Deutsche Messe AG, which stages CeMAT, has confirmed industry speculation that the exhibition will be separated from the Hannover Fair and changed to a three-year cycle by announcing this week that the new CeMAT Hannover show will make its debut in October 2005.

Manufacturers told Forkliftaction.com News this year that the biennial format of the show did not coincide with "innovation cycles", meaning it was difficult for manufacturers to develop and launch new products at the show every two years.

In its new format, CeMAT Hannover 2005 will attract more than 1000 exhibitors and have more than 80,000 square metres of display space, becoming with world's leading trade show for materials handling and logistics.

VDMA (German Engineering Foundation) Materials Handling and Logistic Systems Association managing director Hans-Peter Schmohl said the new event would clarify the previously fractured European trade show landscape for materials handling and logistics.

"From now on, the central event for materials handling and logistics has a name: CeMAT Hannover," he said.