Bilbao Exhibition Centre and Cologne Trade Fair sign a strategic agreement

The alliance between Eisenwarenmesse/Practical World

---

Bilbao Exhibition Centre and the Cologne Trade Fair (Koelnmesse) have signed a strategic alliance to jointly strengthen the two leading trade fairs in the hardware sector held in Europe: INTERNATIONALE EISENWARENMESSE/PRACTICAL WORLD and FERROFORMA. This agreement, part of the effort to reinforce both exhibitions, is the first of its kind between European trade fair institutions.

 

Both organizations will share their respective experiences in the sector, going beyond commercial results in order to achieve, in both events, the highest standards of quality and international representation.

 

Ultimately, this is a joint venture between leading trade fairs that will provide companies in the sector with the opportunity to access a broader and more specialized commercial platform.

 

Each partner will contribute their business expertise, their know-how in the trade fair industry, and their specific sales channels. To this end, both entities are making their respective marketing networks available to this strategic alliance.

 

The agreement, with an indefinite duration, is open to expansion to other sectors (environment, industry, food, art, etc.) and contemplates the possibility of new joint design developments for Latin America and other geographical areas.

 

For over 80 years, Koelnmesse has organized the undisputed world trade fair for the hardware industry, INTERNATIONALE EISENWARENMESSE/PRACTICAL WORLD, characterized by its predominantly international focus on both exhibitors and visitors. For the past two years, the event has been held biennially in even-numbered years.

 

In March 2006, 3.491 exhibitors from 58 countries presented their new products at INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR / PRACTICAL WORLD 2006. The leading international trade fair for tools, security systems, locks and accessories, and DIY products attracted nearly 75.000 trade visitors from 140 countries.

 

In 2008, PRACTICAL WORLD trade shows will be open to DIY enthusiasts and professionals. This does not affect the tools, security and fastening technology, locksmithing, and accessories sectors of INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR, which will remain exclusively open to professionals and specialized technicians. These professionals will have access to all INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR/PRACTICAL WORLD trade shows.

 

With six months to go before INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR / PRACTICAL WORLD 2008, the most important companies have confirmed their participation. The fair will not only showcase industry companies but also new professional "big box" brands. Exhibitors who have already signed up include German industry leader OBI, Baumarkt tools, the large chain BayWa, and renowned supplier companies such as ABUS, Burg-Wächter, GAH Alberts, Hettich, HSI Schwerter, Meffert, and Westag & Getalit.

 

FERROFORMA, for its part, began its journey in 1974 and has since positioned itself as the second largest specialized trade fair worldwide. With significant growth potential and a new, state-of-the-art venue at its disposal, the event's organizing team decided in early 2005 to occupy a new space on the international calendar, moving to the first half of odd-numbered years.

 

Editing FERROFORMBRICOFORMA, held in March 2007, was attended by 24.080 professionals from over 90 countries and more than 2.000 foreign visitors, representing a 23% increase in this figure compared to the previous edition.It featured a total of 1.314 exhibiting firms from 28 countries, spread across 994 stands, with a very broad and promising product range. Exterior (57% foreign firms).

 

The markets of origin for this group came mainly from Germany, France, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom, as well as China, Morocco and Mexico, although the diversity of represented areas was completed with the participation of professionals from other countries, emerging or in full industrial and economic development.

 

However, the unifying element of this edition was the quality and qualifications of these professionals, some of them representatives of top-level buying groups.

 

Thanks to its new dates, which will take place from March 25 to 28, 2009, it will establish an annual alternation with its German counterpart, reinforcing its value as fundamental reference in the European sphere.