Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG (FWTM) will not continue the Interbrush trade show at Messe Freiburg after around 45 years, meaning there will be no more Interbrush in Freiburg as early as 2024.

After Zahoransky AG, based in Baden-Württemberg and the world's largest and leading exhibitor, changed its corporate orientation last year and announced that it would no longer participate in Interbrush for this reason, an intensive dialogue was initiated with the ABMA and FEIBP associations and other leading exhibitors. The FWTM presented various concept ideas for a new content orientation under its own organization, including possible new locations in German-speaking countries. In particular, leading Italian and Belgian companies focused the discussion on the Freiburg location and questioned this location due to its proximity to Zahoransky AG. 

In further discussions, the companies as well as the two associations American Brush Manufacturers Association (ABMA) and European Brushware Federation (FEIBP) demanded a rolling system with alternating European locations, for example in Italy and Benelux, combined with the condition that in the future the lead should no longer lie with FWTM/Messe Freiburg, starting with a location in Italy. After considering all the points discussed, the FWTM has decided not to continue the format Interbrush in the future – a venue in a non-German-speaking country every four years is neither expedient nor feasible for the FWTM for logistical and economic reasons - the lack of support from leading associations for a proposed new location by the FWTM is also a signal from the industry against the FWTM/Messe Freiburg. 

The FWTM also believes that holding on to Interbrush 2024 without the support of the associations and leading companies is neither justifiable in terms of content nor economically for all those involved in this industry.

"We very much regret this development and the decision of the associations and a few, but in terms of external impact very important exhibitors. In our opinion, values and competencies such as experience, quality, industry knowledge and also the partnership that has existed for over four decades were not included in the evaluation and result determination - but which are an essential pillar of the event", says FWTM Managing Director Daniel Strowitzki. "We wish the entire industry, of which we were able to be a part for many years, all the best for the future and thank everyone who has accompanied the Interbrush format over many decades."

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