EUROPE -German-based environmental trade fair IFAT Entosorga claims to have broken all previous show records after attracting 125,000 visitors from 180 countries this year.
Attendees included 75,000 domestic visitors and 50,000 from abroad, led by Austrian, Italian, Russian, Danish, Turkey and Polish delegates. The biennial show, which addresses environmental and waste disposal solutions, also attracted 2,939 exhibitors from 54 countries – an unprecedented international profile, organiser Messe Munich International said.
The event took place from 7 to 11 May and totalled 215,000sqm. The organiser said a major highlight was its conference programme, which 97 per cent of visitors rated “good” or “excellent”. In all, 320 lectures and discussions were on offer addressing mega cities, water management, phosphorus recycling from sewage sludge and waste-to-energy.
“IFAT Entsorga 2012 is remarkable for its large visitor numbers – significantly more guests than at the previous trade fair in 2010,” said chairman of the show’s advisory board and managing partner of FAUN Umwelttechnik Dr Johannes F Kirchhoff.
The outstanding growth in its international customer profile also highlights rising interest in sustainable waste solutions globally, he said. German Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Environment Ministry, Katherina Reiche, helped open the show.
“IFAT Entsorga is the international showcase for innovation and services in a branch with growing geopolitical relevance,” she said in her welcome address. “It highlights the close links between high environmental standards and economic success.
“Resource consumption is on the rise worldwide while raw materials are becoming increasingly scarce; consequently, economies with an innovative, efficient and sustainable closed cycle management have a major competitive edge internationally.”
According to Messe Munich, 91 per cent of exhibitors rated the show’s quality in terms of water, sewage, waste and raw materials management either “good” or “excellent”.
The biennial event returns to New Munich Trade Fair Centre from 5 to 9 May 2013.
Messe Munich is introducing the new Battery Manufacturing and Automation Technology event alongside its Automatica exhibition later this year.
Got a story for Exhibition World? Emailus: exhibitionworld@mashmedia.net
