Largest Shows: Germany's Busy 2nd Quarter

Germany boasts enormous facilities, and its largest international tradeshows are similarly massive. Here are details on the five biggest international events to be held in the country during the second quarter of this year, based on net exhibit space in the most recent edition of each show.

Messe Duesseldorf's interpack, scheduled April 24-30, spanned 163,405 net square meters (1.75 million net square feet) when last held in 2005. This year's triennial event for the processes and packaging industry will fill 19 exhibit halls for its 50th anniversary. In 2005, interpack attracted 176,964 attendees from 106 countries with 55 percent of those visiting from abroad.

Messe Duesseldorf will present drupa – print media messe for the printing and communications industry May 29-June 11. Last year's show spanned 161,332 net sq. m. (1.73 million net sq. ft.). Messe Duesseldorf officials predicted drupa 2008 – at which they expect more than 1,800 exhibitors in 14 exhibit halls, 400,000 visitors and some 3,500 journalists from around the world – will be bigger than ever before.

The Hannover Messe industrial technology event will encompass 10 flagship tradeshows and 1,000 themed special presentations and forums focused on technical innovations in automation, technology for maximizing energy efficiency and security, and state-of-the-art automotive solutions. In 2007, the show spanned 149,480 net sq. m. (1.6 million sq. ft.) of exhibit space and attracted 240,000 attendees. It will be held in Hannover April 21-24.

Messe Frankfurt's Light + Building, held April 6-11 in Frankfurt, focuses on specific sectors of building design, namely lighting, electro-technology, and house and building automation. It spanned 121,076 net sq. m. (1.3 million net sq. ft.) in 2007.

Messe Muenchen will present the triennial IFAT in the New Munich Trade Fair Centre. IFAT, to be held May 5-9, focuses on technology for water, sewage and waste management. In 2005, IFAT spanned 121,076 net sq. m. (1.1 net sq. ft.), had a sizeable increase in the number of participants – to more than 109,000 visitors from 166 countries – and had a record number of exhibitors representing 2,222 companies from 36 countries.