After a four-year break CMS Berlin, the leading trade fair for cleaning and hygiene, is taking place as an in-person event again. From 19 to 22 September 2023, the international cleaning trade fair will provide a comprehensive market overview of the commercial cleaning industry.

The presence of the organisations sponsoring CMS Berlin – the German Federal Guild Association of the Cleaning Trade (BIV), Bonn, the Cleaning Systems Trade Association in the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA), Frankfurt/Main, and the Hygiene Industry Association (IHO), Frankfurt/Main – underlines the economic importance of this industry. In terms of turnover, workforce and output, Germany is Europe’s largest cleaning market.

With a workforce of 657,000 (2021), the building cleaning industry is Germany’s largest trade in terms of numbers employed. Whereas employees have declined since 2020 (2020: 686,000), turnover has risen. In 2021, it exceeded the 20 billion euro mark for the first time (21.2 bn compared with 19.9 bn in 2020). Thus, Germany’s cleaning market remains Europe’s largest by far. As the industry’s umbrella organisation, the BIV represents the interests of some 2,500 affiliated companies, which make up around 85 per cent of the entire market.

The personnel shortage is increasingly dampening growth. According to the BIV, over 90 per cent of companies are urgently in need of staff. The building cleaning trade remains labour-intensive, despite the spread of digitalisation. In addition to basic and advanced training, the industry’s focus is on enabling integration in the job market: 40 per cent of employees have no German passport.

According to National Guild Master Thomas Dietrich, “recruitment, digitalisation and sustainability are the three topics that concern us most. The circular economy, reducing CO2 emissions and avoiding waste are just as important for this innovative and service-oriented trade as incorporating increasing levels of automation, robotics and AI in the day-to-day working environment. We look forward to discussing all these challenges at CMS Berlin, the leading trade fair for the industry and an important platform for networking and expertise”.

According to Frank Ulbricht, chairman of the Cleaning Systems Trade Association in the VDMA, “during the growth period before the pandemic, cleaning machine companies were able to firmly position themselves, allowing them to weather the crisis”.

In the crisis year 2020, domestic sales in the German cleaning machine industry fell by almost 20 per cent to 722 m. euros, marking a severely negative trend. In 2021, cleaning machine sales regained 16 per cent, reaching 837 m. euros. In 2022, inflation set in and turnover increased nominally by another five per cent to 879 m. euros. In real terms this corresponded to a slight drop in sales by two per cent. These increased by spring 2023, with marginally positive gains. Uncertainties in the global economy make forecasting for the entire year difficult, particularly for the domestic market. Overall, the VDMA sees exports being more positive than the home market.

Frank Ulbricht emphasised the potential for digitalisation in the cleaning industry: “The cleaning market has room for many cleaning processes and methods to be optimised. There is still great potential for mechanising cleaning in numerous foreign markets too. Digitalisation will surely also turn up ways of making processes more efficient, customising cleaning and attendant services and carrying them out in specific ways. We have been talking about this for some time, but digitalisation will lay the necessary groundwork and drive developments. Together with the other associations in this partnership we, the VDMA, look forward to presenting the latest innovations on the exhibition grounds for all to see at CMS Berlin.”

According to the IHO, chemical industry manufacturers have experienced a crisis over the last three years. The pandemic and its ongoing effects such as reduced space utilisation, lower consumption due to increasingly mechanised cleaning methods, and high inflation, have resulted in falling sales and turnover. With suppliers necessarily passing on massive costs in some cases, the turnover of IHO-affiliated companies has stagnated. According to the latest estimates, compared with 2019 (the year prior to the crisis) the industry reports zero growth. Despite this, manufacturers are cautiously optimistic about the future.

“With the cost of procuring supplies continually high, market prices and material availability are stabilising. With CMS Berlin now in their sights, cleaning agent manufacturers are looking forward to finally being able to focus on communicating their innovations again and above all the sustainability in the industry”, was how Markus Häfner, chairman of the building cleaning division of the IHO, summed up events. “Manufacturers believe they are well prepared to contribute decisively to the transformation of the building cleaning trade where sustainability and digitalisation are concerned.”

According to the IHO, in the cleaning industry there is still great potential for utilising high-performance, eco-friendly products low on resources and emissions.

CMS Berlin is organised every two years by Messe Berlin GmbH. “The keen interest in CMS 2023 shows how important it is for the cleaning industry to meet on the grounds again and exchange views face-to-face. Our exhibitors have come through these four years in relatively good shape, which shows how vital the cleaning industry is in this globalised world. We are optimistic that we can match the record figures of the last CMS which was attended by 448 exhibitors from 25 countries”, said Ruth Senitz, director of CMS Berlin.

At CMS Berlin the focus is on innovations and technological advances in cleaning machines and devices as well as cleaning, care and disinfectant products. The CMS Purus Innovation Award (PIA) honours the innovative potential of this industry. The Innovation Award for intelligent products and solutions is presented in six categories: Large Machines, Small Machines, Equipment, Washroom Hygiene, Digital Tools and Systems and Cleaning Products. A nine-member jury comprising high-profile experts assessed the entries and nominated the finalists who were announced on 23 June 2023. The presentation of the awards will take place on 19 September 2023 at an evening event of CMS at the Marshall Haus on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds.

Prior to CMS, Messe Berlin will publish an Innovation Report on exhibitors’ innovative products and services at CMS, many of which will be making their trade fair or world debut. This information will be available online under ‘Innovation Report’ in the Press section of CMS Berlin.

On 20 September the Mobility Cleaning Circle will take place again in an exclusive networking format for all cleaning market players serving the mobility sector. Invitations will be extended to international transport companies and their buyers. All the leading market players exhibiting innovative cleaning solutions will be represented on displays at the fair. Exhibitors will present practical applications and new technologies for the wide-ranging challenges of cleaning public transport such as rail vehicles, buses and aeroplanes, as well as the entire transport infrastructure including train stations and bus stops.

With the Innovation Circle, CMS Berlin 2023 is again offering startups and new companies a direct opportunity to get started in the cleaning industry. Innovative companies are invited to take part with their business models, and to participate in the combined stand sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Economics (Hall 5.2) as well as a comprehensive B2B programme. Displays nearby will feature even more innovations from international founders and newcomers.

Special shows will feature practical applications for cleaning machines and products. At the special Ground Maintenance displays in Hall 2.2, exhibitors will show machines, devices and accessories for maintaining green areas, streets and paths and providing winter services. Outdoors, on the special display areas in front of the main south entrance, exhibitors will demonstrate cleaning glass facades and a wide variety of aerial work platforms.

Furthermore, at the CMS Practice Forum in Hall 6.2 there will be lectures held by experts for professionals on industry topics addressing specific audiences, including representatives of the hospitality industry and the hygiene and health sectors.

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