18 June 1998: Messe Dsseldorf, organizer of glasstec, the international two-yearly trade fair for the glass industry, said it expects the 1998 edition, to be held in Dsseldorf from 1 to 5 September, …
18 June 1998: Messe Dsseldorf, organizer of glasstec, the international two-yearly trade fair for the glass industry, said it expects the 1998 edition, to be held in Dsseldorf from 1 to 5 September, to be of better quality than the last edition in 1996. According to the German trade fair company, although the number of exhibitors is slightly lower, many of them will have much larger stands than previously. More visitors are expected this year, judging by the number which have registered so far. Speaking at a press conference in Milan, Italy on 21 May, members of the organizing committee highlighted the main additions to this year“s programme and previewed some of the latest technology in glass production and processing which will be represented at the show. Glasstec is the largest trade fair in the world for glass and this year“s edition will be the fifteenth. The following areas of activity will be represented at the 1998 exhibition: – glass manufacturing and related technology: from raw materials, auxiliary and operating materials, to forming of flat and hollow glass, through to conveying, transport, packaging and warehouse technology; – glass processing and finishing: from cutting, breaking and snapping technology, edge and surface finishing technology, to forming and bending, safety glass technology and environmental protection/recycling; – glass products and applications: from flat glass, refined glass, solar technology and special glass-to-glass processing, artistic design and shaping; – tools and spare parts: from glassmaking tools, cutting, grinding and drilling tools to protection devices; – measurement, testing and control technology: measuring, monitoring and adjusting technology, computer systems and the associated software; – contracting, consulting and engineering: from providing advice and sealing contracts to setting up purpose-built industrial sites and plants. Organizational changes Some changes have been made to the pavilions this year. In order to give visitors a clearer idea of the range of products on show at glasstec, the pavilions have been divided according to the following categories: – pavilion 9 will house the special exhibition “glass technology live”, covering 3,000 m2; – pavilion 10 and most of pavilion 9 will be reserved for glass manufacture; – pavilions 11 and 12 will be dedicated to machines, secondary suppliers and manufacturers of handmade products; – pavilions 13 to 15 will be reserved for metal and mechanical construction and plant engineering. The supporting programme of exhibitions and symposia, “glass technology live”, begun at glasstec “96, will be staged again this year. The 1998 programme has been designed to attract the participation particularly of architects to the trade fair: thirteen producers of glass facades have been invited to demonstrate the current situation in this field. The latest innovations Among the new technologies which will be on show, special mention was made of laser technology for glass cutting, which produces a perfectly clean edge and cuts out the need for finishing of curved glass, for example. Although it is still being experimented, the results so far seem promising. Other innovations on view will be new refraction systems for automotive glass, which can eliminate lines on the edge of the glass sheet, as well as online moir inspection systems, able to detect defects not only in the optical quality of the glass, but also punctiform errors. As far as cutting tables are concerned, many of the latest machines which will be presented at glasstec “98 have electronic measuring devices which, according to the dimensions of the glass sheet, can position it automatically on the cutting table. A new logo This year, the Dsseldorf trade fair company is relaunching itself with a new name and logo. Previously known as NOWEA, the German company is now called Messe Dsseldorf and the new logo is a colourful design consisting of the letter “m” with a squared sign. Messe Dsseldorf says the new trademark not only represents the trade fair company, but all its different facets too, such as the location, facilities and expertise. Since the appointment of a new CEO, Hartmut Krebs, in July 1997, the company has set itself new objectives, which focus particularly on more effective corporate communication and advertising. In addition to organizing international trade fairs, it is also planning to stage major entertainment exhibitions which, through its international subsidiaries, will be taken around the world.