IFAT 2014 Draws More than 135,000 to MUNICH
June 13, 2014
Of the more than 3,000 exhibitors at the event, there was a strong showing of trenchless companies including ElectroScan, Tracto-Technik, Spartan Tool, Xylem, IBAK Helmut Hunger GmbH & Co.KG, Janssen, Franz, Umwelttechnik GmbH, Envirologics Inc., Rädlinger primus line GmbH, HOBAS Rohre GmbH, SAERTEX multiCom GmbH, RS TECHNIK AG, Per Aarsleff A/S, BKP Berolina Polyester GmbH & Co. KG, IBAK Robotics GmbH, Insituform Technologies Ltd., RELINEEUROPE Liner GmbH & Co. KG, SEKISUI SPR Europe GmbH, and Trelleborg Pipe Seals Duisburg GmbH — to name just a few.
Messe München managing director Eugen Egetenmeir was overwhelmed with the response: “IFAT has broken all previous records. We were able to welcome more than 135,000 visitors from all over the world to this event. That is impressive.”
IFAT presents the world’s most extensive display of innovations and solutions in the field of environmental technology. Climate change, rising raw material prices, an increasing number of mega-cities and advancing industrialization in emerging countries — all this is boosting demand for products and services that address environmental and climate challenges. This trade show, with its coverage of water, sewage, waste and raw materials management, identifies strategies and applications for using resources in intelligent cycles in order to preserve those resources for the long term.
With around 60,000 visitors from outside Germany (in 2012 there were 49,840) — that’s almost 45 percent of the total — this year’s IFAT had the highest proportion of visitors from abroad in the history of the event. The top 10 countries of origin for visitors, after Germany, were (in this order): Austria, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic, the Russian Federation, Spain and Great Britain.
The exhibitors were also pleased with the high quality of the visitors, as confirmed in the survey conducted by TNS Infratest: 94 percent of the exhibiting companies found the quality of the visitors to be “good” or “excellent.”
The next IFAT takes place May 30-June 3, 2016 in Munich.