Q. What is your event about?

CeMAT 2005 is the top international event for the materials handling and logistics industry. It celebrates its premiere as the world’s leading trade show for intralogistics in Hannover, Germany, from October 11 to October 15. The newly coined term "intralogistics" describes the part of the logistics chain that covers the flow of materials between logistics nodes within organisations. It also embraces the accompanying flow of information in the production operation and in goods distribution centres, airports and seaports. The new-look CeMAT will take place every three years. Event organiser Deutsche Messe AG expects 1,000 exhibitors at the first stand-alone CeMAT this year. More than 80,000 m² of stand space is already booked.

Q. Give us an idea of the degree of industry participation in your event?

CeMAT has the industry covered from A to Z. The exhibiting companies send all their top people to the event, eager to present their latest innovations and product developments to an international audience of visiting professionals. Exhibits will concentrate on the following areas:

• Industrial trucks, fork lifts and accessories
• Handling systems and accessories
• Logistics management, computer  & ID systems
• Lifting equipment, lifting platforms
• Shelves and shelving systems
• Packaging technology
• Complete plant installations

By comparison with the show in 2002 the main growth areas are in industrial trucks, logistics management and software. Packaging technology is also very well represented, and features for the first time in the top ten display categories at CeMAT.
Q.Tell us how your event came about and how it has developed over the years?

CeMAT cemented its reputation as the premier international marketplace for materials handling technology under the aegis of the annual Hannover Fair, in Germany, which was founded in 1947. The objective was to get Germany back on its feet economically by revving up its export business. Now, in October 2005, CeMAT is "going solo" to become a separate event in its own right. The new exhibition provides an ideal platform for the emerging intralogistics industry. Once every three years suppliers from around the world can showcase their products and services in much greater breadth and depth than has ever been possible before at other trade shows in this market segment. CeMAT previously focused on materials handling hardware. Now it has been transformed into a comprehensive, cross-industry intralogistics trade show.  

Q. What are some of the challenges you face in staging the event?

The narrow timetable for trades and congresses was the most challenging aspect. The organisers have succeeded in attracting new potential exhibitors in logistics management and materials handling management. There is also an extraordinarily high level of interest shown by suppliers of complete materials handling installations. But CeMAT could not attract that many logistics real estate companies as there is an important trade show in Munich at the same time.  

Q. How do you measure the success of your event?

If exhibitors are successful in Hannover, the show is a success. It does not only depend on the figures. CeMAT is the only trade show of its kind worldwide that showcases a complete array of intralogistics technology. Visitor attendance is forecast at around 50,000. The show is going to be a big hit, it now depends on customers’ satisfaction.