Leading fair in defiance of industry problems

The outlook for the current year is not all that rosy when it comes to the international DIY industry. At the press conference in the run-up to this year’s International Hardware Fair in Cologne (9-12 March 2014), John W. Herbert, general secretary of EDRA, made it clear that the expectations of many managers in the trade are fluctuating between caution and pessimism in terms of the current year. And yet, notwithstanding the problems in the industry worldwide, the International Hardware Fair remains the most important meeting place for the sector as a whole. At the coming event around 2 600 suppliers from 50 countries will provide a comprehensive overview of products for the hardware industry. Trade fair visitors will be able to view and place orders for products in the following categories: tools, industrial supply, fixing and fastening systems, fittings and home improvement. “The International Hardware Fair is among Cologne’s most longstanding trade exhibitions, and impresses again and again with the internationality of both exhibitors and visitors, as well as the high level of innovation,” explains Katharina C. Hamma, chief operating officer of Koelnmesse GmbH. “It’s a one-stop buying platform and therefore the ideal meeting point for buyers and decision-makers from the industry.” In addition to the extensive product display, trade visitors can look forward to an attractive supporting programme. After its successful premiere in 2012, the presentation of the ‘EISEN Innovation Award powered by ZHH’ will again be part of this year’s programme. But that is not all: there will be a new award in a new category in 2014, the ‘EISEN CSR Award powered by BHB’. In addition to the enormous range of products on display, the internationality of the Cologne Hardware Fair is also impressive. In 2014 more than 80 per cent of the exhibitors in Cologne will come from outside Germany, seeking new business partners and meeting up with established global contacts. Going by the bookings to January 2014, the many exhibitors from Germany are being joined by a strong contingent from Europe. Italy, Great Britain and France are the strongest exhibiting countries. China, Hong Kong, India, South Korea and the USA are the strongest participating countries among those from overseas. Yet the number of German exhibitors is actually increasing slightly in absolute terms, according to J. Wolfgang Kirchhoff, chairman of the fair’s advisory committee. However, in order to ensure that the…