Ifat again fully booked

50-year success story

Ifat again fully booked

The ongoing high level of demand from companies wishing to exhibit at Ifat 2016 is impressive confirmation of the high status of the sector’s No. 1 global innovations platform and trade fair for environmental technology. The event takes place between May 30 and June 3, 2016 at the Messe München exhibition center.

More than 3000 exhibitors from more than 50 countries, some 135,000 expected visitors and 230,000 m² of exhibition space: Those are the key figures for Ifat 2016, which takes place at the Messe München trade-fair center from May 30 to June 3. Stefan Rummel, Managing Director of Messe München GmbH, is very satisfied with developments so far and is optimistic “We are very pleased about this further rise in interest, in particular from abroad.”

Ifat is a very impressive and long-running success story: It started out back in 1966, under the name of “International Trade Fair for Sewage Technology”, as a presentation platform for the industry. 147 exhibitors from nine countries and 10,200 visitors from 40 countries participated in that first 18,000 m² display. At that time the event was still relatively modest in scale. Over the years it has grown tremendously, in all sections—including in the recently added sections on water supply, recycling and technology for municipal services.

However, the World’s Leading Trade Fair for Water, Sewage, Waste and Raw Materials Management has so much more to offer than big numbers: It also features a first-rate supporting program with technical lectures, country and theme specials, panel discussions and exhibitor presentations.

The country specials give visitors an outstanding overview of the various markets and their respective challenges. What moves the market there? How has the political climate changed, and what is the best way to respond? Messe München is collaborating with the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection (StMUV) to organize country specials on Canada, South Africa, China and Latin America North – Mexico.

Besides the country specials, lectures and discussions on the latest issues facing society and politics are also a permanent part of the fair. Among other things, the Federal Association of the German Waste Management Industry (BDE) is organizing specials on topics such as “Recycling-plant fires: Minimizing risks and damage,” “Recycling from the beginning: Commercial waste in practice,” and “The significance of thermal waste treatment in Germany: Waste incineration and the battle between ecology and economy.” Besides “Sponge City — Being prepared for flooding and drought — The water-sensible city,” the theme specials being organized by the BMUB include “EU Special: EU recycling economy package,” the “Reusable materials law,” the “Environmental Technology Export Initiative” and “Recycling phosphorous from sewage sludge: Where do we stand and where do we go from here?”

Among other things, the German Engineering Federation‘s lectures will focus on topics such as “Waste and recycling technology is conquering the global market” and “Reconstituted wood at a dead end in Germany.” The topic “Waste to Energy” will be examined in conjunction with the “Umweltcluster Bayern” (Environmental Cluster Bavaria).

In addition to the extensive supporting program taking place in the forums at IFAT, this year the show will also feature eight live demonstrations—four on water & sewage, and four on recycling & municipal technologies.