Seven Percent More Visitors at ISH 2005

For the 192,175 visitors from home and abroad (2003: 178,955), everything revolved around the subjects of water, heat and air during the five days of the fair. Altogether, 2,350 exhibitors presented their products on over 254,000 square metres of exhibition space (gross). This year, the bulk of the additional visitors come from Germany. One in four of the visitors travelled to Frankfurt from outside Germany.

Dr. Michael Peters, Member of the Board of Management of Messe Frankfurt: "The breath of an economic spring was in the air at this year's ISH and we noted with interest that the number of German visitors to one of our leading international events has picked up significantly again. Both exhibitors and visitors clearly rate the economic situation in the sector as being much better than two years ago."

This year, 70.3 percent of German exhibitors said they considered the economic outlook to be satisfactory to good (2003: 55 percent). Only 25 percent regard it as being unsatisfactory (2003: 38 percent). Foreign visitors are more optimistic with 76.1 percent saying the perspectives are satisfactory to good (2003: 65.4 percent) while just 17.8 percent regard it as being unsatisfactory (2003: 29.6 percent).

The opinion prevailing on the visitor side is similar whereby the views of foreign visitors differ even more from those of their German colleagues. 70.9 percent of German visitors said that the prospects are satisfactory to good (2003: 62.3 percent). 27.9 percent are not so optimistic (2003: 36.6 percent). In contrast, 89.3 percent of foreign visitors regard the economic outlook as being satisfactory to good (80.7 percent) while only 9.8 percent rate them as being poor (2003: 18.5 percent).

The representatives of the associations that support the ISH also took a positive view of the results of the fair. Michael von Bock und Polach, General Manager of the German Sanitation, Heating and Air Conditioning Association (Zentralverband Sanitär, Heizung, Klima - ZVSHK): "Our expectations were high and ISH 2005 exceed them. This was the best ISH ever. In terms of both technology and design, it set new world standards for the sanitation, heating and air-conditioning segments. As founders and sponsors, we are delighted that an audience of trade visitors from all over the world affirmed the overall concept of the event and its leading international position. The reintegration of air-conditioning and ventilation technology as Aircontec has been a complete success. The symbiosis of equipment and design with intelligent building and energy technology perfectly reflects the demand structure and entrepreneurial orientation of our member companies. The mood at the fair was excellent, which will hopefully have a positive impact on post-fair business. We want success!"

Fritz-Wilhelm Pahl, President of the Association of the German Sanitation Industry (Deutsche Sanitärwirtschaft): "Overall, ISH 2005 was distinguished by an more positive business climate. Now, we hope that domestic demand will pick up. We are extremely satisfied with visitor quality and, in particular, the high level of internationality. We were also very pleased with the response to the 'Outlook – Shaping Water' special show. Almost 10,000 architects and designers, bathroom and exhibition planners, as well as installers, came to find out about the bathroom of the future. The way our sector presents its wealth of brands in Frankfurt is only possible at a fair such as the ISH."

Bernd Wattenberg, President of the Association of the German Central Heating Industry (Vereinigung der deutschen Zentralheizungswirtschaft): "In the building and energy-technology field, the ISH presents ways of meeting all the obligations set for us by the politicians, especially on a European plane. We are the undisputed technological leaders in the building and energy sector. We have once again demonstrated this with the integration of renewable energy into heating systems. The more complex the technology, the greater the interest shown by foreign visitors. In the future, the energy passport and the energy efficiency of buildings will play a decisive role. Now, it is up to our industry to focus more on these topics and to develop marketable solutions."

After Germany, the top ten European visitor nations were Italy, The Netherlands, Great Britain, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria, followed by Poland, the Czech Republic and Sweden. The most overseas visitors came from the USA, China, Korea, Japan, Israel, Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand.

With 55 percent, the main area of visitor interest was heating technology. 50 percent said they were interested in sanitation products. A third of all visitors came primarily for installation technology, 27 percent for air-conditioning and ventilation technology and about 20 percent for building automation. The overall rating given to the fair by German and foreign visitors remained unchanged at the very high level of 95 percent.

ISH 2005 was also given excellent ratings by the exhibitors, 81.3 percent of whom said they had achieved their goals for the fair (2003: 78 percent). Particularly good marks were given for order behaviour, visitor quality and visitor structure.

Widespread interest was shown in the accompanying fringe programme of special shows and lectures. The dominant subjects of interest at ISH 2005 were best captured, inter alia, by 'Outlook - Shaping Water' at 'The Bathroom Experience', 'Renewable Energy in Buildings' in the building and energy technology section and the Climate Forum within the framework of Aircontec, which were intensively used as information and discussion platforms by both German and foreign visitors.

The Lifetime Congress with accompanying trade expo was held for the first time parallel to the ISH from 17 to 19 March and provided a welcome boost for the wellness market. With 498 participants from 25 nations, the 1st Lifetime Congress immediately become the top meeting place for the worldwide spa and wellness community with visitors from all over Europe, Australia, Chile, Japan, Canada, Mexico, the USA and Singapore. 64 speakers from 15 countries ensured a high-grade seminar programme. The congress focused on two of the most important topics of the wellness sector: 'Future Spa – Spa Future' and 'Future Health – Health Future', which were held simultaneously in two blocks. The congress was rounded off perfectly with numerous workshops and the accompanying trade exhibition.