The Düsseldorf display

This year brings change to Düsseldorf, Germany, in the form of a new name, schedule and structure for glasstec 2010. To be held Sept. 28-Oct. 1 at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, the trade fair will take place over four days this year, instead of the usual five, and sport a new title: glasstec 2010, International Trade Fair for Glass Production-Processing-Products. “The new title will convey that glasstec is the only international trade fair reflecting the entire value chain of glass in all its facets,” says Anne Meerboth-Maltz, senior director, Public Relations, Messe Düsseldorf North America, Chicago.

Reflecting the current state of the glass industry, a primary focus of glasstec 2010 will be solar production technology, with solarpeq, International Trade Fair for Solar Production Equipment, to be held concurrently in the same venue: glasstec in halls 7–13 and 15–17, and solarpeq in hall 14. solarpeq will be geared toward companies that offer process engineering/production equipment for thin film and crystalline photovoltaics, machinery and equipment for the production of solar applications, and suppliers of components and raw materials.

“Over the last two to three years, we have seen many exhibitors at glasstec founding their own corporate divisions for solar production technology,” says Joachim Schäfer, managing director, Messe Düsseldorf. “With solarpeq, we now offer these customers a dedicated platform and all other companies in this segment the unique opportunity to benefit from the established international structures at glasstec.”

The show floor

At press time, more than 1,000 exhibitors are expected to participate in glasstec 2010, occupying more than 645,000 square feet of exhibit space, according to Messe Düsseldorf officials in Germany. As of July 2, exhibitors from 49 countries had signed up, compared to 47 countries in 2008. Two-thirds of the exhibitors were from countries other than Germany; those with the largest occupied exhibit space were Germany, Italy, China, Austria and Turkey.

Messe Düsseldorf North America once again will organize a North American Pavilion, with the National Glass Association, McLean, Va., as the co-sponsor. The North American Pavilion will provide a cost-effective means for U.S. and Canadian companies to enter into or to expand their business in the lucrative overseas marketplace. The pavilion turnkey rental package includes a fully furnished booth, access to a lounge area and the on-site service of a project manager, hostesses and interpreters. All technical work, set up and dismantling is included.

 "As of July 28, 56 U.S. companies registered at glasstec, 18 in the North American Pavilion,” Meerboth-Maltz says. “At glasstec 2008, 64 U.S. companies had registered, with 20 in the North American Pavilion. As of July, one booth is still available in the North American group exhibit."

Ancillary program

The ancillary program at glasstec 2010 will feature several new events. In addition to the established glass technology live special show, the Architects’ Conference and the glass art exhibition, the trade fair will feature the FaçadesCentre, the engineered transparency Congress and a diverse program for craftsmen.

The new FaçadesCentre will offer a comprehensive overview of the latest developments and trends in façade technology, with a focus on multifunctional glass façades that generate electricity with building-integrated thin-film photovoltaics. Geared toward façade planners, civil engineers and glaziers, the FaçadesCentre will act as a platform for associations, scientific institutions and companies in this sector.

The FaçadesCentre will be located adjacent to the glass technology live special show in Hall 11, where innovative façade parts with integrated photovoltaic systems will be featured. The glass technology live special show and symposium again will be organized by Professor Stefan Behling, senior partner, Foster and Partners, Germany, and professor at the Institute of Building Construction at the University of Stuttgart, and his team. With the motto “Energy Efficiency with Glass,” the special show will provide insight into the future of creative and sustainable glass applications.

The new technically oriented engineered transparency conference will focus on glass, façades and solar energy, and will specifically address research and development staff, engineers, civil engineers, planners and architects, and construction authority personnel. It will be organized in cooperation with the following universities of applied science: TU Dresden and Technische Universität Darmstadt. The conference will be overseen by Professor Bernhard Weller, TU Dresden, and Professor Jens Schneider, TU Darmstadt, both internationally renowned for their research on glass. The Engineering Session will be held Sept. 29, in the afternoon and all day Sept. 30 at the Congress Center East at the fairgrounds.

For the third time, architects, structural designers, air-conditioning engineers and façade planners will come together at glasstec 2010 for the Architects’ Conference. With the motto “Glass is Energy,” the conference will be organized by the North Rhine-Westphalian Chamber of Architects along with Professor Ulrich Knaack, Delft University of Technology, and the Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences. Themes will include transparency and sustainability, glass and climate design, organically-inspired architecture, and simplicity and quality of architecture.

Glass craftsmen can look forward to a number of special events during glasstec 2010. On the evening of Sept. 30, the German Bundesinnungsverband des Glaserhandwerks (Federal Association of Glazier Trades) will announce the Glazier of the Year and present the Glass Finishers’ Award. The official craftsmen's day at glasstec 2010 will be Oct. 1, and the Federal Association of Glazier Trades will offer seminars and advance training courses in cooperation with exhibitors. This year, the glazier trade and special art glass show will be in the glazier trade center in Halls 7.0 to 7.2.

glasstec 2010 also will host the auto glaziers’ competition, staged by the International Automotive Glass Federation, The Netherlands. In addition, the Autoglass Arena in Hall 10 will highlight companies presenting automotive glass products and services.

Visitors need to purchase only one entrance pass to attend both glasstec and solarpeq 2010. Entrance passes can be ordered in advance at reduced rates; payment can be made in U.S. dollars or Euro. Entrance passes allow free use of all public transportation within the Düsseldorf public transportation network on all days of the trade shows.

For further information about glasstec 2010, entrance passes and space in the North American Pavilion, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America: 312/781-5180, info@mdna.com or www.mdna.com.

To make hotel and travel arrangements, call TTI Travel Inc. at 866/674-3476. Additional information on the events is available at www.glasstec-online.com.