Holz-Handwerk and fensterbau/frontale 2014: all-time high for Nürnberg exhibition duo

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108,967 trade visitors (2012: 98,973) and 1,319 exhibitors (2012: 1,276) – the exhibition duo Holz-Handwerk and fensterbau/frontale took place in Nürnberg from 26–29 March 2014 and continued its successful track record with this impressive result. Over 37,000 visitors poured into the halls on the second day of the exhibition alone and set a new record for the highest attendance on one day in the history of the exhibition centre.

Besides the general increase of some 10 per cent in the number of visitors, there was an encouraging rise in the share of visiting professionals from abroad: Compared with the previous event in 2012, 17 per cent more foreign visitors came to the Franconian metropolis to source information on current new products and technological developments in the sectors concerned. The 1,319 exhibitors from 39 countries occupied the whole of the 17 exhibition halls and presented the entire spectrum of products for the construction of windows, doors and facades and for the wood crafts.

Holz-Handwerk 2014: lived up to all the exhibitors' expectations
The 524 exhibitors (2012: 498) could hardly have summed up better after four intensive days at the exhibition. According to the result of the survey by an independent institute, 93 per cent of the exhibiting companies assessed their participation at the exhibition positively and by the end of the exhibition nine out of ten exhibitors had already decided to be there again in 2016. 64 per cent of the exhibitors rated the professional competence of the visitors as very good or good, about 93 per cent made new business connections and 84 per cent even took direct orders. Nine out of ten exhibitors expect lively follow-up business as a result of the talks and contacts during the exhibition.
Apart from gaining new customers, the exhibitors' main reasons for coming to Nürnberg were providing information, image cultivation and customer care. Holz-Handwerk 2014 as the established gathering of the sector provided excellent services for these activities: Virtually all companies (97 per cent) reached their relevant target groups from the craft trades, furniture-making, the furniture industry or the trade.

Satisfied visitors looking forward to the next Holz-Handwerk
96 % of the visitors were satisfied with the products and services offered on the exhibition stands. Some 70 per cent of the wood experts – largely carpenters and joiners – work in small and medium-size firms with up to 49 employees. They came to Holz-Handwerk mainly to update on new products, expand their knowledge and exchange views with colleagues and business partners.
It was noticeable this year that a distinctly larger share of visitors came from production or manufacturing and quality control (38.5 per cent compared with 31.5 per cent in 2012). "The second-level management from the firms was represented considerably stronger than was the case at our last exhibitions, " says Stefan Dittrich, Director Exhibitions Holz-Handwerk. "This trend was confirmed and rated extremely favourably by many of our exhibitors: Purchasing and investment decisions in the craft trades are not only made at the top level, but increasingly also in consultation with senior employees." Accordingly, as many as 71 per cent of the visitors stated in the survey that they are involved in purchasing and procurement decisions in their company.
Holz-Handwerk is and remains a highlight for the woodworking trade: 95 per cent of the visitors had already decided this year that they would come to Nürnberg again in 2016, and for over half of them Holz-Handwerk is the only exhibition they visit in this sector.

Supporting programme: the whole variety of the material wood
The two special shows presented exciting facets of wood and the varied possibilities for working this material. "Dreams of Wood" in the form of all kinds and sizes of curious, decorative and useful articles of wood – from wristwatch to bicycle – could be admired and purchased at the sales presentation of the same name in the foyer of hall 12.
The special show "DesignObject – ObjectDesign" organized by the Fachverband Schreinerhandwerk Bayern (Bavarian Carpentry Association) was highly praised by both visitors and exhibitors. The informative and inspiringly designed show presented current design trends, innovative manufacturing processes and unusual materials on an area of 360 square metres. An exciting selection of very vivid – and often unusual – objects provided the visitors with creative ideas and firm suggestions for implementation by craftsmen.

fensterbau/frontale: THE EXHIBITION for windows – doors – facades
With 795 exhibitors and a gross display area of 99, 500 m², fensterbau/frontale 2014 also showed appreciable growth over the previous event (2012: 778 exhibitors on 94, 500 m²). Not only the quantity but especially the top quality of the products and presentation impressively proved the trade fair's claim to be the sector's leading and most important international gathering. The exhibitors at fensterbau/frontale 2014 came from 37 countries around the globe, headed by Germany, Poland, Italy, China, Turkey, Austria, Switzerland, Great Britain and Denmark. The international share of visitors rose to 38 per cent from altogether 123 countries (2012: 36 per cent from 115 countries); remarkable here was particularly the growth in the number of visitors from the Asian countries and Australia.

Nine out of ten exhibitors rated fensterbau/frontale as a very important to outstanding part of their marketing and sales activities, and well over 90 per cent of the visitors were satisfied with the products on display and the information and contact opportunities on the stands, where not only established products were lined up for them: Around half of the exhibitors at fensterbau/frontale 2014 had brought along a total of some 700 new products and innovations. The primary targets of the companies exhibiting at the exhibition were to provide information abouttheir product range and gain new customers (83 per cent each), customer care (77 per cent) and image cultivation (75 per cent). On the other hand, the visitors' interest focused on information about new products (48 per cent), cultivating business contacts and training (26 per cent each; multiple answers possible).

As 85 per cent of the visitors state that they are involved in procurement decisions in their company, it is no surprise that the exhibitors award top marks for the quality of contacts at fensterbau/frontale: 98 per cent were satisfied with the target group accuracy, 94 per cent reported new business connections and 88 per cent expect follow-up business.

Current sector issues on the programme
Key themes like energy efficiency, sustainability, automation and design were not only tackled on the stands of the exhibiting companies, but also in the accompanying supporting programme. The special show "Vibrant research – for vibrant lives" showed how research and the intelligent use of support funds can produce innovative technology, convincing quality and successful products.
The 7th Forum Architecture under the title of “ART IN ARCHITECTURE” took place on the second day of the exhibition with three top speakers and attracted almost 400 architects, building planners and interior designers, and the subsequent presentation of the 5th Innovation Award Architecture+ Window Door Facade paid tribute to the best of the 35 innovative products and solutions entered, which exceptionally fulfil the interests of architects. The major criteria for the award were the functional and design quality, technically intelligent solutions and the variety of possible applications.

The next scheduled edition of the exhibition duo takes place in the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from 16–19 March 2016.

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