R+T closes with another record result
New record: 58,080 specialist visitors flock to R+T 2012 – with more international exhibitors and visitors - R+T strengthens its position as the leading world trade fair in the industry
"That was the best R+T of all time", agreed exhibitors and visitors to the leading world trade fair for roller shutters, doors/gates and sun protection systems. R+T 2012 presented itself once again in top form and struck quite a chord among the 58,080 visitors (2009: 57,379) with the topics of energy efficiency and building security, which are on the political agenda worldwide.
The global importance of the R+T exhibition portfolio is reflected by the further increase in international visitors, which is stable at 50 percent. They travelled to Stuttgart from 125 countries — in 2009, it was 106 countries. Approximately 85 percent of visitors came from Europe, primarily from France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Austria. But the specialist visitors also travelled from the rest of Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Central America, Australia and Oceania, as well as the Middle East. "I came from Tel Aviv in the morning and am flying back again in the evening", said Daniel Avner, International Sales Manager at Profal Ltd. in Israel The location of the trade fair centre right next to Stuttgart Airport made it easier for visitors from around the world to get there.
R+T 2012 also managed to beat the result of the 2009 event with 816 exhibitors (2009: 747). Their international character also rose from 65 to 66 percent. They came from 42 countries. The hotels were nearly booked up within about 75 kilometres round Stuttgart. Some exhibitors made use of shuttle buses for their stand's staff.
Roller shutters, doors, gates and shading systems of all kinds were the focus of R+T 2012. The trend: energy management in buildings. The greatest possible savings in combination with all systems, which can be easily operated while on the go via smart phone. All nine exhibition halls were fully booked, a total of 105,200 gross square metres.
"Visitors are very willing to invest. 16 percent even want to invest over 100,000 Euro", said Ulrich Kromer, Managing Director of Messe Stuttgart. "An indication that above all the intelligent solutions of R+T are becoming increasingly popular", he added.
83 percent of visitors definitely or probably want to invest, 66 percent of those willing to invest will do so in the next 6 months. The R+T visitors were primarily interested in roller shutters, awnings, Venetian blinds, roller blinds, curtains, vertical Venetian blinds, doors and gates, as well as drive and control technology. Around 64 percent of the specialist visitors came from the roller shutters and sun protection technology industry, followed by 20 percent from door and gate manufacture and 18 percent from window manufacture. At 45 percent almost every second visitor came from the management team, an indicator of the high quality of visitors and the importance which R+T enjoys in the industry. These figures are in line with the exhibitors’ wishes, 68 percent of whom said they achieved their trade fair objectives and were able to welcome at their stand key visitor target groups from roller shutter manufacture, sun protection technology and door/gate manufacture.
Every three years, the entire industry meets in Stuttgart. In 2012, the atmosphere was better than ever. Both the market situation and the business success were rated batter by the exhibitors than for R+T 2009. "Our exhibitors are enthusiastic about the competence of the visitors and their great interest in the innovations on display", said Wolfgang Cossmann, President of the Federal Association for Manufacturers of Roller Shutters and Sun Protection (BVRS) in Berlin, relating to the general impression of its members. "The door and gate industry requires a three-year cycle for the development of genuine innovations. For our exhibitors, it was the best R+T of all time, where they met many new clients from abroad", explained Dr. Claus Schwenzer, President of the National Federation of Door and Gate Manufacturers in Ratingen. "R+T has a sustainable impact. Our members were delighted and their expectations were met", beamed Bernd Seybold, President of the Industrial Association for Technical Textiles, Roller Shutters and Sun Protection in Mönchengladbach. It is therefore not surprising that 94 percent of exhibitors already definitely or probably want to partake again in R+T 2015, 26 percent even want to increase their stand size. "I would gladly rent them more space", enthused Sebastian Schmid, Project Manager of R+T and Team Leader of Building Technologies at Messe Stuttgart. "I only hope that we will have more hall space available in the foreseeable future to be able to satisfy these requests."
As part of R+T 2012's framework programme, the Architects‘ day "Art of Planning" nearly exceeded the reserved room space at the ICS International Congress Center Stuttgart, with some 1,500 participants, and thus surpassed even the wildest expectations of the organisers, Messe Stuttgart and BauNetz. The interest in intelligent façade design and its contribution to the energy management of buildings was in greater demand than ever in the architectural scene. Many architects used the offering to take a look around after R+T. The guided visitor tours for architects were booked out within a short space of time. "We did not expect such an onslaught", stated Jeannette Merker, Project Manager at the organiser BauNetz. "But we are very happy that our programme received such an overwhelming response from our target audience, the architects."
R+T 2015 will take place again in Stuttgart from 24 to 28 February 2015 when it will celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Select exhibitor opinions on R+T 2012:
Bernd Heydebreck, Managing Director, Heydebreck: "R+T 2012 brought the most prospective customers to our trade fair stand that we have ever experienced since we started participating in R+T in 1982. For us this was evidence that a good future lies ahead for the quality in roller shutter manufacture."
Markus Maedje, Sales and Marketing Manager, heroal: "R+T 2012 was excellent for us. Our product advertising in advance of the event paid off, we were able to reach many new prospective customers. The 50 employees at the stand were fully stretched for the duration of the event. As a global market leader in the area of roller shutters we presented new brand and innovative products. The feedback was excellent."
Jochen Lütkemeyer, Managing Director, Elero: "The trade fair was excellent and the business connections far exceeded our expectations. All of our approximately 30 sales representatives were permanently in discussions. We had over 1,000 contacts. Our customers come from the large-scale industry or they are retailers and installers. We are able to electrify awnings using solar energy with a battery and control the operating system using a radio control system. The installation effort and costs are minimal; a power line is not required. The interest in this wireless solution was extremely high."
Gerhard Mader, Managing Board for Sales and Marketing, Warema: "R+T is the most important platform for new products, here we meet our customers and generate new business, mainly from abroad. Our motto was: ‘Let’s talk about the future’. We wanted to show the system concept behind our products because in the future it is about managing lighting conditions in the room with all its factors. We achieved this objective. Our expectations of R+T were fully met."
Justus Schmitz, Managing Partner, Schmitz-Werke: "The atmosphere at R+T was simply wonderful and our key customers were all present. With Silent-Tec we presented an almost silent electric awning, the Teatime Collection showcased new fabric designs and we presented the first awning that can make music. For us R+T is definitely the leading world trade fair and we develop new products for this event. We are very satisfied with the trade fair and extremely confident about the follow-up business."
Thilo Weiermann, Managing Director, Weinor Lebensraum Terrasse, Cologne: "The location, setup and organisation on behalf of Messe Stuttgart was excellent and couldn’t have been better. Our existing customers, but also many new customers, were there. They came from all over, many from Eastern Europe, but also from Australia. We won the innovation award for our new awning Zenara. We are expecting good follow-up business and overall we are satisfied with R+T."
Klaus Braun, Chairman of the Executive Board, Alukon Systeme: "Around 60 percent of our products are exported, 40 percent remain in the country. The mix of visitors at our trade fair stand reflected this. The quality of the visitors was very high, many decision-makers were present and we were able to conduct excellent discussions. As the atmosphere was also very good among the visitors, we are also expecting good follow-up business."
Arthur Snippert, General Manager, Norman Europe B.V., Netherlands: "This year’s trade fair was a huge success for Norman Europe. A big thank you to R+T in Stuttgart for additional growth and profits."
Vivian Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer, Vrede Textiles (Pty) Ltd., South Africa:
"We exhibited at R+T in Stuttgart for the first time. The participation opened up so many new "doors" for us and allowed us to meet the entire world in one location. As I was told in advance of the event, R+T Stuttgart is clearly the world championship for roller shutters and we are happy we were able to be a part of the event this year."
Kurt Spielmann, Sales & Marketing Manager for Germany, Sauleda S.A., Spain: "R+T is the most important trade fair for us because not only can the innovative products be showcased here, but also be met with great interest by the visitors."
Christine Stranz, Marketing/Communication Manager, Sattler AG, Austria: "R+T provides an ideal platform to showcase new products and meet important customers from all over the world in one location."
Steve Arzoumanian, Operation Manager, Alusol Rolling Shutter Industries, Kuwait: "R+T is like a family: One meets familiar faces again after three years and each time new faces are added."
Victoria Naumenko, Alutech Door Systems, Ltd., Belarus: "To see and be seen at R+T – an event that sets trends and ranks first, and should rank first, for every industry player."
Severine Basque, Product Manager for Sun Protection, Serge Ferrari SAS, France: "R+T is the industry meeting point for the sun protection industry – a fixed date in our calendar and an event that should not be missed."
Henrik Hast, Purchasing Manager, Almedahl – Kinna AB, Sweden: "A great and successful trade fair which once again exceeded itself this year too."
Christian Schaller, Managing Director, Hella, Austria: "The perfect infrastructure, the international character and the high-quality contacts at R+T are unique worldwide."
Bill Strickland, National Market Manager Sun Control Products,
Phifer Incorporated, USA: "R+T is the most productive and effective industry trade fair that we have ever exhibited at. Otherwise it would have taken many months and thousands of kilometres back and forth to build up so many contacts and present all the latest products and innovations like during these five days."
Jürgen Eckhardt, Area Manager, Sales, Nice S.p.A., Italy: "As always R+T was a successful trade fair for us – an event which has become a permanent fixture in our calendar."
Dennis Shin, Deputy General Manager, Wintec Korea Inc., Republic of Korea: "At R+T one meets a wide range of customers and potential new customers from all over the world, which makes this industry trade fair so unique in comparison to others."
Fox Tang, Vice Market Promotion General Manager, Dooya Ltd. , China:
"R+T is the leading world trade fair and remains unbeaten and was also an overwhelming success this year!"
Carsten Roszak, Director, Stricker: "This was our second time at R+T and we are very satisfied with the trade fair. Many customers from abroad were at our stand, as well as customers from Europe. We were able to greet prospective customers from Australia, Columbia, China and Japan. With the influx of customers we had the follow-up business looks good. We will definitely be back again in 2015."
Bernhard Sommer, Managing Director, Somfy: "R+T went very well, all in all we are satisfied. In addition to our existing customers, there were also many new customers at our stand. We are expecting good follow-up business. To provide our customers with a speedy response to their requests, we are processing the requests at the stand within 12 to 48 hours."
Christian Scheck, Authorised Representative/Sales Manager, Efaflex: "Messe Stuttgart is one of my favourite trade fair centres, the transport infrastructure is second to none as is the optimal organisation of R+T. The trade fair went well for us, R+T is one of the most important trade fairs we participate in. Visitors from Israel, Russia, the Middle East, Australia, Europe and of course Germany were there."
Dr. Klaus Vatter, Managing Director, Selve: "We are very satisfied, and registered once more a significant increase in the number of visitors in comparison to the very successful R+T 2009. Existing contacts were strengthened, new customer potential tapped, as well as good export contacts. Business will certainly be generated from this."
Ralf Rosemuck, Sales Manager/Authorised Representative, Kadeco: "An exceptionally good R+T! We registered an increase in the number of visitors in the double-digit range in comparison to 2009. Excellent quality of visitors, mainly the specialist retailers present. The atmosphere among our customers is currently very good. For us R+T went really well, we are hoping for good follow-up business. The field is well set."
Ingo Legnini, Deputy Managing Director, Reflexa: "R+T is precisely the right platform to present our numerous new products and services. The influx of visitors at our trade fair stand reflected this accordingly. This central industry meeting point which takes place every three years is simply indispensable and cannot be replaced by any other type of event."
Dietmar O. Böcking, Chairman of the Board of Management, Rademacher: "This R+T clearly shows once again: The trend in the roller shutters and sun protection industry is fortunately heading more and more in the direction of building system technology. For specialist companies I see huge potential here for profitable additional business and exciting innovations for the industry. I am delighted that we were able to win over R+T visitors."
Charlie Mainwaring, Sales & Marketing Manager, Bloc Blinds, Great Britain: "Bloc Blinds was represented as an exhibitor at R&T in Stuttgart for the first time this year. Our company patented a selection of very simple components, which demonstrate enormous flexibility and thus support manufacturers all over the world in the production of stylish and practical blinds. The feedback on our products was fantastic. We received requests from over 50 countries and many more additional orders arrived before we returned to the office. Even when the economic situation is very difficult at the moment, such trade fairs give a strong upwind and the opportunity to expand further in 2012 and beyond. We are looking forward to coming back again."