Organizers Expect Strong U.S. Presence At Interzum 2007

Furniture World News

Five months before interzum (May 5-12, 2007), the organizer is expecting more than 1,300 exhibitors from approximately 60 countries presenting their latest product innovations. The event has been around for almost 50 years and is the leading industry trade show worldwide for suppliers of the furniture and interior industries. In addition to the European exhibitors, who have traditionally been well-represented at the fair, companies from the U.S. will again form a strong contingent at interzum 2007. "We're particularly pleased with the participation of the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), which is a leading force in this sector," said Frank Haubold, the Product Manager for interzum. AHEC is the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry, representing companies and trade associations engaged in the export of a full range of U.S. hardwood products, including - lumber, veneer, plywood, flooring, molding and dimension materials. Various lines of lumber will be showcased in the Interzum lumber Hall 5.1 which is also host of the U.S.A. lumber Pavilion organized by Koelnmesse, Inc. Chicago. Show Management is expecting more than 50,000 visitors to attend Interzum, 75 percent coming from abroad. Besides most market-leaders, many small to medium companies will be exhibiting products such as fittings, surfaces, wood materials, upholstery materials and machines. interzum provides a unique overview of global trends that cannot be matched by any other trade fair in the sector. The event is considered to be a must see event for the wood manufacturing industry, skilled trade as well as the wholesale, retail and export trade. The reduced number of show days (Wednesday to Saturday) will make the visit of this event easier and more manageable. Visitors to Interzum have the option to tag on a visit to Ligna in Hannover by using a high-speed train connection Cologne to Hannover in less than 2 hours. For the first time the “European Veneer Conference” will take place as part of Interzum on May 10 and 11, 2007. The conference will be jointly organized by the Veneer & Nature Initiative and the German Timber Trade Federation. One of the topics will address new applications of veneer in the automobile industry. Interzum is known to offer product specific solutions to certain target groups via the “interzum supporting program”. Hall 8 will feature a compact overview of lighting technology, Hall 6 will focus on lightweight construction, mobile materials, architecture and design. Hall 10 will stage the “Forum on Upholstered Furniture” and highlights in design. Visitors will also be able to view the design contest "interzum award - material innovations and design". Jointly organized for the fourth time by Koelnmesse and "red dot," the contest will showcase the innovative power of the furniture supplier industry. All products entered in the competition will be on display in a special exhibition area throughout fair. interzum will be held in the recently constructed Northern Halls of the Koelnmesse exhibition grounds. Four new halls, new conference facilities and a new entrance on the North side of the fairground will set new standards in terms of accessibility and service. In spite of a larger show with increased square meters, interzum 2007 will seem more compact than ever before. The new “Messe- Boulevard” which connects the halls from the North to the South side will provide more efficient traffic patterns. For attendee registration visit www.interzum.com An overview of the new hall occupancy: Hall 5.1 Natural materials - wood veneer, moldings, parquet, interiors Incl. a.o.Danzer Group, AHEC, Moehring, Weyerhaeuser Hall 5.2 Semi-finished products for cabinets, kitchens, office and modular furniture Incl. a.o. Suspa Inc., OWI GmbH, Stabilus GmbH, Bock-1, Leggett & Platt Hall 6 Composite materials - laminates, wood-based materials, moldings, edging strips Incl. a. o. Pfleiderer, Glunz (Sonae) und Kaindl, Resopal, Renolit, Homapal Hall 6 Surfaces - decorative surfaces, décor papers, embossing cylinders, panels Incl. a.o. Schattdecor, Süddekor, Interprint, Impress, Lamigraf, Sesa, Hueck Engraving Halls 7 and 8 Fittings, locks, built-in lighting, components Incl. a.o. Blum, Hettich, Grass, Häfele, Mepla-Alfit, Formenti, Siro Hall 9 Machinery for the production of upholstered furniture and mattresses Incl. a.o. L&P home furniture, Assyst/Bullmer, Lectra, Mattress Production, Frank L. Wells, Resta, Dürkopp Adler, Albrecht Bäumer Hall 10 Upholstery materials, upholstery accessories. Cover materials and leather Incl. a.o. Bodet & Horst, Latexco, Vefer, Bekaert Textiles, ISPA, Ehrlich Leder, SoftArt Leder, Mastrotto Italia, Futura Leathers