Issue 6/2005
11/02/05
Start into the trade fair season 2005
interlift 2005
At the stand of the VFA-INTERLIFT e. V., which has been sponsoring the interlift for many years now, the pulse of the trade fair began beating early on the very first day. Specially invited guests, the exhibitors and the trade press arrived to open the Fair officially together in the Forum. Already at this first event of the Fair, it was possible to get some idea of how international the event was: almost 50 % of those attending the opening came from abroad. A good result for the organisers and proof of how meticulous the preparations had been. After all, even though the interlift has undoubtedly become the leading trade fair in this sector, the fact that it keeps on growing is not something to be expected as a matter of course.
Category: Issue 6/2005
Posted by: Editor
The President of the VFA-INTERLIFT e. V., Achim Hütter, was proud to be able to welcome the great number of guests from abroad, especially the representatives of foreign associations and the numerous international organisations. The greatest increase was in the number of participants from China and Turkey. An essential factor indicating the significance of the interlift for the industry, he saw in the excellent co-operation between the sponsoring association, the trade fair company and the Fair Advisory Committee, and he expressed his thanks to all concerned. Even though the Fair has grown considerably over the years, it has retained its “family” character, and this may well be one of the secrets of its success. Mr Hütter mentioned the high expectations of many exhibitors ahead of the Fair, and therefore wished all participants good talks and a lot of success. Even in cases where firm business transactions took place, the character of this Fair is based on the creation and consolidation of contacts.
“Other lift fairs come and go, but Augsburg is a must!” With these words, Heiko Könicke, the manager of the AFAG Messen und Ausstellungen GmbH, opened his welcoming speech. The repeated rise to now 455 exhibitors he rated as a further sign of the lift industry’s acceptance of Augsburg as the top location for the interlift world-wide. At 64 %, the quota of foreign exhibitors is the best proof of the interlift’s high global standing. For the AFAG, the interlift is by far the most important trade fair in Augsburg and he therefore regretted the absence of Lord Mayor Wengert, who had to participate in the opening of a fair on the environment in our twin city in Japan. Mr Könicke made a special point of mentioning the Forum, where papers on research, science and further training will be offered, and where exhibitors and manufacturers would also be presenting newly developed products. The organisers have done everything in their power to make the fair attractive to exhibitors and visitors alike – now the visitors have the last word to decide on the Fair’s success.
Mayor Klaus Kirchner again presented the apologies of his superior, and at the same time emphasized the importance of the interlift, not only for Augsburg, but also for the entire region. With 35,000 overnight bookings, high sales for the catering trade and additional business for retailers and fair designers together mean that the interlift generated a total turnover of EUR 35 million for the Augsburg region. So it is no wonder that the City of Augsburg, as the business centre of the region, does its best to create a suitable environment for a fair attracting international visitors. But even minor details – like a smarter switching of traffic lights when the Fair closes – would be desirable. Here there is obviously a lack of pragmatic flexibility.
In the name of the many foreign associations and institutions, Ed Chmielewski, President of the NAEC (National Association of Elevator Contractors) and Zhang Lexiang, of the China Elevator Association, welcomed the participants. In a few words, Ed Chmielewski pointed out the excellent co-operation between the NAEC and VFA-INTERLIFT e. V. Mutual visits repeatedly provided opportunities for a vigorous interchange of ideas and had also brought about an increase in the participation of US companies as exhibitors.
Zhang Lexiang, standing in for his President Renx Tianxiao, was rightly more detailed in his welcome. After all, with 34 exhibitors, the Chinese had the third-biggest contingent of exhibitors after Germany and Italy. At the Chinese stands, there was a staff of c. 250 people serving visitors – a clear indication of how eager the Chinese lift industry is to win the European market although in its own country, the building boom and thus also lift construction has soared ahead. A country with 1.3 billion inhabitants, an annual population growth rate of 1.07 %, an average life expectancy of 71 years, with 36 % of the population living in big cities, and an annual economic growth rate of 9 % certainly provides the right environment for a growing elevator industry. In 2005, with the expected construction of about 135,000 lifts and escalators, the total stock adds up to about 700,000 units. Of these, 99 % were constructed in the past twenty years, and in the meantime require upgrading to satisfy the most modern safety standards and specifications. An interesting market, so that it is understandable that Europeans want to establish contacts in China to “get a piece of the action”. The trend towards skyscrapers presents a challenge to the lift industry to provide top performance, while the Olympic Games 2008 and the Expo 2010 in Shanghai will continue to drive the construction boom. A co-operation with a Chinese partner is ideal since such a co-operation helps to bridge the gap between the different cultures and customs, so that the outcome is more frequent success in business. Zhang Lexiang closed with a reference to the lift trade fair in Langfang near Peking from 18 to 21 April 2006. On 30,000 m² there, over 260 exhibitors will provide a good overview of the Chinese lift industry. So: the fair is over – on to the next fair!
The main address at the opening event was held by Prof. Arno Sighart Schmid, President of the Bundesarchitektenkammer (Federal Chamber of Architects). Slow economic development in the construction sector in Germany has the consequence that growth can only be achieved abroad. This is why German architects increasingly operate abroad, and with success. Ecology and efficiency are in demand. From planning, through supervision of construction work, right up to the documentation – everything from one single source – that is what the market wants. This naturally includes reliability when it comes to costs and meeting deadlines. The lift today is seen as a component of the overall design – more so than it used to be: it is no longer banned to a distant corner. The lift is in fact the key element of a multi-storey building, without it, a penthouse apartment would be impossible. The change in society has brought about a change in architecture and a change in technology. Thus an aging society must retain individual mobility. Living areas must be without impediments. The lift is the means needed to this end. A building with a restored exterior can be given an upgraded interior. The city must again offer desirable dwellings with properly upgraded living space. Every city should support this trend instead of ruining its periphery with settlements. Seventy per cent of the volume of construction is done in already existing buildings, which is why Prof. Schmid welcomed the VFA’s invitation to students to take part in a competition on the issue of “living without impediments”. (Lift-Report will give more details on this competition elsewhere.)
The prize-giving ceremony for the VFA competition brought the opening event to a satisfying conclusion. The set task was to present a design for a lift in a typical four-storey building constructed in the post-war years, creating unimpeded living within an existing building. The five-man jury selected four prize-winners out of the twenty contributions after three evaluation runs: one competitor won the first prize and three the second prize. The winner of the competition and thus the winner of a one-week trip for two to Shanghai was Martin Sellger (HAW Hamburg). The numerous Chinese exhibitors offered him interesting invitations to visit the most modern lifts. A second prize was won by a joint work designed by Christiane Gebert-Dohrmann, Caroline Günther-Luckow, Aylin Yildirim of the FH Frankfurt a. M., Thorben Strahlendorf (HAW Hamburg) and Hega Tauscher, Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weißensee. Congratulations to the winners!
The “Gentlemen Brass” Band provided musical support for the opening event. The holding of this event in the turmoil of Hall 6 may provide a better introduction to this event for some visitors, but there is a great deal to be said in favour to using the Congress Centre as the more dignified venue for it. This was followed by the traditional joint tour, and all officials were able to get information at the stands, discussing the many novelties to be seen at the Fair.
Dr. Peter Lauer
6/2005
