The shock decision by organiser Reed Business Information to close the Corby show leaves the industry without a platform to showcase big innovations in construction equipment.

A statement from the show organiser said: “The recession in construction has continued to affect suppliers’ marketing budgets and despite the hard work of the sales team and goodwill from the market, the current level of commitment to next year’s show is not what we had hoped.

“Our feeling is the show is unlikely to meet our expectations. We therefore feel that we have no alternative but to cancel the show.

Since the closure of industry magazine Contract Journal, RBI battled to try to support the Site Equipment Demonstration show with monthly magazine Site Equipment Manager and the website SED365.co.uk. Both these brands have closed as a result of the cancellation of the show.

RBI also relied unsuccessfully on advertising in other old fashioned weekly print-based construction magazines to support the show.

A plant dealer told the Enquirer: “This is a disaster and the end of an era for the plant industry.

“SED was part of the construction calendar and a place where everybody got together to find out what was new in the plant world.

“The show has looked a little worse for wear in recent years but nobody expected it to close for good.”