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[January 2007]
BAU 2007: Over 200,000 Trade Visitors Create Upbeat Mood for Exhibitors
BAU 2007 attracted a record number of visitors. Over the six days of the fair, over 206,000 trade visitors came to the world's biggest trade fair for building materials, to find out about the products and services of 2,046 exhibitors from 44 countries. Visitors from all over the world – architects, planners, construction engineers, building entrepreneurs, building tradesmen, retailers, wholesalers and others – made the journey to Munich, despite the severe storm raging over northern Europe on Thursday and Friday. For the first time in its over 40-year history BAU surpassed the 200,000 mark for visitor numbers.Never before has the audience been so international in scope, a fact also noted by the exhibitors. Over 36,000 trade visitors – more than ever before – came from abroad. This represents a leap of 20% in the proportion of international visitors attending the fair.
The number of countries of origin spanned by the visitors also set a new record, at 143. Particularly strong growth was seen in visitor numbers from eastern and south-eastern Europe. From Slovenia (1,738), Latvia (526) and the new EU member state Romania (611) around three times as many visitors were recorded as at BAU 2005. Twice as many visitors as last time came from Poland (702), Russia (1,347), Turkey (1,337), Greece (805) and the other new EU member state Bulgaria (415).
Significant rises were also noted in visitor numbers from the Middle East and East Asia, in particular from Iran (894), Korea (661) and the United Arab Emirates (191). Other countries of origin where numbers were also noticeably up were Austria (6,162), Switzerland (2,122), Italy (2,435), France (646) and the Netherlands (560).
The high number of visitor registrations was also reflected in the impressions gained by the exhibitors. Torsten Pyzalski, Head of Marketing Services at Dorma, explained: "We have been coming to BAU for many years, but there have never been so many international visitors as this time. We talked to people from a wide range of different countries". Similar sentiments were expressed by Peter Maier, Director of Sales and Marketing at
Erlus: "BAU is becoming more and more international. Our international business has been given a further boost by BAU". More international visitors at their stands was also commented upon by companies like Glas Trösch, Interpane, Hörmann and Wicona.Full halls, a great atmosphere among the exhibitors and visitors, and intensive talks at the stands – that was the dominant picture at the exhibition centre. Many exhibitors commented on the professional level of the talks they had with very well informed visitors, who were specifically looking for information. In some cases these talks resulted in sales being concluded at the fair, as reported by Dieter Schäfer, Chairman of Deutscher
Steinzeug: "We didn't just advise visitors but also concluded sales, or advance sales. The atmosphere impressively confirmed the positive early indicators of an upturn in the building industry. Right across the building trades, we heard reports of an optimistic mood". In some cases, commented Roger Görg of ThyssenKrupp, "customers came along with plans for specific projects, which they then spread out on the table and discussed with our sales people".Managing Director of Messe München, Norbert Bargmann, also expressed great satisfaction: "More visitors, a greater international scope and therefore an extended reach – the results of this fair have exceeded our expectations. Around the world the trend is once again upwards in the construction industry. I am particularly pleased about the increased number of visitors from the Middle East and East Asia, in particular from Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Korea. BAU is now well on the way to becoming the world's leading trade fair for the sector. It brings architects and planners from all over the world together with the building trade and building professionals, thus creating a unique platform for dialogue and exchange between all those involved in the building industry".
83% of exhibitors at BAU 2007 said they would 'certainly or probably' be taking part again in BAU 2009. On the visitor side, 75% said it was highly likely or certain that they would be back at BAU in two years' time. Opinions about the current economic situation in the building industry mirrored the mood evident at the fair. As compared to the survey in 2005, the mood had turned around completely. 86% of the exhibitors at BAU 2007 said they thought the current situation was 'excellent to good'. Two years ago that figure had been just 38%. A similar picture emerged on the visitor side, where 73% (35% in 2005) rated the current economic situation as 'excellent to good'.
www.bau-muenchen.com
ENDS