Industry confident of strong market boost from IFA – IFA International Keynotes reports on key industry themes – IFA TecWatch displays the networked home – extensive services for trade visitors – more TV networks – new show sections IFA iZone and IFA eLibrary to premiere. With double-digit growth boosting the rented display area to 134.400 square meter (+11%) IFA’s 50th edition is due to be the largest. Leading international companies from the CE and home appliances industries are back in numbers and all areas of IFA continue to expand, further indicators of IFA’s success. From 3 to 8 September more than 1, 423 exhibitors (+ 22%) will be represented on the Berlin Exhibition Site at the world’s largest trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances.
"We are delighted that the 50th IFA has made such a good start. This latest display area record reflects IFA’s high standing around the world. As a trade show for placing orders it is the number one meeting place for both sectors before the start of Christmas business, the most important time of the year", said Dr. Rainer Hecker, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Gesellschaft für Unterhaltungs- und Kommunikationselektronik mbH (gfu), the organisers of IFA.
Dr. Christian Göke, Chief Operating Officer of Messe Berlin: "This year we have every reason to celebrate. IFA is taking place for the fiftieth time and has not just remained stable, but has grown. In order to accommodate all the exhibitors we had to construct temporary halls. We have exploited every available space inside the existing halls."
"This is the third time the home appliances industry is taking part in IFA, which once again is bigger than the previous year’s event. This is clear proof that IFA is the most important trade show for our sector.
Berlin is the ideal venue for us. In only a short time IFA has become the leading trade show for the home appliances industry. We expect IFA to give our business a worldwide boost", said Dr. Rainer Zinkann, Chairman of the Home Appliances Trade Association, part of ZVEI, and a member of the Board of ZVEI.
"IFA’s outstanding success in 2009, despite the recession, is the reason for its strong growth this year. There are more trade visitors and members of the media from abroad at IFA than at any other international CE event", said Jens Heithecker, Director of IFA.
Positive market situation
Developments in the consumer electronics market have been positive worldwide. Market researchers expect the biggest markets to register around 4 per cent growth. In 2010 global sales are forecast to reach approximately 582 billion Euro, an increase of five per cent. The prospects for the German market are equally good, with the industry anticipating growth that will propel market sales towards 25 billion Euro for the first time.
Despite the difficult economic situation the home appliances industry has survived the recession in better shape than other sectors. In 2009, worldwide sales of large and small appliances at net industry prices reached 100 billion Euro, a one per cent drop over 2008. Since autumn 2009 the signs have increasingly been pointing towards recovery, and in many markets the downward trend has been halted. This positive trend has continued throughout 2010. The industry expects global demand to increase.
IFA boosts industry prospects
IFA has a wide range of innovative products on show. Key themes driving the market and on display at the 50th IFA include HDTV, 3D TV, the networked home, TV/internet convergence and mobile media. In the home appliances sector, the focus is on design, ease-of-use and ergonomics. Other important trends cutting across market segments are digital lifestyles, smart homes, and energy efficiency, which will be discussed on the show floor and in conference sessions.
Dr. Rainer Hecker: "The industries represented at IFA are highly innovative and create attractive products which offer the consumer greater ease-of-use, a better lifestyle and improved energy efficiency. IFA gives the markets a noticeable boost and ensures continued growth, and as such we again expect a large volume of orders to be placed at IFA 2010, in excess of 3 billion Euro. "
IFA 2010 International Keynotes
IFA is set to continue its outstanding IFA International Keynotes programe with speeches by representatives of Bosch Siemens, Constantin Medien, ESPN and IBM.
Friday, 3 September
Starting at 3 p.m., Bryan Burns from ESPN and Bernhard Burgener from Constantin Medien will both deliver speeches on 3D content.
At 3 p.m. Bryan Burns, Vice President of the world’s leading sports channel ESPN, will speak about the strategy and initial experience of launching live sports coverage in 3D. Immediately afterwards Constantin Medien will focus on movies, the second driving force behind 3D. Bernhard Burgener, CEO Constantin Medien AG, will provide background information on a new 3D feature film, Resident Evil, due for release in Germany on 16 September.
Saturday, 4 September
At 9.45 a.m. Michael Rhodin, Senior Vice President, IBM Software Solutions Group, will speak about smart electronics, and the steps the industry must take to realise the visions of a networked home and lifestyle, while providing maximum benefit to companies and the consumer.
At 3:00 pm, Dr. Kurt-Ludwig Gutberlet, Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of BSH, talks about the contribution of energy-efficient home appliances to preserving natural resources and the potential that can be reached through a broad market penetration of super-efficient products.
IFA iZone and IFA eLibrary – two new display sections premiere
More than 50 exhibitors from every sector, including app developers, retailers, the media, software distributors, will be exhibiting their products in the new special sections, IFA iZone and IFA eLibrary. Most of the exhibitors are new and attendance is very satisfactory, once again emphasising the current trend-setting effect of the world of i-products and e-media. Media partners linked with this section are falkemedia with Maclife, IDG Deutschland with Macwelt, and Mac-news.de.
A makeover for IFA TecWatch, now in a new location
IFA TecWatch, the innovation centre at IFA, has received a makeover and in 2010 will be presenting itself in a new location. In Hall 8.1, exhibits highlighting research and development work will once again fascinate the public, with the new sophisticated hall layout providing an additional attraction.
First-time joint presentation by associations, plus E-Haus
The industry association Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie (ZVEI) will be represented at IFA for the first time. Together with Verband Elektrotechnik Elektronik Informationstechnik (VDE) and Zentralverband der Deutschen Elektro- und Informationstechnischen Handwerke (ZVEH) they will be jointly discussing the topics of home networking and energy efficiency. The main attraction is the E-Haus from ZVEH, a comprehensive prototype of the networked home, which demonstrates how technology that is available now can be put to use in the future. The associations can be found in the IFA TecWatch area in Hall 8.1.
medienwoche@IFA and medienpolitik@IFA held jointly for the third time
IFA’s collaboration with Berliner Medienwoche, which will be held in the same week and is organised by Medienanstalt Berlin-Brandenburg and Medienboard Berlin Brandenburg, continues in 2010 and will take place for the third time. medienwoche@IFA will include the format medienpolitik@IFA, which is co-organised by IFA’s holders gfu and ZVEI, and takes place on 6 and 7 September. The result of this successful collaboration is a programe of attractive conferences, podium discussions and keynotes which will discuss the issues of media politics and the content and device industry. Visitors to medienwoche@IFA will also have direct access to IFA and to the innovations within the CE industry.
Guided tours for trade visitors at IFA 2010
Once again special guided thematic tours are being offered to trade visitors in 2010. These will cover the latest market topics:
· 3D TV
· Internet & TV
· Large home appliances – green cooking
· Next-generation audio products
· Table PCs & eBooks
· Small home appliances – wellness & healthcare
Detailed programme information is available at www.ifa-berlin.com.
serviceforum@IFA 2010 – the secrets of digital added value
The serviceforum@IFA panel discussion will be taking place for the fifth time. Representatives of the industry, the media, skilled trades and retailers will discuss sales and business opportunities, new licence fee schemes and the importance of offering expert service and advice. The results of the BVT/gfu survey on the subject of networking will also be released.
The serviceforum@IFA is an event jointly organised by BVT, ZVEH and the Consumer Electronics Trade Association ZVEI. It traditionally gathers members representing retailers, retail stores, retail groups from the CE sector, retail specialists and the skilled trades, and members of the industry and the media. serviceforum@IFA will take place at the IFA Red Lounge on Sunday, 5 September 2010 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
TV networks at IFA
All the leading popular TV networks, ARD, ZDF, n-tv, N24 and, a first this year Super RTL and Sport 1 will be represented with stands and studios at IFA.
For the first time the Cologne-based TV broadcaster Super RTL will transform the entire show hall into a colourful discovery world for families and their children. Live coverage, exciting games all to do with this station’s TV formats, imaginative discovery worlds, popular children’s shows such as Bob the Builder and lots of stars will welcome children and their parents visiting the IFA, both in this hall and in the Summer Garden on the weekend. A full programe of sports entertainment awaits visitors to the SPORT1 sports bar in Hall 7.2c, where there will be daily live coverage of the latest sporting action.
Schule@IFA 2010 into a second successful year
Following its successful launch in 2009 with 80 school classes, Schule@IFA 2010, a project for schoolchildren from 7th grade upwards, is back for the second time. More than 120 schools from the Berlin and Brandenburg region have applied to take part. Assisted by tour guides, the classes will go on five information trails to explore the world of IFA. Besides the project, extensive teaching material covering five modules has been put together for 8th to 11th grades. ZVEI is a partner of the Schule@IFA project.
From 3 to 8 September IFA will be celebrating its 50th anniversary on the Berlin Exhibition Site. The show is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
