World’s Largest Awning Casts A Wide Shadow

contents

europe

Gulliver's Travels is the motto of a record attempt that will be made in February during the International Trade Fair for Roller Shutters, Doors/Gates and Sun Protection, R+T for short. Visitors to the New Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre from 10 to 14 February 2009 will feel just like Gulliver in the land of giants when they make their way to the complex. That's because they will walk past a gigantic terrace: an enormous awning will overshadow extremely large garden furniture and is a contender for a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

Measuring 14 x 7½ metres, the fully functioning articulated arm awning will even impress passengers in aircraft flying over the New Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre. Only two arms will hold and move this huge sun protection system. The awning cloth, which covers an area of more than 100 square metres, will show the face of a young woman looking through the slats of a Venetian blind. The structure will be completed by front-mounted roller shutters, a gate system and windows. The horizontal folding shutters and the gate at the rear will open and close every four minutes. The visual effect: the slats of the depicted Venetian blind will also move.

R+T, the world's leading trade fair for the industry, is held every three years in Stuttgart. It is a global forum which provides business partners from every continent with an opportunity to exchange information and ideas. In 2006 the trade fair attracted a record number of exhibitors, i.e. 545. Just under 800 exhibitors have registered for R+T 2009. Visitors will therefore find a wide range of products, services and information relating to energy-saving roller shutters, living trends such as conservatories, large gates, garages, comfortable sun protection systems and much more besides.

Kleffmann Verlag (publishing company) in Bochum conceived the idea and planned the project for the record-breaking awning. The components and construction of the awning were financed by manufacturers from the roller shutter, door/gate and sun protection industries. In addition to these companies, a large number of other R+T exhibitors are immortalised on the awning cloth and structure with their logos and stand numbers. The sponsorship money and donations from the companies will be handed over as the highlight of the action to representatives of three chosen institutions on the piazza of the New Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre at 11.00 on 12 February 2009.

UNESCO Special Ambassador Ute Ohoven, Prof. Dr. Dieter Jauch, Director of the Wilhelma Zoologisch and Botanical Gardens in Stuttgart, and Dr. Michael Kienzle from the Geißstrasse 7 Foundation in Stuttgart will each receive part of the proceeds. 40 school classes will also receive free tickets for Wilhelma as part of a painting competition. The best class among the participating first-year primary school pupils will be presented with their tickets during the handover of the donations and will then follow in Gulliver's footsteps.

New prospects will be opened up to visitors at R+T 2009: in addition to the gigantic record-breaking awning – here is a view of the planned rear wall – interested parties will be able to take in innovations relating to roller shutters, door/gates and sun protection products inside the New Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre.

write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Exhibition News :: home page