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 Light+Building
Apr 23-27, 2006, Frankfurt, Germany |
Final report Light+Building/ ACS 2006: Sensational success: Light+Building has 16 percent more visitors - Sector expects powerful upsurge in growth
• Sensational success: Light+Building has 16 percent more visitors
• Exhibitors and visitors are both extremely satisfied
• Sector expects powerful upsurge in growth |
 The fourth Light+Building in Frankfurt ended with an unexpected double-digit growth in visitor numbers. Altogether some 2,100 exhibitors welcomed 134,489 visitors (2004: 116,000 visitors) at this international trade fair for architecture and technology (23 – 27 April 2006). Compared with the same event two years ago, this represents an increase of 16 percent, or 18,000 visitors. The level of international participation rose to 32 percent (2004: 27 percent), so that effectively one in every three visitors came from abroad.
This sudden upsurge comes both from home and abroad. Ten percent or around 9,000 more visitors came to Frankfurt from within Germany, with a marked increase in interest particularly on the part of the trade. The number of international visitors rose by more than 10,000 to 42,000, amounting to a leap of 32 percent. The leading five nations to be represented among the visitors were Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium/Luxemburg and Great Britain. Worth emphasising, too, are key regions such as Eastern and Western Europe as well as Asia and the USA.
Expectations were already high on the basis of the increased exhibitor numbers and exhibition area (2,098 exhibitors, a gross surface area of 226,000 square metres, 119,000 square metres net) – and these expectations were surpassed by a long chalk on the visitors' side.
 "This sensational development in terms of exhibitors, exhibition surface and visitors is only possible because of the close collaboration of all partners. Light+Building will grow further; its potential is by no means yet exhausted. In collaboration with our partners, we shall work carefully to build on the successful concept in all directions, integrating as it does the fields of lighting, electrical engineering as well as home and building automation," says Dr. Michael Peters, Member of the Board of Management of Messe Frankfurt.
The already high levels of satisfaction on the part of both exhibitors and visitors have increased still further: close on 83 percent of the exhibitors at Light+Building perceived their targets to have been achieved (2004: 81 percent). 98 percent (2004: 96 percent) of the visitors were satisfied with the range on offer.
The positive signals at Light+Building 2006 are also supported by the optimistic expectations of the way in which the business climate is moving. The perceptions of German visitors have become significantly more positive over the last two years. 29.4 percent see the development as good (2004: 20.7 percent) and now only 12.4 percent rate them as poor (2004: 26.2). As always, foreign decision-makers are essentially more optimistic. 36.1 percent rate the business climate as positive (2004: 29.9 percent) and only 6.6 percent as negative (2004:14 percent).
And the industry, too, rates the economic climate in the sector as clearly better than two years ago: 29.6 percent of all exhibitors consider the present economic situation in the sector to be good (2004: 18.6 percent) and only 11.3 percent now consider it to be poor (2004: 22.2 percent). German exhibitors look towards the future with great optimism: 34.8 percent judge the present economic situation to be good, whereas in 2004 this proportion amounted to just 14 percent.
Among the international exhibitors, ratings of 'good' stand at 27.1 percent (2004: 21.5 percent) with 11.1 percent expressing the view that it is poor (2004: 18.2 percent).
Light+Building has acquired a whole new topic this year with ACS – Computer Systems in the Architecture, Construction and Engineering Industry taking place in parallel for the first time. More than 100 exhibitors presented their products over a gross surface area of 2,500 square metres, with visitor numbers of 5,000 remaining stable when compared with those of the previous event. Messe Frankfurt will continue to develop ACS in collaboration with AKH, the Chamber of Architects and Urban Planners of Hesse (Architekten- und Stadtplanerkammer Hessen) and will again organise it in parallel with Light+Building in 2008.
Among the visitors to Light+Building and ACS, the variety of professions ranged from architects and planners to engineers, tradespeople and dealers. The visitor structure has, on the whole, remained similar to that of the previous event and visitor numbers have grown in all areas. This is equally true of the areas of interest of decision-makers at the show. 53 percent of the visitors gave, as their principal interest, technical lighting, lamps and components (multiple responses were possible), 49 percent were interested in electrical engineering, and some 37 percent had come to the show because they were interested in house and building automation and decorative lighting.
Because of its vigorous growth, Light+Building is likely to be extended in other ways, too: "We are currently sounding out with the industry and tradespeople, as well as with our partners on the consumer side, as to the advantages of an additional, sixth day for the trade fair," says Dr. Michael Peters.
Walter Tschischka, President of the General Association of the German Electrical and Information Technology Trade (Zentralverband der Deutschen Elektro- und Informationstechnischen Handwerke) comments: "The trade fair lays down a clear marker! The perceptible upswing in the electrical trade is confirmed to an impressive extent by Light+Building 2006. The trade continues to be the largest visitor group and has even increased its share by five percentage points to 26 percent. This means that one in four visitors comes from that business sector. And the sector returns home from the fair considerably strengthened. The predominant mood was excellent and we received very positive signals to take back to our workplaces. The upswing which businesses in the electrical and information technology trade have experienced in the first quarter of this year, has received another boost. We attribute this to rising energy prices: consumers are becoming more sensitive to issues of energy conservation and regenerative energies."
Walter Mennekes, Member of the Board of Management of the Installation Equipment and Systems Association in the Central Association of the German Electrical and Electronic Engineering Industry (Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie - ZVEI) adds: "Light+Building 2006 lights our way and encourages us. The fourth Light+Building took place against a positive economic background born of optimism and increasing willingness to invest. This background, the successful trade-fair concept and the perceptible increase in visitor numbers at every stand all go to confirm Light+Building as the established leading trade fair for lighting and building technologies. The manufacturers of electrical building installation in Halls 8 and 9 expressed corresponding levels of satisfaction. Much pleasure derived from the presence of visitors from all over Europe, particularly from Eastern Europe and from the Near and Middle East. Asia, too, including India was also well represented. In this context, the overlap of dates with the Hanover Fair was once again seen by most exhibitors as a good thing."
Dr. Jürgen Waldorf, General Manager of the Electrical Lighting and Electrical Lamps Associations in the Central Association of the German Electrical and Electronic Engineering Industry (Zentral¬verband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie – ZVEI): "The manufacturers of electric lamps and luminaires have presented a wealth of new products. The trend is towards energy-efficient lamps as well as the control of lighting colours to enhance a sense of well-being. The luminaire manufacturers had on display the whole gamut of design-oriented and high-quality products, combined with 'smart' control systems. An overarching theme is the LED, which is used both for accent lighting and as a lighting solution in its own right. The German manufacturers are, for the most part, very happy with the way the exhibition turned out and with the number of visitors. It is worth stressing the increased proportion of foreign visitors. That underlines Light+Building's claim to being the leading world trade fair for the lighting sector and reflects the trend towards increasing proportions of exports among our companies."
Winfried Brandt, General Manager of the Trade Association for Automation and Management Systems in Homes and Buildings in the Association of German Machine and Plant Manufacturers (Verband Deutscher Maschinen und Anlagenbau – VDMA), said: "Light+Building 2006 has once again and in an impressive way confirmed its position as the leading international trade fair in the field of building automation. Exhibitors report a lively reception on the part of highly qualified visitors from within Germany and markedly increased visitor numbers from abroad. Highly innovative building-automation technology and the subsequent service provision, e.g. building management, attracted a great deal of attention. Other striking themes of the trade fair were: energy efficiency, life-cycle considerations and the integration of building, security and surveillance functions."
Eckart Roeder, spokesman of the Trade Associations for Satellite & Cable and Security Systems in the Central Association of the German Electrical and Electronic Engineering Industry (Zentral¬verband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie – ZVEI) comments: "Light+Building is the market place for the technical equipment in buildings. This is confirmed by the fact that manufacturing companies for security systems in the ZVEI all appeared together. It was not only the expected contacts with specialist planners, fitters and builders, the electrical trades and the access to architects, but also the contacts with leading companies which turned participation in the show into a success. With the integration of security systems into the building management, the need for different trades and professional groups to combine forces will assume an increasingly important role. Light+Building is just the right meeting place for this and has set new standards."
Willy Fischel, General Manager at the retail industry's technical organisation (Bundesverband Technik des Einzelhandels e.V. – BVT): "Light+Building 2006 was a close reflection of the dynamics of growth and innovation in the market place. The specialist retail trade for luminaires is banking on new technologies such as the LED, application-oriented solutions, concepts of use and application (security, leisure time, well-being), energy efficiency, e.g. through increases in lighting efficiency and issues for the future such as lighting and health. The brisk flow of trade visitors to Light+Building emphasises the readiness of dealers to invest in new growth markets."
Dr. Volker Cornelius, President of the German Association of Consulting Engineers (Verband Beratender Ingenieure - VBI) observes: "As well as offering consulting engineers a condensed overview of the technical innovations in the lighting, electrical and building automation sectors, Light+Building, with its outstanding congress and fringe programme, also offers them the opportunity for professional exchanges with planners and suppliers. The juxtaposition of the ACS trade fair – Computer Systems in the Architecture, Construction and Engineering Industry will increase the numbers of visitors from planning circles even further. The Architecture + Technology Award, presented at the time of the fair, is a distinction awarded for innovative and trend-setting building solutions which arise from the co-operation of architects and engineers. In certain ways it reflects the central idea behind the whole exhibition. The Association of Consulting Engineers (VBI) is co-sponsor of the prize."
Kaspar Kraemer, President of the Union of German Architects (Bund Deutscher Architekten- BDA): "Light+Building, as an international trade fair for architecture and technology, fits in well with the trend towards integrated planning and it has consequently grouped the exhibition themes around the lighting and the electrical equipment within buildings. Current developments and innovative products in these areas were extensively displayed in a well supported, competent manner and with an eye to the future. Parallel to this, ACS presented future developments in information and communications technology and, with this, increased the appeal of the exhibition concept. A visit to Light+Building and the many and varied accompanying talks and discussions was, as in previous years, of great importance in deepening the awareness of architects and engineers."
Lydia Suhrborg, Chamber of Architects and Urban Planners of Hesse (Architekten- und Stadtplanerkammer Hessen) offered the following comments: "ACS - Computer Systems in the Architecture, Construction and Engineering Industry is in a state of transition. The shift from the autumn date to the spring still has to be digested by exhibitors and visitors and ACS has yet to consolidate its position in the competition for spring dates. Being run in parallel to Light+Building has a number of potential advantages, such as shared visitor groups and the international mix of the visitors. We are confident that Messe Frankfurt will be able to further develop and extend ACS in this format. ACS Focus in the Building Performance Congress was an event attended by some very eminent people and the inclusion of the ACS theme in the congress was, in this constellation, a new departure."
Some 650 visitors once again attended the Building Performance Congress, the corner stone of the extensive fringe programme of Light+Building.
The next Light+Building and ACS will take place from 6 to 10 April 2008 in Frankfurt am Main.
Photos: Messe Frankfurt / Jochen Günther
Light+Building
light-building.messefrankfurt.com |
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