DECHEME, the organisers of ACHEMA 2006 - the leading international event for chemical engineering, environmental protection and biotechnology in Frankfurt am Main - are haling the show as a complete success for exhibitors and visitors alike. Representatives from across the industry expressed satisfaction with the excellent quality of the discussions and contacts at the show. Right from opening day, a number of exhibitors reported that they were able to establish good business contacts and engage in partnership discussions which give them good cause for optimism.
ACHEMA 2006 was larger and more international than any of the previous ACHEMA events. 3,880 exhibitors from 50 countries were on hand this year compared to 3,819 exhibitors from 48 countries at ACHEMA 2003. Exhibitors presented a very extensive range of system solutions, equipment, technological expertise and services for the chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical and food industries and related sectors of the material processing industry at the world's largest industry event.
The vacuum industry was represented by the likes of Artisan Industries, Barnant Company, BOC Edwards, Buchi Labortechnik, Charles Austen Pumps, Cole-Parmer Instrument Company, Croll-Reynolds, Cutes Europe, Drumag, Friatec, Ilmvac, KNF Neuberger, Kortling Hannover, Leybold Vacuum, Pfeiffer Vacuum, Rietschle Thomas, Sterling SIHI, Tuthill, Vacuubrand, and Ulvac, with many launching significant new products.
Around 180,000 professionals from 98 countries were at ACHEMA to find out more about the latest developments and trends and to establish new business contacts. The international significance and innovative energy of the 28th ACHEMA show were greater than ever before according to DECHEMA Chairman Alfred Oberholz. The event also reflected the state of the worldwide economy.
Many exhibitors reported a higher level of qualified discussions and international contacts. The slight decline in visitor numbers (down 4.4 percent) was not really noticeable, because foreign visitors often attended the show on several days, and this more than compensated for the lower overall visitor numbers. In many cases more than 50 percent of the contacts were made with visitors from outside the country.
A visitor survey revealed that for the first time more than 30 percent of visitors came from outside of Germany, which is an 8 percent increase compared to 2003. There were large delegations from Japan, India, China and the Middle East along with high-profile representatives from business and major institutions in the various countries.
The next gathering of the ACHEMA community is AchemAsia, which will be held from May 14 - 18 2007 in Beijing, China. Established in 1989 based on the ACHEMA model, AchemAsia is now the leading event in the Far East for suppliers to the process industry. The Asian market and China in particular are very lucrative growth markets for exhibitors from the international community who were represented at ACHEMA. Exhibitors welcome the opportunity to have a presence in regions where the process industry is growing, and they are pleased to contribute to the establishment and development of worldwide networks for the process and capital goods industry. In the age of globalization, suppliers know more than ever that they have to follow the markets.
