No.

 

  

• Optimism returns to the industry
• High exhibitor and visitor satisfaction
• Following exhibitor and area record once again 50,000 visitors
• Number of foreign visitors more than twice as high
  

INTERFORST 2010 with its record result has shown that optimism has returned to the forestry industry. Once again, more than 50,000 visitors from 80 countries (2006: 59 countries) came to the Munich Trade Fair Centre on the five trade fair days.
At INTERFORST 2010, 410 exhibitors (2006: 404) occupied almost 10 % more net exhibition space than in the record year 2006. With nearly 25,000 m², the net exhibition space of the German exhibitors grew by 5 %. The net space booked by foreign exhibitors increased by 15 % to reach almost 10,000 m². Thus, INTERFORST 2010 presented itself on a gross exhibition space exceeding 67,000 m². 128 foreign exhibitors (2006: 105) from 24 countries (2006: 15) participated in INTERFORST.

At the end of the fair, the exhibitors confirmed that they had made many business agreements and initiated numerous new business relations. This underlines the unanimous opinion that the industry is once again looking into the future with more confidence and that there is great interest in innovations. The congress, forums and special shows met with an excellent response. “INTERFORST 2010 has clearly shown the new spirit of optimism prevailing in our industry, the great majority of our exhibitors is very satisfied. Besides the increase in the number of exhibitors, the trend towards a more international mix of the participants is substantiated by the fact that the number of our international visitors has doubled“, Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer, Managing Director of Messe München, summarizes the course of INTERFORST. More than 15 percent of the visitors came from other countries from all five continents. Most visitors traditionally come from Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Poland and France.

Walter Ries, Managing Director of pezzolato, summarized his impressions as follows: “INTERFORST is a trade fair where you can meet customers from all over the world. The event deserves to be called an international trade fair because all nations are represented here. The advantage of INTERFORST is that it addresses a specialized audience. For me, it is visitor quality that counts, not visitor quantity. We have been able to initiate good new business relations, and our expectations to meet international visitors have been met.”
After two rather difficult years, the industry now records a positive trend. The excellent mood in the halls and on the open-air exhibition grounds is also reflected in a survey of exhibitors (conducted by the independent opinion research institute TNS Infratest). 91% of the exhibitors assessed INTERFORST as “excellent to good” and even 98% recommend INTERFORST as a trade fair to their business partners. The number of visitors (89%) and INTERFORST’s character as a key trade (80%) were also praised.  97 % assessed the benefit of attending the fair as “excellent to very good”.
The Chairman of the Advisory Board Ralf Dreeke, Managing Director of Wahlers Forsttechnik GmbH, emphasizes: “Die INTERFORST 2010 took place exactly at the right time. For the exhibitors, it has been absolutely worthwhile to be present at the fair, and it was also important that we dealt with topics like the environment, soil protection and biodiversity.”
The mood among visitors was similarly good. 95% of those surveyed would attend INTERFORST again and 97 % will recommend it. Top grades were given for the completeness and broad spectrum of the range of products (93% “excellent to good”), for the presence of the market leaders (91%) and the international mix of the exhibitors (80%). A great number of visitors praised the high informative value of INTERFORST. They benefitted from the congress and forums for further education purposes, which proves the successful combination of exhibition and communication platform. Compared to 2006, the overall assessment of INTERFORST could be increased once again. 95% (2006: 91%) assessed INTERFORST as “excellent to good”.
 
INTERFORST 2010 was inaugurated by the Bavarian State Minister for Food, Agriculture and Forestry, Helmut Brunner. The subsequent discussion panel with him dealing with the utilization of wood as a task for the future was a successful kick-off for INTERFORST 2010. Afterwards, Helmut Brunner presented the innovation medals to the winners of the novelty contest organized by KWF and Messe München and held for the fourth time within the scope of INTERFORST.

As in the past, INTERFORST 2010 was once again accompanied by a top-class accompanying programme, one of the major contributions to the event’s great success and high quality.
“Forestry and Wood Economy – Today and Tomorrow – from the Local to the Global Level” was the motto of the top-class congress and forums which took place once again in the middle of the trade fair events – a concept which has really proven its worth. The information provided in daily talks about the most burning topics of the forestry industry was very well accepted. Professor Gerd Wegener, Chairman of the Programme Committee, drew the following conclusion: “It is important that the thoughts we had when planning the congress and the forums proved to be right and that the topic of the Congress, i.e. “Forestry and Wood Economy – Today and Tomorrow – from the Local to the Global Level”, was covered in all its aspects. At INTERFORST, we succeeded in seeing the value-added chain as a whole. There were special contributions to local subjects, but also to global scenarios. The participants talked a lot about the future and there were many young people. This proves that INTERFORST is fit for the future. And there were many participants who were interested in the industry as a whole because INTERFORST not only presents technology but also shows the industry as a whole. The forum really turned into a communication platform where people got together who would otherwise never have met. As a result, the congress and the forums were very well attended.”

In collaboration with strong partners, INTERFORST once again offered a platform for practically oriented demonstrations and explanations.  One of the focal points was formed by all health and technical aspects of the workplace in the forest. The special shows organized by the Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung [in English: German Statutory Accident Insurance], the KWF and the Spitzenverband der Landwirtschaftlichen Sozialversicherung [in English: Umbrella Organisation of the Agricultural Social Insurance] were the centrepiece of the events in hall B2 and recorded a high trade visitor frequency.
 
The discussion forum entitled “Nature, Forest, Technology“, developed jointly by the Bavarian Association of Forest Owners and the Bavarian State Ministry for Food Agriculture and Forestry, took place for the first time within the scope of INTERFORST in the “Wald-Café”. Topics like biodiversity and climate were discussed with renowned experts on the “Green Couch” twice a day. One of the main issues was the contribution that the forest and the forestry and wood industry makes for the environment and climate, keyword CO². The discussion forum was very well attended by the visitors.
 
An additional attraction was the “Stihl Timbersports Series Show“. This international competition series is considered to be the elite class of sport tree felling. There were daily demonstrations in the different axe and sawing disciplines on the open-air grounds.
A further highlight was the “Bavarian Logging Championship” which was already held for the fourth time.
 
Contact for the Press
Dr. Jutta Seitz and Gisela Hoffmann
Phone (+49 89) 949-20680
Fax (+49 89) 949-20688
e-mail: Jutta.Seitz@messe-muenchen.de and gisela.hoffmann@messe-muenchen.de
 
Ralf Dreeke, Wahlers Forsttechnik GmbH, Uffenheim: My expectations have definitely been met. The trade fair confirms that there is a recovery trend in the industry. It has been remarkable for me to note that the trade-fair visitors are looking for professional talks both in the forums and in the aisles. A great number of businesspeople take part with their whole staff or family. We have been able to make business agreements. Thus, our expectations have been exceeded because we did not count on this. We were afraid that the hot weather would cause us problems, but this was not the case.
 
Corinna Fuchs, Sennebogen, Straubing: We take part in INTERFORST for the first time and reach a completely new target group here. We are positively astonished about the great interest shown to us and the high quality of the audience. We meet many potential customers; mainly southern Central Europe, the Czech Republic and German-speaking countries are represented. In 2014 we shall certainly participate again for we have been able to make many fast and complete sales agreements. The trade fair has been profitable for us; we only missed the Spaniards and the Portuguese. 
 
Miklós Héder, Bagodi Mezógép, Bagod: Six companies from Hungary are represented at our joint booth. We are very satisfied. We meet many trade visitors here and have already concluded business transactions. I have nothing negative to say. We are very busy all day long and our expectations have been met.
 
Hans Huttner, Huttner Fahrzeugbau GmbH, Landsberg: I am very satisfied with the visitor figures. The visitor flow is also steadier now. Compared to earlier editions, we had many visitors even on the first three days of the fair. We record many international contacts, mainly from Eastern Europe, and many car pools from Switzerland. One meets many customers here. To visit them all, one person would be busy for a whole year. Nevertheless, there is severe competition, especially in our industry. 
 
Reiner Linnig, pewag, Unna: All in all, we are very satisfied. We have trade visitors on site; therefore INTERFORST is a very important trade fair for us. We notice that mood is improving again in the industry and that optimism is coming back. This can be seen in the business agreements we have been able to make, mainly with customers from Austria, Scandinavia and Czechia. I would like to suggest that the fair dates of INTERFORST 2014 should be moved to June.
 
Johann Meier, Farmi Forest, Etzenricht: It has been a positive experience for me to be able to start a little earlier with the setting up of our booth. We have many inquiries at our booth. The fact that business is booming again is noticeable. Everything is running more smoothly again and the wood prices are good. We also profit from the fact that some people will invest before the beginning of autumn.
 
Walter Miller, Stihl, Dieburg: We are very satisfied because we have a qualified audience. Business is doing well. INTERFORST is an important and challenging trade fair for us, similar to Bauma. Only the right target group comes here. I find the combination of interior and exterior booths very good. This way, the machines can also be shown in operation. It is important that a trade fair offers something like this: showing and touching are more important than 1000 words.
 
Dr. Jürgen Munz, Valmet Komatsu Forest, Vöhringen-Wittershausen: On the first day, business was slow and had to be kick-started. But now you can feel that the mood of the businesspeople is taking a positive turn. At the moment, many positive aspects fostering a good atmosphere can be summed up, such as for example the fact that the raw material wood is much more in demand again and that no residues are to be reprocessed. The willingness to talk about business is remarkable. We have initiated a few business transactions already and I expect that we shall make a few business agreements here before the end of INTERFORST. For me personally, these are all positive signals. I found the opening talk very good; it was generally well received.
 
Elisabeth Ruff, forstware, Meersburg: The atmosphere and the trade-fair attendance are good. The great number of trade visitors with a high level of expert knowledge is remarkable. We have participated in INTERFORST since 1986; therefore, many customers attend our booth. However, we also have a great number of potential new customers. In this connection, I would like to mention that the project team is very amiable.
 
Marcus Schween, Soppec, Nersac: We are altogether satisfied and have nothing to criticize. At INTERFORST we wanted to reach and inform the users, but also to establish contacts with traders. Particularly Eastern Europe is very well represented; this has high priority for us.
 
Dr. Ute Seeling, Board of Trustees for Forestry Work and Technology: I am of the opinion that INTERFORST has had an excellent outcome. We record high visitor figures, a great number of highly interested potential customers, and we had extremely qualified talks. At the trade fair you can feel that the industry is gaining momentum and that there is a genuine interest in innovations. The special shows and forums met with an extremely positive response. The conditions at the trade fair are excellent. We are highly satisfied with the course of the fair. In my opinion, the positive mood is confirmed by this.
 
Gert Unterreiner, Unterreiner Forstgeräte GmbHStammham / Inn: I have a very good impression. Everything is running smoothly and the right people are here, especially as far as buyers are concerned. I find it surprising that not only the south of Germany is represented but also very strongly the north of Germany. We are very satisfied with the visitor figures. So far, we have been able to make 11 business agreements. I am absolutely satisfied with this.
 
Gerhard Wezel, EZG, Buch-Ganneertshofen: Compared to 2006, the outcome of this edition of the fair has been normal to good for us. We had qualified trade visitors. Cultivating existing contacts is important for us: at INTERFORST we met our target group which is of a regional character for us. We are satisfied.
 
Ing. Rupert Wieser, Epsilon / Palfinger, Elsbethen – Glasenbach: We are selling the products manufactured by us via national representations. Therefore business agreements at the trade fair are relatively rare for us; we look upon the trade fair as an information event. Nevertheless, INTERFORST is the most important venue for us worldwide because visitors come from the four corners of the world to gather information. Accordingly, we have international interlocutors at our booth. We definitely know that we shall make business agreements after the close of the fair. In addition, a great number of end customers come from German-speaking countries. And many large companies are here as visitors; this is the most important point for us.
 
Roland Wülfert, Heizomat, Gunzenhausen: Here, we meet a professional audience who gathers detailed information. Therefore, INTERFORST continues to be an important trade fair offering the right group of customers for us. We have been able to initiate a great number of new business relations, to address many new customers and to receive international visitors. The way our participation has been managed has worked out well, too.
 
Köbi Wyssen, Wyssen Seilbahnen AG, Reichenbach: INTERFORST is one of the most important trade fairs for us because we meet our target group here and have the chance to arouse the visitors’ interest. Our new radio-controlled choker meets with huge interest. We had visitors from Chile, Rumania and New Zealand at our booth. Since Wednesday, the visitor flow has enormously increased; our expectations have been fully met. Now, we count on follow-up business.