The numbers are in for the Reifen Trade Fair at Messe Essen in Essen, Germany, which ran May 27-30.
* Approximately 20,000 visitors from 130 countries came to the event.
* Sixty-four percent travelled from abroad, representing an increase of 12% in comparison with the preceding event. The top nations of origin were Italy, France, Poland, Belgium and Great Britain.
* A record-braking 670 exhibitors from 44 nations had booths at the show, including 20 of the largest tire manufacturers.
* A wide variety of wares were displayed, including new tires, wheels, chassis technology and equipment.
* About 90% of the exhibitors came from the tire producing sector.
* A majority of visitors came from the tire trading and tire service sectors.
* More than one third of the visitors placed orders at the fair.
On the first day of the show, representatives of fair organizers Messe Essen and Messe Frankfurt announced that they will enter into a strategic partnership with regard to Reifen and Automechanika in the future.
After Reifen 2016, the two global fairs will be linked closely with each other (see "German trade fairs to join forces in 2016").
Oliver Kuhrt, chairman and CEO of Messe Essen, said, "The response of the exhibitors to the partnership with Automechanika is outstanding. We are creating a substantial surplus value for our customers and are safeguarding the long-term growth of Reifen in Essen."
Reifen took place at the same time as Rubber Tech Europe. Therefore, this year's Reifen portrayed the complete value-added chain of the tire, from the preliminary stage of production via manufacture and trading right up through retreading.
Wes Sprunk of Tire Service Equipment/Saf-Tee Siping & Grooving, said, "For us, Reifen in Essen is the most important fair anywhere in the world where we can present ourselves to an international public. We are very satisfied with the number and quality of the visitors. We were able to meet many of our regular customers, to establish new business contacts and to close good transactions. In 2016, we will definitely be an exhibitor once again."
The trade fair’s supporting program focused on tire pressure checking systems (TPCSs). There also was a keynote speech entitled "More Grip for Europe," and Innovation Awards were handed out to manufacturers of the most pioneering new products.
Yokohama Tire Corp. won in the "Technology and Products" category; the German manufacturer of alloy wheels Borbet won in the "Environmental and Resource Conservation" category; the Italian firm Cemb was the winner in the "Service Concepts/Process Optimization" category. Also, the prize in the "Motor Vehicle Service" category, which was offered for the first time, went to Counteract Balancing Beads.
Preparations for Reifen 2016 and Reifen 2018 at Messe Essen are in full swing. Reifen 2016 will be held May 24 – 27. And special celebrations are already in the works for the 30th edition of the Reifen fair, which will take place in 2018. For more information, see www.reifen-messe.de.
For MTD Contributing Editor John Stone's on-the-scene reports, see:
Reifen 2014 countdown, plus a point S preview
New products, corporate image at Reifen Show
Reifen 2014: Innovation from Yokohama and Pirelli
