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Numerous New Features At The
International Hardware Fair/Practical World

When the INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR / PRACTICAL WORLD opens its doors from 9th to 12th March 2008, visitors can eagerly look forward to numerous new features.
In addition to the innovative products presented by the expected total of around 3,200 suppliers from 56 countries, new services from Koelnmesse such as Internet Match-making or the "Home Improvement Presidents Council Buying Day" will make preparing business for buyers and suppliers even easier. Personnel recruiting and innovation forums are also on the specialist programme. Koelnmesse is thus strengthening the position of the fair as an international business platform. But not only trade visitors from all over the world are expected in the Rhine metropolis this time. The halls at PRACTICAL WORLD - and only these halls - are for the first time also open to craftsmen and DIY enthusiasts. Oliver P. Kuhrt, Executive Vice President of Koelnmesse GmbH: "DIY and home improvement stores present products, we primarily offer solutions and events. Joining in, trying things out and gathering know-how is the motto in the halls. The trade, industry, end-consumers, professionals and the media are involved - Cologne is set to become the infotainment Mecca of the DIY sector."
Strong in product range breadth and depth and highly international: The INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR/PRACTICAL WORLD is once again set to present a combined range of products and services in 2008 which is unrivalled worldwide. Again the largest segment at the fair: the tools sector with gross exhibition space of around 125,000 square metres.

Approximately 2,000 companies will show a comprehensive range extending from hammers up to complete workshop fittings and fixtures. Hand tools, power tools and accessories, workshop and company fittings and fixtures, industrial supplies, small hardware and fastening technology as well as sector services will be presented by the companies located there (Halls 1 to 5, 10). In the security systems, locks and fittings sector, visitors can expect construction and furniture fittings, window and window door fittings, door locks, door fittings and keys as well as security systems and services for the sector. This year around 200 suppliers will be located there in space of 15,000 square metres (Hall 11.1). The range will be complemented by around 1,000 companies in space of approximately 80,000 square metres in the home improvement and DIY supplies sector. There the trade visitors can expect products from the areas of construction chemicals, interior design, fittings and decoration, sanitary fittings and fixtures, electrical supplies, construction materials and elements, construction accessories, external plant and facilities as well as sector services covering all aspects of home improvement/DIY supplies (Halls 6-8).
At the heart of Europe Cologne is once again presenting itself as an incomparable trade fair platform for exhibitors and visitors from all over the world. Over 80 percent of suppliers will come to the Rhine metropolis from abroad in order to find new business partners and maintain and cultivate their global contacts. In addition to numerous exhibitors from China and Taiwan, Italy in particular is very strongly represented. And other European countries such as Spain, France and Great Britain along with India and the USA are also providing large supplier contingents from their respective countries.
The large number of product highlights, which will be on display at the forthcoming INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR/PRACTICAL WORLD 2008, means it is hardly possible to present a comprehensive overview. Several sector trends and tendencies are however already clearly evident: In the tools sector, stainless steel in particular is one of the real trend-setters as are intelligent convenience solutions - ranging from "screw chemistry" up to convenient accessories. In this connection, the demand for innovations is continuing unbroken so that several manufacturers have revised up to two thirds of their ranges. In the area of locks and fittings, solutions aimed at security and convenience are playing an increasingly important role. In addition, fittings, which were originally developed for home furniture, furnishings and kitchens, are making increasing inroads into the office sector. Also one of the trendsetters: the specific application of light as a design element. In the DIY sector, the home improvement markets are offering more and more universal, allen compassing solutions, which are also increasingly available from self complementing industrial companies in collaborations at the Point-of-Sale. As a result, the DIY/home improvement markets are making ever greater inroads into the world of the furniture and furniture accessories suppliers. Aspects such as energy-saving and environmental protection are also assuming increasing significance in renovation and restoration projects.
When it comes to doing business, the aim is to find "the right partner" and this particularly applies to the effective planning of meetings with potential business partners during a trade fair. In the run-up to the fair, the new "Business Match-making" service available from Koelnmesse serves as a contact exchange on an Internet basis. The trade visitors can use this tool to contact the exhibitors and already arrange appointments and meetings for the event in the run-up to the fair. There are thus no longer any problems when planning an efficient visit to the fair.
One day before the fair, the "Buying Day" match-making programme will also be held for the first time, organized by the Home Improvement Presidents Council in collaboration with Koelnmesse. This is where sellers, wholesalers and retailers of DIY products - mainly from North America - and internationally operating manufacturers come together for individually arranged individual meetings. At www.presidentscouncil.com interested parties can obtain the latest information about details and terms and conditions of participation for similar events. Already at this stage leading international North American retailers such as Do-it-best, Menards, Orgill, Canadian Tire, Rona and Sears have indicated their participation. With the one-day networking event on the eve of the fair, the INTERNATIONAL HARDWAIR FAIR / PRACTICAL WORLD is once again increasing the effectiveness of visits to the event for its international trade fair guests.
In the sector forums entitled "Security live - Highlights on stage" in Hall 11.1 as well as "Tools live - Highlights on stage" in Hall 4.1, the trade visitors at the INTERNATIONAL HARDWAIR FAIR can expect an exciting mix of information and entertainment covering all aspects of the "security" and "tools" themes. Panel discussions, activities to join in with, trends and innovations: in the excitingly, dynamically presented programme items, every visitor will be able to find something beneficial to them for implementation and realization in daily business life. In addition, the Fastening Technology Innovation Prize will be presented once again, the "Partner of the Business-to-Business (B-2-B) Trade" chosen by the Central Association of the Hardware Trade (ZHH), and the Federal Association of German DIY, Building and Garden Specialist Stores (BHB) Customer Service Prize awarded.
Join in, try things out and gather know-how is the motto: in particular the "new DIYmension - Shape your own future!" Forum in Hall 7 is fully dedicated to these exciting product sectors. Because, for the first time, the halls at PRACTICAL WORLD will be open to craftsmen and DIY/home improvement enthusiasts. Using new products and innovations, professional instructors and presenters, among others from the DIY Academy, will show in a playful, entertaining and informative approach, how quickly and easily domestic DIY problems can be solved. Other attention-grabbing supporting programme features and items include this year's staging of the "Miss DIY" contest, the "DIY Olympics" or trend worlds covering the "Environment", "Wellness/Fitness", "Home furniture and furnishings", "Energy" and "Tools/technology" themes. In addition, under the umbrella of the DIY Academy in the "New DIYmension House", renowned manufacturers will also be on hand with know-how and information covering all aspects of their products. And: the home improvement/DIY markets and centres are also on site. ToomBaumarkt, OBI and BayWa are even represented with their own stands.
The smartest idea, the best tricks and refined, perfected implementation: during PRACTICAL WORLD, in cooperation with "SELBER MACHEN" magazine from publishers Jahreszeiten Verlag, Hamburg, the "DIY Enthusiast of 2008" will be chosen. Further sponsors have been acquired including BAUHAUS and Chevrolet. However, during the fair the motto will also be "join-in". In the power tools testing area in Hall 7, which "Selbst ist der Mann" is staging in collaboration with T†V Rheinland (Technical Board of Control), trade visitors can test rechargeable screwdrivers and jigsaws themselves, and at the same time, learn tricks and tips on how to use them from the professionals. At the end, all visitors who have been involved in the testing, will decide which products are the best.