For almost half a century, IFSEC was the beating heart of the European security industry. What began in industrial Birmingham in the early 1970s quickly developed into the leading trade fair for all those involved in the protection of people, buildings and valuables. Year after year, tens of thousands of trade visitors flocked to the National Exhibition Centre to see where the world of locks, sensors and cameras was heading. This was where technologies that would later become part of everyday life were presented, where engineers met decision-makers, planners met authorities, and manufacturers met visionaries.
IFSEC was always more than just an exhibition – it was a barometer of the state of the industry. In the 1980s and 1990s, it reflected the spirit of optimism of a time when electronic security systems were beginning their triumphant advance. Those who were present there belonged to the avant-garde of a growing industry. British pragmatism and the collegial tone of the trade fair created an atmosphere in which business and community went hand in hand.
But no success lasts forever. When IFSEC moved from traditional Birmingham to modern ExCeL London in 2014, it was a step towards internationalisation – but also a break with its origins. The new location brought glamour and greater reach, but many felt that something had been lost: the down-to-earth atmosphere, the familiar technical discussions, the feeling of being part of a close-knit community. London was a stage, Birmingham was a home.
In the years that followed, the world changed – and with it, the trade fair industry. Manufacturers moved their product launches to the digital realm, and experts met in webinars rather than in exhibition halls. The pandemic accelerated this change, which became an existential challenge for many events. IFSEC also tried to reinvent itself with topics such as cybersecurity, smart cities and cloud surveillance. But the former leading trade fair never regained its former significance. In 2024, it came to an official end – quietly, almost unspectacularly.
What remains is a respectful look back at a piece of industrial history. IFSEC was a place where innovation became tangible and the future became visible long before the internet took over this role. It connected people, ideas and technologies – and shaped generations of security professionals. Its demise is not a scandal, but a symptom of our times: markets are changing, and with them the rituals of exchange.
Perhaps the quiet disappearance of IFSEC is also a warning sign. After all, it was not the only major trade fair with decades of tradition that suddenly looks outdated in a world of livestreams, product videos and algorithmic networks. Some of these venerable institutions are still alive – but if you look closely, you will see that some of them already have one foot in the grave and the other in an uncertain future.
