New concepet

Domotex is coming up with a new concept for its next event from 14 to 17 January 2012. The event in Hanover, Germany, is seen as the world’s leading trade fair for the carpet and floor covering industry. Starting in 2012, the spotlight will be on a keynote theme that changes every year. First off will be hard flooring products, which translates as the exhibition categories of laminate, parquet and other types of wood flooring. The Wood Flooring Summit will be located in Hall 9. At its heart will be a prestigious special area taking innovation as its theme. This is where the exhibitors’ new products will be presented. Another major component of the Summit is the programme of presentations in the centrally situated Forum. Here experts will make use of talks and panel discussions to convey information about current developments in the areas of trade, product design and technology. Present on the Campus area will be colleges, industry institutions, research facilities and associations. A spacious lounge area is designed to provide the setting for informal exchanges between exhibitors and visitors. And, finally, the fair company is organising a Night of Wood Flooring. The special atmosphere of this evening event is intended to give participants the opportunity for networking in a relaxed environment. The concept of the Wood Flooring Summit was developed as the result of a dialogue with industry associations and leading companies. For example, one association sponsoring the event is the European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF). The fair organisers describe as most positive the response they have had so far to the new concept, like the response they are getting to Domotex as a whole. More than 90 per cent of the exhibition space was already booked six months before the start of the event. As reported by Deutsche Messe AG, the “Who’s Who” of the international laminate and parquet industry had made their bookings by this point in time. All in all, one further trend with a direct effect on the business of the fair is becoming clearly recognisable: the theme of floor coverings is no longer the exclusive province of indoor spaces. In the analysis of the organisers, “Outdoor Living” is a topic that also affects the floor coverings industry and provides the stimulus for its sales potential in the outdoor area. One consequence of this is that a broad palette of different types of decking will be on view at the Domotex trade fair. Download: