SurfaceTechnology GERMANY 2020 Postponed

For the trade fair industry, the current coronavirus pandemic has profound consequences. Now SurfaceTechnology GERMANY in Stuttgart has been postponed as well: the new date is 27–29 October 2020. “We were very well prepared, but we do not have a choice,” says Olaf Daebler, Global Director of SurfaceTechnology GERMANY. "A postponement of SurfaceTechnology GERMANY is absolutely necessary due to the decree situation in Baden-Württemberg. However, we are glad that we have managed to find an alternative date for the surface technology industry, which will then be able to launch new business in Stuttgart in the fall following the current crisis-related downturn."

The Ministry of Social Affairs of Baden-Württemberg has issued a temporary, unlimited decree instructing the health authorities to cancel all major events involving more than 1,000 participants. This includes SurfaceTechnology GERMANY. After all, a trade fair requires preparation and reliable planning. With the new date, the international trade fair for surface technology will be held parallel to parts2clean at the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre – SurfaceTechnology GERMANY in Halls 5 and 7, and parts2clean in Halls 7 and 9.

This leads to a situation that already existed in 2014 and 2016, when the two events ran parallel and shared one of a total of three halls. “There are good synergy effects between SurfaceTechnology GERMANY and parts2clean,” says Daebler, who is responsible for both trade fairs within the team at Deutsche Messe AG. “Some of the visitors will be very interested in visiting both trade fairs.” While SurfaceTechnology GERMANY covers the entire spectrum of surface technology, parts2clean presents industrial parts and surface cleaning for all user industries. SurfaceTechnology GERMANY's partners also support the trade fair’s postponement to the new date in the fall.

Christoph Matheis, Chief Executive Officer, Central Association for Surface Technology (ZVO): "Trade fairs work when a sufficient number of relevant companies and decision makers from all over the world come together. Neither of these is possible in the current situation. Postponing SurfaceTechnology GERMANY is therefore the right decision. With this measure, Deutsche Messe AG and the members of the trade fair advisory board are helping to protect exhibitors, stand personnel and visitors, break the chain of infection and stem the spread of the pandemic. The ZVO fully endorses the decision of Deutsche Messe AG, supports the goal of holding a successful event in the fall and will do everything in its power to ensure that in October the show will be a success for exhibitors and visitors alike. In the meantime, it is essential that the economic downturn caused by the corona virus be contained.“

Dr. Thomas Schräder, Managing Director, Air-Handling Technology Association within the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA): “Mechanical engineering and surface technology are increasingly affected by the corona crisis. Supply chains are disrupted and restrictions in the target industries are getting stronger. Under these circumstances, we support the postponement of SurfaceTechnology GERMANY 2020 until autumn. Aligning the event in parallel with parts2clean is the obvious and best solution for this.“

Source and photo: Deutsche Messe AG