- Record number of exhibitors
- Rail industry announces 146 world premieres
- Ten electric vehicles in the Bus Display
- InnoTrans Convention: Where top decision-makers meet
- Elite teams of innovators at the HackTrain Hackathon
- Winners of the Career Award 2018 as guests of the trade fair
- Public days on 22 and 23 September
InnoTrans can now commence: from today a record number of exhibitors from 61 countries, 3,062 companies from the industry as well as institutions, will be represented on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds.
But not only are exhibitor numbers the best-ever: more than 400 innovations from the global rail sector will be on display from 18 to 21 September 2018, with 146 of them making their international debut. On the unique Outdoor Display as well as on the Bus Display, trade visitors will be able to assess 155 vehicles and, in some cases, test drive them too. At more than 62 per cent, foreign participation remains at its usual high level. This is an indication that InnoTrans continues to be the leading marketing platform for the world’s rail industry. During these four days in Berlin over 130,000 trade visitors from every continent are expected to attend.
Dr. Christian Göke, Chief Executive Officer of Messe Berlin GmbH: “More concentrated, more innovative, more informative – this is what trade visitors from all over the world will find at the twelfth InnoTrans. Once again we have broken the previous record, set in 2016, and achieved new best-ever figures for the number of exhibitors, vehicles on display, and items making their first international appearance.”
Matthias Steckmann, divisional head of Mobility & Services at Messe Berlin GmbH: “InnoTrans is now well-established internationally as the outstanding platform for the industry. Not only is it the world’s leading trade fair for the rail sector, but it has now become established as an essential platform for every aspect of local passenger transport too.“
Image Credit : InnoTrans
Over two-thirds of exhibitors are from abroad
Companies and institutions from a total of 61 countries are using InnoTrans 2018 to present new or improved products, systems and offers. All the global players from the railway world are attending, along with 33 of the world’s most important industrial and technical associations from 17 countries. Around two thirds of the exhibitors are from abroad, and in particular from France, Italy and China. The reputation of InnoTrans as the industry’s number one platform for innovations and communication is also confirmed by the many decision-makers who have announced their intention of attending. For all those who come to this leading international trade fair it offers the best possible range of services to enable them to meet their required target groups, and to establish or strengthen contacts with them.
As in previous years, the proportion of exhibitors from outside Europe has again risen, with the largest increases being from India and Taiwan. Once again the Japanese joint booth occupies an entire exhibition hall. Furthermore 25 high ranking business delegations from some 18 countries are expected on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds during InnoTrans 2018, for example, from Abu Dhabi, India and the USA.
Supporting programme with some new highlights
Electro-mobility is a massive trend and also features widely at InnoTrans, both in the exhibition and in the outstanding supporting programme. Successfully introduced in 2016, the Bus Display has ten buses on show this year. The International Bus Forum has been introduced this year to accompany this display and augment its subject matter. It takes place on the third day of the trade fair (20 Sept.) and takes as its theme ‘Electric buses in public transport – The solution to attaining clean air and climate targets in urban transport?’ The Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) is responsible for the content of this new forum.
Image Credit: getty images
Also in tune with the times is the complex of issues surrounding digitization and smart interconnectedness. In this same field and making its debut at the trade fair is the HackTrain Hackathon powered by InnoTrans. During the fair elite teams of innovators comprising 80 developers, designers and start-up entrepreneurs from all over the world will be developing prototype apps, software and websites for the rail sector. During the afternoon of the last day (21 Sept.) the four leading teams will be competing with one another in the final round, culminating in the naming of the winner of this technology marathon.
Customers everywhere are becoming more demanding, and this trend is also apparent in the rail sector. Trade visitors at InnoTrans can find a suitable product portfolio in the Travel Catering und Comfort Services segment in Hall 1.1. A new feature in this same context is the Onboard Hospitality Forum on the second day of the trade fair (19 Sept.) at the CityCube Berlin. This is being organised by Onboard Hospitality Magazine and the International Rail Catering Group (IRCG). Once again a special tour has been arranged for trade visitors, taking them to the booths of exhibitors in the Travel Catering und Comfort Services section.
Nowadays, InnoTrans also serves as a major platform for careers, both for its exhibiting companies as well, as for newcomers to the industry. The human resources representatives of various companies are on hand in the Career Pavilion in Hall 7.1c to answer questions from anyone who is interested in taking up employment in this field. The Career Forum provides some interesting technical lectures and fascinating panel discussions, and students can take advantage of the free daily tours offered by Career Tours. This year’s Career Award winners from Australia, Italy, Canada, the USA and Germany, who have won a trip to InnoTrans through their national associations, have also been invited as guests of the trade fair.
Source: innotrans
