Fully-booked exhibition halls, crowded aisles and a stimulating event programme: EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne 2018 closed its doors after four successful exhibition days with, in total, 2,770 exhibitors from 58 countries and over 47,000 trade visitors (plus 9 percent) from 143 countries the event recorded a significant increase in the number of visitors. Decision-makers from all over the world made use of the number one event of the hardware industry to discover the new products, innovations and trends of the industry.

Furthermore, the trade fair was able to once again increase its level of internationality. "87 percent of the exhibitors and over 70 percent of the trade visitors come from abroad. 143 countries were represented among the trade visitors - an increase of 19 countries," stated Katharina C. Hamma, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH. "As a result of this and the significant growth in the number of visitors we were able to underpin the position of EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne as the number one event of the hardware industry." The product show was flanked by an event programme that focused on the digitalisation of the industry.

This year's increased number of visitors was above all attributable to the rise in the number of trade visitors from abroad. Significant growth was registered from Asia, especially from Japan, from North and South America, Africa and from the Russian Federation. 12 percent more trade visitors came from the USA alone. The number of visitors from Germany remained at a constant level. John W. Herbert, General Secretary European DIY Retail Association (EDRA) and Global Home Improvement Network (GHIN), explained the growth from abroad as follows: "EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne 2018 was a total success for us. The renewed adaption of the duration of the fair was particularly welcomed by our international guests. The number of international buyers, whom we were able to welcome here in Cologne, was correspondingly high: Our major member companies each attended with up to 15 top buyers! It increases from year to year. That is a very good development and it impressively underlines the international significance of EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne. The DIY Boulevard as well as the exemplary customer service round off the first-class overall impression of this year's EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne perfectly."

The increases were also clearly noticeable for the exhibitors too. "We are very happy with this year's EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne. Particularly the numerous new contacts from South America and South Europe can be assessed positively. Furthermore, we were able to greet customers - especially from the USA - who after being absent for the past years, attended EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne again in 2018. These are very positive developments. They underline the fact that EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne with its concept-related changes is once again satisfying the demands of the customers. Moreover, the high number of visitors from abroad accentuates the international significance of the trade fair," confirmed 

J. Wolfgang Kirchhoff, Chairman of the Advisory Board of EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne

Rainer Langelüddecke, Managing Director of the Trade Association of the Tool Industry e.V. (FWI), also shared this positive conclusion: "From the point of view of our members the trade fair went superbly. The four days of the fair hardly sufficed for some of the exhibitors in Hall 10, the tool hall, to hold all of the necessary discussions. EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne is an absolute must for our industry due to the high level of internationality alone, because together our companies have an export rate of 70 percent and we supply 212 countries in the world. And many partners from these countries are on-site in Cologne to hold discussions and intensify their business relations."

In addition to the new products, innovations and trends from the segments Tools, Industrial Supply, Fasteners and Fixings, Fittings, in cooperation with the Association of House & Garden Manufacturers e.V. (HHG) the DIY Boulevard convinced once again in the Home Improvement section. The format of the innovations per running meter sustainably convinced the top players of the construction, home and garden industry: With over 235 metres it created a pull effect. Dr. Peter Wüst, Chief Executive Director of the Federal Association of the German DIY, Building and Garden e.V. (BHB) said: "Overall, the industry has positively taken note of the fact that more exhibitors came to Cologne again this year. Some of them were even represented at larger stands in the Boulevard section so they could present the many innovations. In general, the Sunday was also very positively evaluated because on this day the buyers had ample time for intensive discussions that go far beyond merely the product."

One of the stimulating trend themes of EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne was the theme digitalisation that an extensive event programme was dedicated to. Highlights included the two-day dSummit with lectures and exhibitors in the scope of the EISENforum, the Start-up Village as well as the "3D printing - Additive Production" special event. In addition to the DIY Boulevard, the Association of House & Garden Manufacturers e.V. also supported the Start-up Village, which was curated by Richard van Hooijdonk. "50 exhibitors from our association took part in the Boulevard. The mood is very positive, because many national and international customers were on-site. The association intensively supported the Start-up Village too - from our point of view a very future-looking concept, which unfortunately is still viewed with certain scepticism by many of the industries. Here, we will have to do adjust the screws slightly in the future because this is the future," accentuated Rolf Rahmede, Executive Director of the HHG.

In the opinion of Thomas Dammann, Executive Director of the Central Association of the Hardware Trade e.V. (ZHH), the trade fair was also a total success and an important trendsetter in the age of digitalisation. "EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne once again offered the trade a good opportunity to meet up with many important national and international tool partners. Alongside exciting and attractive product innovations, one could also pick up on diverse sales and marketing aspects for one's own business. These included for example the theme digitalisation or the depicted opportunity of 3D printing," stated Dammann.

In addition to the trend theme, EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne offered further opportunities to exchange information and network in the form of the BME Buyers Days, the Hardware Seminar and the Trainee Day.

For the fourth time already, together with their partners, Koelnmesse conferred the EISEN Award on the first evening of the fair at the Welcome Party. The EISEN CSR Award powered by BHB (went to KNIPEX-Werk C. Gustav Putsch KG. The Innovation Award 2018 powered by ZHH was conferred to HAZET-Werk Hermann Zerver Gmbh & Co. KG (HiPer fine-toothed reversible ratchet 916 HP - 1000 Nm, 90 teeth), KNIPEX-WERK C. Gustav Putsch KG (KNIPEX rope cutter 95 62 160) and Wiha Werkzeuge GmbH (Wiha SpeedE). The winners were selected by the respective expert jury from a total of twelve nominees.

2,770 companies (2016: 2,672) from 58 countries (2016: 55) took part at EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair in 2018, 87 percent of which (2014:87) were from abroad. Including estimates for the last day of the fair, EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair 2018 attracted over 47,000 trade visitors (2016: 43,014) from 143 countries (2016: 124), of which over 70 percent (2016: around 63) came from abroad.*

* All figures are calculated in accordance with the guidelines of the Association for the Voluntary Control of Trade Fair and Exhibition Statistics (Gesellschaft zur Freiwilligen Kontrolle von Messe- und Seite Ausstellungszahlen, FKM) and are subject to checking by an auditor.

The next EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair Cologne is scheduled to take place from 1 to 4 March 2020.