New dates: Automechanika Frankfurt and Light + Building

The most recent pronouncements from Germany’s federal and state governments make it clear that it is not currently possible to guarantee that large events will once again be possible in Germany in September or that current travel restrictions will have been repealed in whole or in part by this time. Travel regulations and possibilities, as well as bans on public gatherings, are of key importance when organising events, and it simply would not be possible for many of the exhibitors and visitors to the internationally successful Automechanika Frankfurt and

Light + Building trade fairs to take part in the event under the conditions currently prevailing or those expected at that time. Furthermore, flights and hotels would need to be booked, and exhibitors would have to commission their service providers, such as stand constructors.

As Wolfgang Marzin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Messe Frankfurt, puts it: “As a result of current conditions, ongoing travel restrictions and potential hazards to individual health, it is simply not possible to hold these world-leading trade fairs this September. We must also do our best to keep exhibitors and visitors from incurring unnecessary expenses. It was a difficult decision for all of us, but we are now turning our efforts to holding these trade fairs at a later date. As soon as face-to-face encounters are possible, all roads will once again lead to Frankfurt.”

Light + Building, the world’s leading trade fair for lighting and building service technology, is a biennial event taking place in even-numbered years and welcomed over 2,700 exhibiting companies and 220,000 trade visitors in 2018. The postponement of this fair also impacts Intersec Building, the platform for networked security technology that will be making its debut as an integral part of Light + Building in 2022. The next Light + Building is scheduled to take place as planned from 13 to 18 March 2022.

Automechanika Frankfurt to take place in odd-numbered years from 2021

The leading international trade fair for the automotive aftermarket is taking place one year later, from 14 to 18 September 2021. Automechanika Frankfurt will then resume its customary biennial rotation, with the event now being held in odd-numbered years. When the event last took place, the sold-out exhibition grounds played host to more than 135,000 visitors from 180 countries and some 5,000 exhibiting companies.

Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt, explains: “Our top priority is ensuring the health and safety of everyone taking part, exhibitors and visitors alike. We have to assume that the pandemic will not reach its peak in many countries until the summer, and that is why I am certain that the decision to postpone these events is the right one. Over the past two weeks in particular, we have been engaged in intensive discussions with our customers, partners and supporting associations, and they sent us a clear signal. Trade fairs are reflections of the economy, and we are responding to our customers’ wishes by making this decision.”

Press information and photographic material:

http://messefrankfurt.com/journalists

Background information on Messe Frankfurt
Messe Frankfurt is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. With more than 2,600* employees at 30 locations, the company generates annual sales of around €733* million. We have close ties with our industry sectors and serve our customers’ business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs & Events, Locations and Services business fields. One of the Group’s key USPs is its closely knit global sales network, which extends throughout the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services. Headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent).
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com
* Preliminary figures for 2019