More events postponed and cancelled

Hannover Messe, the event which includes the now defunct CeMAT show, has been cancelled "due to the increasingly critical situation surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic".

According to organisers, the Hannover region has issued a decree that prohibits the staging of the world's leading tradeshow for industrial technology which was due to be held in July.

"Given the dynamic development around Covid-19 and the extensive restrictions on public and economic life, Hannover Messe cannot take place this year," says Jochen Köckler, chairman of the board of management of Deutsche Messe AG. "Our exhibitors, partners and our entire team did everything they could to make it happen, but ... we have to accept that in 2020, it will not be possible to host the world's most important industrial event."

It is the first time in the event's 73-year history that it will not take place. However, the organisers will not let the show completely vanish. "The need for orientation and exchange is particularly important in times of crisis," says Köckler. "That is why we are currently working intensely on a digital information and networking platform for Hannover Messe that we will open to our customers shortly."

Various web-based formats will enable exhibitors and visitors to exchange information about upcoming economic policy challenges and technological solutions.

Hannover Messe 2021 will be held from 12 to 16 April 2021.

The event's cancellation also means the scrapping of the 2020 IFOY AWARD Night on July 13th.

"Due to the increasingly critical situation caused by the worldwide spread of the coronavirus, we consider an award ceremony with more than 500 international guests in the coming months to be inappropriate. For this reason, we have decided not to find an alternative date," says event organiser Anita Würmser. Instead, a virtual awards ceremony is being planned.

Meanwhile, bauma CTT RUSSIA will still go ahead - albeit later than the planned May event.

Organisers have confirmed that the outbreak of COVID-19 has strongly impacted developments in Russia.

"Following the directives of the Government of the city and region of Moscow to prevent and control the virus from spreading, Messe München was compelled to postpone bauma CTT RUSSIA. The new date has been set now. The trade fair will be held from 8-11 September at Crocus Expo in Moscow," says an event statement.

At this stage, it looks like CeMAT RUSSIA in Moscow will proceed as planned on 22-24 September.

"At present, there is no reason to believe that the CeMAT RUSSIA 2020 exhibition will be postponed or cancelled," says Svetlana Fedoseeva, general director of Deutsche Messe RUS. "Preparation is in normal mode.

"The postponement of key exhibitions in Europe to the summer season only confirms that the situation with the spread of the virus by this time will be resolved. This means that from September 22 to 24, 2020 CeMAT RUSSIA will open its doors to exhibitors and visitors," she adds.

Breakbulk Europe has also been postponed. The event will now take place at Messe Bremen in Bremen, Germany from 29 September to 1 October 2020.

"We have been closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19, not only in Germany, but across the world, and have decided to move the event to September to ensure the safety of our customers," says Nick Davison, portfolio director for Breakbulk and CWEIME events within the Hyve Group. "We know that this is the most important gathering for the breakbulk and project cargo industry and we want to be sure our customers can meet in a safe environment. The pandemic has had a significant impact on the global supply chain and bringing the industry to Breakbulk Europe will provide an opportunity for leaders to discuss the best way forward."

To accommodate the new dates for Breakbulk Europe, Breakbulk Americas has been postponed to later in 2020. A new date will be announced shortly.