Glasstec 2008

As one trade fair closes the next emerges on the horizon - planning for glasstec 2008 has already commenced. Companies upbeat after glasstec 2006

Autumn next year will see the holding of glasstec 2008 in Düsseldorf and many companies are already planning their presence at this the most important international trade fair for the glass industry.

There are still a number of months to go before glasstec opens its doors from 21 to 25 October 2008 but many firms around the globe have already decided to exhibit in Düsseldorf again next year. Most of these enterprises already participated in previous editions of the event. They know very well the glass sector's foremost trade fair offers excellent conditions to present innovative products and services to an international trade audience.

The numbers registered for glasstec are self-explanatory: over 1,300 companies, associations and research institutes from 46 countries were presented at the latest event in 2006 when over 54,000 visitors from throughout the world thronged into the exhibition halls on the Rhine. No other specialist glass fair in the world can claim a similarly high turn-out. Commenting on these key performance indicators Lilian Geurtjens, in charge of marketing at Dutch special glass manufacturer Scheuten, said at glasstec 2006: "glasstec is the only truly international trade fair for the industry."

For the vast majority of exhibitors the latest edition of glasstec held last year was a success across the board because trade visitors were very willing to invest. A case in point was the Finnish Kyro Corporation (today Glaston Corporation) with its renowned machinery brands Tamglass and Bavelloni, which scored new records taking orders worth EUR 27.8 million.

Contact exchange for global glass sector
Moreover, glasstec is not only the world's largest exhibition for glass products, machinery and innovative applications but also the key exchange platform for contacts. This is a view also shared by Florian A. Stoffel, Managing Director at the Swiss machinery manufacturer Bystronic Glass: "In our view glasstec is the most important trade fair for the global glass industry. You will find all nations and those customers with a high buying potential gathered here in one place, which saves time, energy and stress - you gain the highest degree of efficiency when you are at this fair. Here decisive talks with customers are held, customer relations are managed and new customers are canvassed," he summed up 2006.

For the German Interpane Glas Industrie AG the opportunity to make new business contacts is a decisive motivation for exhibiting at glasstec 2008. The company is among the leading glass processors in Europe and since February the sole owner of a float tank. The objectives for glasstec 2008 are clearly defined - even today. "Our primary goal is to win customers in the base glass segment on a national and international scale," said Board Member Jörn Hesselbach going on to explain that to Interpane glasstec remains the No.1 trade fair worldwide for coated and other alternatively finished types of base glass.

Innovation platform for the solar industry
Over the past few years glasstec has also become a significant innovation showcase for companies from the booming solar industry. E.g. Solar*Tec AG, a manufacturer of innovative solar-cell technology from Munich, reported an extremely successful presence at the trade fair following glasstec 2006. In 2008 the innovative company will be exhibiting once again because Board Member Dr. Erich W. Merkle appreciates the wide variety of exhibitors and visitors encountered here. Focusing especially on customers for solar glass and/or architects who offer new concepts for the integration of renewable energies Merkle adds: "We plan to introduce new products - large-format, i.e. floor-to-ceiling, solar modules - even semi-transparent upon request - at glasstec 2008. This means photovoltaic functionality can now, for the first time, be incorporated in buildings and structures without the traditional limitations caused by small module sizes."

Opportunity for SMEs and skilled trades
The biggest group of exhibitors at glasstec are small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). These also include Italy's Pellini/SreenLine SpA, one of Europe's leading suppliers of thermal protection and privacy systems integrated in glass. Being aware of the benefits that a trade fair participation in Düsseldorf brings, Dr. Alessandro Pellini, General Manager and partner in the company, says: "glasstec is the most prestigious international showcase in this field bringing us into contact with both international and German trade visitors. The trade fair allows us to present all innovations in our product portfolio in a suitable setting." Moreover, Pellini says, at glasstec his enterprise meets with exactly those glazier operations and glass construction groups that process ScreenLine products.

Even for small firms with a focus on craftsmanship glasstec opens up highly interesting perspectives. More and more entrepreneurs in this sector realise that trade fair participation is associated with relatively high costs but in exchange offers a unique environment for canvassing new customers. There is no other place for glazier trade operations to address such a wide and varied trade audience as suppliers of custom-made products or as competent project partners.

Architects' congress promotes contacts
Also receiving excellent scores from exhibitors was the Architects' Congress held for the first time during glasstec 2006. 500 representatives of this highly interesting target group took part in the half-day event before gathering information on the latest innovations in the glass sector in the exhibition halls. 2008 will see the Architects' Congress held in parallel with glasstec once again. Alessandro Pellini is convinced this will also benefit the exhibitors again: "Architects are excellent promoters for products like ours. It is up to them to decide how and when to integrate innovative and efficient solutions into contemporary architecture. We cannot but wholeheartedly welcome a congress organised with this in mind."

In view of this positive reponse glasstec 2008 promises to become what it has built a reputation for: being the most important international trade fair in the glass sector.

For further information visit www.glasstec.de.