Koelnmesse announced that in spite of reported declining attendance at many international furniture and suppy shows, Koelnmesse remains optimistic about the coming interzum, which will be held from 13th to 16th May 2009.
Around 1,300 exhibiting companies are expected to participate, and more exhibition area has already been reserved than at the previous event. Frank Haubold, the Project Manager of interzum, says that the registration process for the event continues to run exceptionally well: "In the last few weeks, we have managed to acquire more well-known exhibitors. The German companies Westag & Getalit, Schock Metallwaren and Rosskopf & Partner have decided to participate.
The many international exhibitors have now been joined by the Italian companies Tabu and 3 B and by the Turkish company Cebi Kilit." Information on the registration figures and the current hall plans is also available at http://www.interzum.com.
Furthermore, the number of exhibitors will be expanded through the planned group participations. Eight to ten exhibitors will make up the Romanian group stand. In Spain exhibitors are also currently coming together to form a joint stand.
Areas that are already booked out include Components & Ergonomics in Hall 5.2 (semi-finished products for cabinet, kitchen, office and modular furniture), the Function & Parts segment (fittings, locks and built-in parts) in Halls 7 and 8 as well as the Machinery & Technology segment (machinery for the production of upholstery and mattresses) in Halls 9 and 10.1. The areas in Halls 10.1 and 10.2 that are reserved for the Comfort & Bedding segment (upholstery materials, upholstery accessories, cover fabrics and leather) are also fully booked. Remaining stand areas are still available in the Nature & Interior segment in Hall 5.1 (natural materials — wood, veneers, parquet flooring, interiors) and in Hall 6 (decorative surfaces, decorative papers, laminates, wood-based materials, plastic-laminated sheet materials, mineral materials, edgings, surface treatments, adhesives, rollers and sheet metal).
There are also positive signals in terms of expected visitor numbers. In comparison to the previous event, the number of exhibitors taking advantage of the trade fair's offer of discounted guest vouchers has grown by more than 50 per cent. The VIP visitor package is also being increasingly taken advantage of. "Especially in times of crisis, the sector is seizing the opportunities provided by this central and global leading trade fair," says Haubold. "The sector is not only indicating its commitment to this trade fair, it's also encouraging increasing numbers of its customers and potential customers to visit. This ensures that interzum 2009 will once again live up to its reputation as the central and global leading business and communication platform for the suppliers of the furniture industry and the interior construction segment."