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• Share of foreign visitors increases
• Large percentage of decision-makers
• More exhibitors despite economic crisis
• Fair surpasses participants' expectations

As expected, CERAMITEC, the 11th International Trade Fair for Machinery, Equipment, Plants, Processes and Raw Materials for CERAMICS and POWDER METALLURGY, reflected the tense situation in the industry. While there was a decline in the number of visitors compared to 2006 – organizers reported some 15,000 trade visitors from more than 90 countries (compared to 22,000 visitors in 2006) – the share of foreign visitors increased to nearly 60 percent.
 
Exhibitors welcomed the international character and quality of CERAMITEC's visitors: "The quality of the visitors is outstanding. The thing that distinguishes CERAMITEC from other fairs is that it is much more international", explained Paul Eirich, Chairman of the CERAMITEC Technical Advisory Board and Managing Director of Gustav Eirich GmbH & Co.KG. According to Gerhard Fischer, Managing Director of Händle, "CERAMITEC is a platform that is an absolute must. There are no alternatives. All important markets and market players are represented here – not a single country is missing."

"The response among this year's participants has shown that CERAMITEC 2009 not only met their expectations, in some cases it even surpassed them. Given the difficult state of the economy, this is remarkable proof of the strong international position that CERAMITEC enjoys", said Eugen Egetenmeir, Member of the Managing Board at Messe München GmbH.
 
A survey conducted by tns infratest confirmed that assessment: 87 percent of the companies surveyed gave CERAMITEC a rating of good to excellent for the quality of its visitors, and 89 percent gave the fair the same rating for the international character of its visitors.
 
After Germany, the top ten visitor countries were Italy, France, Austria, the Czech Republic, Iran, Poland, Spain, Turkey, the Russian Federation and Great Britain, in that order. Luca Caramelli, CEO at Bongioanni Macchine S.p.A. in Italy: "Bongioanni decided to focus on CERAMITEC as a "red carpet". When it comes to visitors, CERAMITEC definitely proved that it truly is an international trade fair.
 
A total of 656 companies from 35 countries (612 exhibitors in 2006) presented their products, new developments and innovations in four halls. There were 33 companies from China, which is the largest contingent of Chinese companies to ever participate in CERAMITEC. Xiaodong Liu, International Director of Keda in China: "We had a large number of technicians and engineers – technically very well versed visitors – at our stand. CERAMITEC was very successful for us."
 
Once again, the CERAMITEC supporting programme was very well received. A total of some 3,000 visitors attended the 55 lectures at the CERAMITEC FORUM, which the exhibitors also appreciated. "India Day at the CERAMITEC FORUM gave us an opportunity to showcase our country and to make contacts among the visitors", said Swapan Guha, Managing Director at Hopewell Ceramics and President of the Indian Ceramics Society.
 
All statistics for CERAMITEC are verified by the independent accounting company Ernst & Young AG on behalf of FKM, the Society for the Voluntary Control of Fair and Exhibition Statistics.
 
The next CERAMITEC will be held in 2012.
 
Additional information and photos from CERAMITEC 2009 are available at www.ceramitec.de.
 
About Messe München International (MMI)
Messe München International (MMI) is one of the world’s leading trade-fair companies. It organises around 40 trade fairs for capital and consumer goods, and key high-tech industries. Each year over 30,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries, and over two million visitors from more than 200 countries take part in the events in Munich. In addition, MMI organises trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and South America. With six subsidiaries abroad - in Europe and in Asia - and with 66 foreign representatives serving 89 countries, MMI has a truly global network. Environmental protection and sustainability are key priorities in all MMI’s operations, at home and abroad.
 
Press contact:
Sabine Wagner, Manager Communications CERAMITEC 2009
Marketing & Communication, Capital Goods
Tel.: (+49 89) 949-20246, Fax : (+49 89) 949-20249
E-mail: sabine.wagner@messe-muenchen.de
 
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