Munich, 18 November 2011. productronica, international trade fair for innovative electronics production, closed its doors after four days having posted a substantial rise in the number of visitors. 38,500 visitors from more than 80 countries represent an increase of around 34 per cent compared with the previous show. This proves that the industry has greatly recovered in the last two years and is back to the level in 2007. The proportion of international visitors rose from 39 to 48 per cent.
 
Norbert Bargmann, Deputy CEO of the Board of Management of Messe München: “productronica therefore once again confirmed its leading position as the world’s leading trade fair for the global electronics production industry. Following the weak event in 2009 caused by the economic crisis, we held intensive discussions with the industry. The cooperation with our commercial and industrial partners and representatives is now bearing fruit: the highlight themes, the special show ,Battery manufacturing and power electronics’ and the PCB Community Area were magnets for both new visitor groups and exhibitor target groups.”
 
Rainer Kurtz, Managing Director of ERSA, Chairman of the Technical Advisory Board for productronica and Chairman of the Productronic Association in the German Engineering Federation (VDMA): “In 2011 productronica also again proved to be the main platform in providing a further boost to the current economic climate. The trade fair is regarded as the marketplace for the electronics production industry: anyone who regards this as important must be present here. The expertise of visitors is outstanding – a large number of specific inquiries are discussed during productronica.“
 
In addition to Germany, the countries with the highest number of visitors included Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. Compared with previous events, there was a pronounced increase in the number of visitors from Israel, Poland, Hungary and the Russian Federation. The representative visitor survey conducted by TNS Infratest revealed an overall satisfaction level of 96 per cent on the scale ranging from “excellent” to “good”. 75 per cent of respondents said they would be attending productronica 2013.
 
Thomas Metz, Manager Operations at Yahama Motor IM Europe, described the international importance of productronica: “Yamaha was represented at a trade fair for the first time in Europe. We were positively surprised to meet so many international trade visitors at productronica. As far as our company is concerned, productronica is now the most important trade fair to launch the global premium brand Yamaha in Europe. We will definitely take part again in 2013.“
 
The Innovation Forum and the productronica Forum were very well-attended throughout the duration of the trade fair. Together with the VDMA, Munich International Trade Fairs repositioned trend themes such as “Organic and printed electronics“ or “Energy storage manufacturing” at productronica. One of the Forum highlights was the CEO Round Table. Johann Weber, CEO of Zollner Elektronik AG: “A large proportion of the audience rated the Round Table as ,outstanding’ since it also focused on the German electronics industry and looked into the future. These forums are decisive and important. The people attending them obtain an enormous amount of information.”
 
A representative survey conducted by TNS Infratest among exhibitors primarily revealed a significant increase in their level of satisfaction. Over 90 per cent of exhibitors rated the internationality and expertise of visitors, in particular, as “excellent” to “good”. This was also clearly reflected in the overall level of satisfaction among exhibitors: 89 per cent assessed the outcome of productronica as “excellent” to “good”.
 
A separate communication platform for the printed circuit board segment – the PCB Community Area – was initiated in close cooperation with the Central Association of the German Electrical and Electronics Industry (ZVEI). Christoph Stoppok, Managing Director of the PCB and Electronic Systems Association in the ZVEI: “We were especially impressed by the Speakers Corner in the new PCB & EMS Marketplace. We would like to congratulate Munich International Trade Fairs on this attractive innovation. With its first-class speakers, the CEO Round Table on the topic ‘The future of industrial production in Germany and Europe’ during the productronica Forum provided visitors with an interesting look at future developments, opportunities and risks.“
 
1,234 exhibitors from 39 countries presented their innovative products and solutions on a net exhibition area of 41,016 square metres (gross exhibition area: 77,000 square metres). This represents an increase of just under 15 per cent in the number of exhibitors compared with productronica 2009 (1,106 exhibitors from 36 countries).
 
The increase in the amount of net exhibition space was around 15 per cent, of which approximately 32 per cent of the total area was occupied by international companies. In addition to large numbers of exhibitors from abroad, there were joint stands again this year at productronica, for example from Austria, France, Hungary, Japan and Romania.
 
The next productronica will be held in Munich from 12 to 15 November 2013.
 
You can find statements by other participants on our website.
 
This Press Release can also be downloaded from the Internet on the press pages of productronica at: www.productronica.com/presse. Photos are available at: http://productronica.com/en/home/journalists/photos-and-logos.