Exhibition News

EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne closed its doors after four successful exhibition days, with a total of 2,770 exhibitors from 58 countries and over 47,000 trade visitors (a 9% increase) from 143 countries. 

Decision makers from all over the world made use of the number one event of the hardware industry to discover new products, innovations and trends of the industry, and the trade fair was able to once again increase its level of internationality. 

"87% of the exhibitors and over 70% of the trade visitors come from abroad. 143 countries were represented among the trade visitors - an increase of 19 countries," stated Katharina C. Hamma, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH. 

"As a result of this and the significant growth in the number of visitors we were able to underpin the position of EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne as the number one event of the hardware industry." 

This year's increased number of visitors was above all attributable to the rise in the number of trade visitors from abroad. Significant growth was registered from Asia, especially from Japan, from North and South America, Africa and from the Russian Federation. 12% more trade visitors came from the USA alone. The number of visitors from Germany remained at a constant level. 

John W. Herbert, General Secretary European DIY Retail Association (EDRA) and Global Home Improvement Network (GHIN), explained the growth from abroad as follows: "EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne 2018 was a total success for us. The renewed adaption of the duration of the fair was particularly welcomed by our international guests. The number of international buyers, whom we were able to welcome here in Cologne, was correspondingly high: Our major member companies each attended with up to 15 top buyers. It increases from year to year. That is a very good development and it impressively underlines the international significance of EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne. The DIY Boulevard as well as the exemplary customer service round off the first-class overall impression of this year's EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne perfectly."

The increases were also clearly noticeable for the exhibitors too. "We are very happy with this year's EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne. Particularly the numerous new contacts from South America and South Europe can be assessed positively. Furthermore, we were able to greet customers - especially from the USA - who after being absent for the past years, attended EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne again in 2018. These are very positive developments. They underline the fact that EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne with its concept-related changes is once again satisfying the demands of the customers. Moreover, the high number of visitors from abroad accentuates the international significance of the trade fair," confirmed J. Wolfgang Kirchhoff, Chairman of the Advisory Board of EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne. 

The next EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne is scheduled to take place from 1 to 4 March 2020.