Hannover Messe – one of the world's largest manufacturing expositions, which was scheduled for April 2020 has been postponed to July 2020 due to coronavirus. Dr. Jochen Kockler, Chairman, Deutsche Messe Managing Board, said that on the 25th of February a special meeting was held with the Executive Board of the Exhibitor Advisory Committee and associations to discuss the challenging situation of Corona Virus.
In close cooperation and discussions with the Hannover Region Health Authority (HRHA), Hannover Messe Exhibitors’ Council and the partner associations VDMA (German Engineering Federation) and ZVEI (German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association), on Wednesday, 04 March 2020, the organizer Deutsche Messe decided to postpone Hannover Messe to July 2020.
We are taking all developments concerning the coronavirus (Covid-19) very seriously. We are in close contact with the responsible health authorities, the Hannover Messe Exhibitor Advisory Committee and our partner associations VDMA and ZVEI
Jochen Kockler
Chairman, Deutsche Messe Managing Board
The Hannover Region Health Authority highly recommended Deutsche Messe to follow the advice of the Robert Koch Institute in order to include comprehensive health-safety measures when hosting the event. This includes fever measuring stations at all entrances, monitoring and denying access to people from risk-prone areas or who were in contact with people from risk-prone areas, etc. These safety measures entail all participants of the trade fair that is exhibitors, visitors, service providers, exhibit builders, catering companies, etc.
Initially, Deutsche Messe was unable to implement the proposed comprehensive health-safety measures as it would inhibit the event to an extent that the very purpose of the event would be defeated; therefore, it was contemplating to implement only a considerable amount of restrictions for the exhibitors and visitors. However, for Deutsche Messe, the health of the exhibitors, visitors, employees, and the public was a top priority; hence, in consultation with Hannover Messe’s Exhibitor Advisory Council, Deutsche Messe decided to postpone the trade fair to July 2020.
Jochen stated ‘with the July date, we offer our exhibitors the earliest possible time slot to present their innovations to a global audience and to initiate business’, in addition, he stated "In view of the global economic challenges triggered by the Coronavirus in the first half of the year, the new date offers great opportunities. Thus the world's most important industrial trade fair can provide important impetus for the global economy at an early stage".
With coronavirus and the current challenges, postponing Hannover Messe to July was the best possible option and we are in full support of the decision. We assume that the situation will calm down in the coming months and manufacturing industry will sure benefit from a reviving business situation
Thilo Broadtmann
Chief Executive, VDMA
In addition, Wolfgang Weber, Chairman, ZVEI Management Board, said that the Deutsche Messe’s decision to postpone Hannover Messe came at the right time and stated ‘as an internationally important industrial trade show, its USP is the gathering of people from all over the world. This can only happen if there are no health risks. Furthermore, it is important for the electrical industry to present its products for Industry 4.0, electrification and greater energy efficiency to the public this summer’.
For more details, do visit www.hannovermesse.de