Focus on the very latest topics such as the new energy paradigm and demographic change
Increased numbers of visitors from major growth markets
ISH remains more successful than ever – the world’s largest industrial exhibition for innovative bathroom design, energy-efficient heating and air-conditioning technology, as well as renewable energies, ended with increases in all key benchmark figures. From 12 to 16 March 2013, 2,434 exhibitors (2011: 2,382) showcased their new products – many of them for the first time in the world – over an area of 258,000 square metres (2011: 255,900). During the five days of the fair, a total of around 190,000 visitors took stock of the innovations of the world’s leading manufacturers. The late onset of winter in far-flung areas of Europe prevented an even greater response. Nevertheless, this year, too, a good third of the visitors came from outside Germany. “The figures are impressive proof of the internationally dominant position of ISH as the leading world trade fair for the combination of water and energy,” says Wolfgang Marzin, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Messe Frankfurt. “In terms of all the important criteria such as quality of products, exhibitor and visitor numbers, as well as the level of internationality, ISH is the unchallenged number one in its field.”
With its focus on conservation of resources and sustainability, the world’s largest trade fair of industrial achievements in the sanitation, heating and air-conditioning sector is at the cutting edge. The 27th ISH show was all about dealing efficiently with the two resources, energy and water. This central concern ran through all the products and trend topics of the two sections relating to energy and water respectively. Under the overall heading ISH Energy, manufacturers exhibited market-ready and future-proof solutions relating to home and building services technology. With modern, efficient air-conditioning, heating and ventilation products, up to 50 percent of the energy used in a house can be saved. Investments in new technologies thus not only make an important contribution to the new energy paradigm, but also soon pay for themselves. Alongside this, functionality, comfort, convenience and sense of well-being are also all enhanced. The section entitled ‘ISH Water’ demonstrated that design and solutions relevant to all generations are not mutually exclusive. The bathroom is increasingly gaining importance for users in terms of the contribution it makes to the overall comfort and convenience of the home. At the same time, because of the demographic changes, demand is growing for bathrooms to be usable across several generations. The exhibitors showcased numerous ways in which these demands on bathrooms can best be met with integrated solutions.
The visitor structure also reflected ISH’s profile as the world’s leading trade fair for the combination of energy and water. With some 35 percent of all visitors, the installation trades represented the largest group amongst the attendees, as they had done in previous years. Equally high is the share of visitors from outside Germany. A definite plus was to be recorded in many of the growth markets in particular. These included Eastern Europe, North Africa, South East Asia, the Middle East and China.
Equally good was the assessment of the quality of this year’s ISH by exhibitors and visitors alike. German exhibitors, in particular, expressed positive attitudes in Messe Frankfurt’s survey relating to the current economic climate in the sector. 94 percent of those polled rated this as good or satisfactory. Positive too, were the ratings of the extent to which they had achieved the targets they had set themselves for the show (85 percent) and the extent to which they had managed to reach their target groups (76 percent). That represents an increase of two and three percent respectively over the previous event. Assessments by exhibitors from outside Germany of the degree to which they had achieved their trade-fair targets were also good (81 percent), as was their overall rating (79 percent).
Absolute top marks came from the visitors. The average rating for the product range was 97 percent – once again three percent higher than in 2011. Visitors from outside Germany showed themselves to be particularly pleased with the degree to which they had achieved their goals for their visit to the show. The overall rating remained at a constant high level of 96 percent.
The associations who sponsored ISH also record a positive overall outcome:
Manfred Stather, President of the Central Association of Sanitation, Heating and Air-Conditioning (Zentralverband Sanitär Heizung Klima – ZVSHK)
“It’s no good without the skilled trades. The motto we chose for the show has proved itself. From the ZVSHK’s point of view, this year’s ISH was a great trade fair. As representatives of the largest visitor group, we are always happy if the skilled tradesmen and women in our sector are happy. And this was unreservedly the case. In spite of the snow and the cold weather, ISH was a must on the events calendar for the trade. The recipe for success of this leading world trade fair, which has stood us in good stead for many years, has once again proved itself: innovative presentations of products relating to water, heating and ventilation under the one roof at the one show. On our own exhibition stand, we created a media window at ISH. Our daily news bulletins will remain available after ISH is over and can be downloaded at www.zvshk.de.”
Andreas Dornbracht, Chairman of the Association of the German Sanitation Industry (Vereinigung der Deutschen Sanitärwirtschaft e.V. – VDS)
“In spite of the difficulties of the first day and the problems people had travelling, visitors eventually managed to get through and thus ensured full exhibition halls again on the subsequent days. Particularly noticeable were the numbers of international participants attending and the excellent preparation of the visitors for the show. Interest was directed not only at the many and varied new products, but increasingly at the philosophy behind the manufacturers’ products, brands and bathroom concepts. Once again, and quite specifically this year, ISH showed itself to be the leading world trade fair and an indispensible source of inspiration for the bathroom sector, both national and international.”
Manfred Greis, President of the German Industry Association for Building Services, Energy and Environmental Technology (Bundesindustrieverband Deutschland Haus-, Energie- und Umwelttechnik – BDH)
“The BDH is very satisfied with ISH. The bad weather has naturally had an effect on visitor numbers, but this was well compensated for by the high quality of the visitors to the show. At this, the world’s leading trade fair, the industry has once again given proof of its innovative strengths in the heating market. It is with these technical solutions that the new energy paradigm in the heating market can be achieved. Of particular importance for the BDH is the continued internationalisation of the visitors. Growth in visitor numbers came, above all, from Asia and North America. These figures bear witness to the considerable international interest in German products and systems. The ISH Technology and Energy Forum, organised by the BDH, Messe Frankfurt and eleven partner associations, once again met with great interest, not only from German visitors, but from the international ones too.”
Prof Ulrich Pfeiffenberger, Chairman of the Board of the Building Climate Institute (Fachinstitut Gebäude Klima e.V. – FGK)
“ISH/Aircontec 2013 again proved quite unequivocally, that it is the major leading world fair for air-conditioning and ventilation technology and sets new standards in its field. German industry presented some fascinating innovations for improving energy efficiency, comfort, convenience and air quality in inside spaces. ISH reflected current developments in air-conditioning and ventilation technology both in domestic dwellings and in non-domestic buildings and with it continued its long success story. The exhibitors from industry are delighted with the show, the high level of internationality and the quality of the trade visitors. The FGK’s well-attended AIR-CONDITIONING FORUM confirms these impressions.”
Hermann W. Brennecke, President of the VdZ Forum for Energy Efficiency in Building Services Technology
“Many market-ready technologies and solutions for the new energy paradigm were exhibited at this year’s ISH and it became clear that the heating market has a key role to play in the new energy paradigm. You could sense throughout that ISH is the trade fair for the new order in the world of energy. We found the combination of the two areas of water and energy particularly convincing, creating, as it does, a sensible cross-over between energy and the issues of energy efficiency and design that go with it.
The next ISH will take place from 10 to 14 March 2015 in Frankfurt am Main.
Photo:Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Pietro Sutera
