Innotrans 2002 - International Trade Fair for Transport Technology, Innovative Components, Vehicles, Systems (24 - 27 September 2002) / Closing Report

BERLIN, Germany (ots/APROTEXT) - InnoTrans 2002: Positivesignals for the industry at world's leading trade fair for railtransport technology - Record numbers of exhibitors and visitorsagain on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds.

For the first time InnoTrans Berlin attracted over 30,000trade visitors and more than 1,000 exhibitors, and with adisplay area measuring some 50,000 square metres it consolidatedits position as the leading international trade fair for railtransport technology*. A further 30,000 members of the generalpublic attended the large Station Party at the InnoTrans outdoordisplay area on the Messe Berlin Grounds.

"In 2002 InnoTrans was a renewed success" commented Dr.Dieter Klumpp, President of the German Rail Industry Association(VDB), at the close of this four-day trade fair. In particularthere has been a noticeable rise in the numbers of internationaltrade visitors, a trend that reflects the industry's currentposition, with international projects resulting in full orderbooks. "Of course the railway industry is also hoping that theGerman market will give a positive signal" said Dr. Klumpp, whois also the General Manager of Alstom LHB. He expressed hisdelight at the presence of more decision-makers from allpolitical levels among the guests at this year's InnoTrans.

Exhibitors and visitors very satisfied

The Union of European Railway Industries (UNIFE) was verysatisfied with the InnoTrans 2002. Drewin Nieuwenhuis, GeneralManager of the UNIFE, stated: "The excellent organisation atwhat is now the world's largest railway trade fair provided manynew contacts for the more than 1,000 exhibitors from thisexpanding sector, thereby creating opportunities for newbusiness." Peter Witt, Chief Country Representative forBombardier Transportation, referred to an "exciting week" withmany discussions and the signing of some interesting contracts."This is my fourth InnoTrans, and my personal impression is *During the four days of the fair the recorded attendance was30,721. that, having already got off to a good start, the fairhas steadily improved each time, and this year was no exception."

"InnoTrans is the world leader in the field of railtransport" according to Giuseppe Gallini, Director ofCommunication and Advertising for the Italian manufacturerAnsaldobreda Spa.

"The trade visitors were of a very high quality. We were ableto cultivate existing contacts with Europe and North America, aswell as developing many new business contacts." ShinyaMitsudomi, Marketing Manager Transportation Systems for Hitachi(Japan), referred to "very good contacts" with buyers andcompetitors. For Walter Gräppi, SWISSRAIL General Manager, moretrade visitors can be met at InnoTrans that at any other event."Next time we shall have an even larger stand."

These positive assessments are also supported by the findingsof the representative poll of exhibitors and visitors.Satisfaction with the commercial success of their involvement inInnoTrans was reported by 90 per cent of all exhibitors. Thenumber of contracts signed during this year's fair wassignificantly higher than at the last such event two years ago.Among the most spectacular orders confirmed during the fair wasthe contract for the construction of 42 low-floor electricvehicles awarded by the Swiss rail company SBB to Stadler RailAG. This order is worth 300 million Swiss francs. An optionhas also been agreed for a further 100 of these vehicles.

Leading decision-makers and representatives of many countries

The high levels of satisfaction were also shared by the tradevisitors: of those polled, some three quarters spoke of verygood or good commercial results. One of the features of thisevent is its ability to attract leading decision- makers as itstrade visitors. Nearly 50 per cent of these trade visitorsoccupy senior management positions within their respectivecompanies. Eight out of ten of those questioned exercise asignificant influence on purchasing and procurement decisions.

The international composition of the trade visitors was evenmore evident at this year's event than at its predecessors.Almost 30 per cent of visitors came from outside Germany,primarily from EU countries (63 per cent) and from Central andEastern Europe (21 per cent). With around 40 per cent ofexhibitors coming from abroad, more countries than ever beforewere represented at this event. Among those making their debutat InnoTrans were companies from Japan, Taiwan, Turkey andAustralia.

A positive overall impression of InnoTrans 2002 was obtainedby virtually all of the exhibitors questioned (93 per cent), andamong the trade visitors the corresponding figure was 97 percent. Even during the fair itself 91 per cent of all exhibitorsexpressed their intention of attending the next InnoTrans in twoyears time. Similar levels of interest in the InnoTrans 2004were shown by the trade visitors who took part in the survey.

Exhibitor total passes 1,000 for the first time at InnoTrans

A total of 1,045 exhibitors from 30 countries presented theirproducts and innovations for four days in the exhibition hallsand on the recently installed rail track on the grounds. Theyincluded all the global players in the field of rail transporttechnology, as well as many small and medium-sized manufacturersand subcontractors from all over the world. The display area atInnoTrans 2002 measured some 50,000 square metres, setting a newrecord.

One area of this trade fair that has undergone particularlyrapid expansion is that of infrastructure and railroadtechnology. The presentation by various track constructioncompanies, which was organised in collaboration with the GermanAssociation of Railway Engineers (VDEI) under the name "BahnBau",occupied a display area twice as large as in 2000.

InnoTrans Convention and international rail summit

This year the InnoTrans Convention again offered anoutstanding supporting programme. The main focus of theseevents, which attracted major figures from the industry, was onthe Dialogue Forum, organised jointly by the Union of EuropeanRailway Industries (UNIFE), the German Transport Forum, theAssociation of German Transport Companies (VDV) and theNetherlands Ministry of Transport, Water Management and PublicWorks.

For the second time InnoTrans also hosted an East Europeanand Asian Rail Summit (EEARS) under the leadership of DeutscheBahn AG. Its participants included ministers of transport,director generals and railway experts from Central and EasternEurope and Asia.

The media in Germany and abroad again showed a keen interestin this leading trade fair for rail transport technology. Atotal of 660 media representatives from 23 countries wereaccredited at InnoTrans 2002 to provide coverage of this event.

The next InnoTrans will take place from 21 to 24 September2004.

ots Original Text Service: Messe Berlin Internet:http://www.presseportal.de

Press contacts:

Wolfgang Wagner, tel.: +49(0)30/3038 2277 Yasmine Abbou,tel.: +49(0)30/3038 2269, fax: +49(0)30/3038 2278 E-mail:innotrans-presse@messe-berlin.de Internet:

http://www.innotrans.de Messe Berlin, Press and PublicRelations Messedamm 22, D -14055 Berlin

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