K 2010 attendance surpassed organizer expectations

The K 2010 trade show in Dusseldorf, Germany drew more than 220,000 visitors during its eight-day run, show organizer Messe Dusseldorf said, almost 20,000 more than had been expected.

Nonetheless, the total represents a drop-off of nine per cent from the last staging of K in 2007.

“With more than 220,000 trade visitors, K 2010 has clearly exceeded our expectations given that the crisis in the sector is now finally drawing to an end,” said Werner Matthias Dornscheidt, CEO and president of Messe Dusseldorf. “We are very satisfied that the trade fair succeeded in providing strong impetus for further growth and that our exhibitors were able to do business with numerous international customers with high decision-making competence.”

Close to 60 per cent of the K visitors were from outside of Germany, Messe Dusseldorf said, a figure similar to the K 2007 event. The majority of the overseas visitors came from Asia, with approximately 30,000 visitors. With about 11,000 guests, the Indian subcontinent again accounted for the largest share of the Asian visitors. A substantial increase was also registered in the number of trade visitors from Turkey and Israel with 4,100 and 3,600 attendees respectively (compared to 2,800 and 2,300 at the previous event). Compared to K 2007 there were also more visitors from Egypt, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates.

According to a survey done during the show, about two thirds of all the K 2010 visitors were interested in the manufacture of machinery and equipment. Raw materials and auxiliaries were the focus for 48 per cent of the visitors – seven per cent more than at K 2007 – while for 26 per cent semi-finished products and technical plastics and rubber components were the major reason for their visit. Overall, the survey found, 62 per cent of the visitors represented top and middle management. “Visitors gave K 2010 good ratings for the products on display in the 19 exhibition halls, and 97 per cent stated that they fully achieved the goal of their visit,” Messe Dusseldorf said.