Lead-up to Practical World

The multi-trade show is being launched on 9 March under the brand name of Practical World – the International Hardware Fair/DIY’TEC. The individual pillars of the fair have been retained and are named in the subtitle of the new logo: the “World of Tools”, the “World of Security, Locks and Fittings”, and the “World of Home Improvement/DIY”, with the spotlight this year on interior construction and fittings. Next year will see preliminary building work at the centre of interest.
Incomplete space utilisation
The new name and the new logo are intended to appeal more strongly to both national and international target groups. It is hoped that the Practical World branding will signalise its character as a key fair, especially with regard to its continuously growing internationality.
Last year’s event welcomed 90 300 trade visitors to Cologne from Germany and abroad.
This will be much in evidence at the four-day event: 73 per cent of the exhibiting companies are from abroad, compared with 70 per cent last year. A total of 3 600 suppliers will be represented there altogether, or 280 fewer than in 2002. The space requirement is consequently lower as well, with a drop of 44 000 m² to 242 000 m² this year. Hall 9 is no longer needed, and the third floor of Hall 13.3 will also remain closed. The relationship between the reduction in space (minus 15 per cent) and the drop in exhibitor numbers (minus eight per cent) points to the fact that some big names will be absent this year. Categories that are particularly affected are power tools and light/lighting/lamps.
Three product areas
The World of Tools with around 1 900 suppliers is spread over about 94 000 m² of exhibition space in Halls 7, 8, 10, 11.2 and 14. Global production in the field of Security, Locks and Fittings is displayed to visitors on two levels and an area of approximately 30 000 m² in Halls 13.1 and 13.2. The 500 or so suppliers here display locks and fittings for the building and furniture industry, as well as electronically controlled security systems.
The third pillar of the multi-trade event is provided by the Home Improvement section with building and DIY products. About 1 200 companies will present a broad spectrum of ranges with the focus on interior construction, fittings, paint, plumbing and electrical products. They
occupy an exhibition space of 118 000 m2 divided between Halls 1 to 6, 11.1 and 12. A new feature in Hall 3 is a Service Centre, and the Innovation Forums for tools and sanitary products…