A total of 32,800 trade visitors came to the Stuttgart exhibition centre for the three-day event.

LogiMAT organisers have reported a 10% rise in visitors for the materials handling trade show that took place in Stuttgart, Germany late last month.

While there was only a slight rise in exhibitor numbers and total exhibition space, organisers are highlighting the significant increase in visitor numbers.

"The results clearly exceed the 1.8% expansion forecast for the German economy this year; so we are very satisfied, especially with the tremendous rise in visitor numbers," says exhibition director Peter Kazander.

This year, under the show's motto of "Intelligent networking - Mastering complexity", 1,004 exhibitors presented their products and services for efficient intralogistics in almost 75,000 sqm ( 807,293 sqft.) of exhibition space.

Around 32,800 trade visitors (+11.3%) came to the Stuttgart exhibition centre for the three-day event.

"This year again, I was especially pleased with the further internationalisation of LogiMAT," Kazander says. With 182 companies (+18.1%), almost one in five exhibitors at LogiMAT came from outside Germany. In total, 26 countries were represented at the show. The strongest contingents came from the Netherlands (35 exhibitors), Switzerland (32) and Italy (28).

According to organisers, 87.2% of the trade visitors came from Germany, 35.5% of the attendees had travelled over 300 km (186 mi.) to get to the show and 4,200 international guests visited LogiMAT. Of that number, 66.2% came from EU countries, 18.2% from the rest of Europe, and 15.6% from countries outside Europe.

For the first time, the exhibition was integrated into the TradeWorld Forum, a feature that will be repeated and expanded next year. LogiMAT will also take up an additional exhibition hall at the Stuttgart exhibition centre in 2015.

Kazander believes the marked increase in visitor numbers is, in part, due to the integration of the TradeWorld Forum into the show. "TradeWorld was well received by exhibitors and visitors alike, judging by the responses from the exhibition halls.

"The global flow of goods means trade and logistics are becoming ever more tightly integrated. Intralogistics ensures efficiency at the interface between production and transport. So, what could be more natural than to bring these sectors together?"

A further internationalisation of the event is expected with LogiMAT China, which takes place in Nanjing International Expo Centre on 10-12 April 2014.The next LogiMAT in Stuttgart will be held on 10-12 February 2015.

Jungheinrich presented its entire industrial truck range and intralogistics solutions at the show.

Jan Kaulfuhs-Berger, trade press spokesman for established German player Jungheinrich AG, says his company presented its entire industrial truck range and intralogistics solutions on over 330 sqm (3,552 sqft.) of floor space in the stacker hall and on about 100 sqm (1,076 sqft.) at its stand in the software hall.

Jungheinrich unveiled two new trailers of its tow train portfolio (type GTP and GTE) at the show. They are part of an overall concept for client-specific tow trains, which will also be featured at the CeMAT 2014 trade fair in Hannover. "The use of these trailers makes it possible to execute several transport jobs simultaneously," says product manager Oliver Rosenthal.

Other highlights from the company include a truck and a solution that have both been nominated for the 2014 International Forklift Truck of the Year (IFOY) Award - an EFG S40s electric counterbalance truck and the Jungheinrich Logistics Interface.

STILL showcased its three trucks that were nominated for the 2014 IFOY Award at LogiMAT 2014.

Hamburg-headquartered STILL GmbH also showcased its three trucks that were nominated for the 2014 IFOY Award. The new STILL RX 70-50 counterbalance truck with a diesel-electric drive and 5 T load capacity, the EK-X vertical order picker and the iGo Easy automated guided vehicle system have made it to the final round. The trucks will compete in tests and assessments in mid-March.

Meanwhile, forklift attachment makers Hans H Meyer GmbH and Bolzoni Auramo GmbH joined their sales and service organisations in Germany, Switzerland and Austria and presented the new structure at LogiMAT (Forkliftaction.com News #655).

Meyer and Bolzoni Auramo showcased their newest products.

Paola Baldini, Bolzoni marketing manager, says the forklift market and the company's customers responded positively to news of the merger of Meyer and Bolzoni Auramo under the Meyer organisation in the German-speaking markets. Meyer and Bolzoni Auramo showcased some of their newest products, including a range of Meyer high-performance, third-generation fork positioners; a range of Bolzoni Auramo reach forks; and a Meyer full-service pallet handler.

Swedish forklift manufacturer Max Truck AB chose LogiMAT to introduce the omni-directional Maxtruck 2T forklift to the market (Forkliftaction.com News #455).

Max Truck AB used LogiMAT to introduce forklift buyers to the omni-directional Maxtruck 2T truck.

Company founder and CEO Conny Lindström calls the expo a success, saying his forklift "received much interest" from resellers in Germany and the surrounding countries.

"Contacts from Turkey and India showed their keen interest to have the opportunity to represent Max Truck AB in their respective markets. Interest was also high from other truck manufacturers at the show who visited our booth to learn about the new forklift," he says.