K 2007 Exceeded Expectations

Good economic conditions in the past few months have led to justifiable expectations for a successful trade fair and at the recent staging of K 2007, 17th International Trade Fair for Plastics + Rubber, these optimistic expectations were even exceeded: 3,130 exhibitors from 58 countries and about 242,000 visitors from 100 nations took part in the event (compared to 2,904 exhibitors and 231,000 visitors at K 2004).

The results of the visitor survey confirmed increased internationality: 57% came from outside of Germany and about 55% of the international experts arrived from Europe while 45% were from overseas. As anticipated, the number of visitors from Asia rose again: some 30,000 specialists from the Asian continent traveled to Düsseldorf. Among the Asian nations, the largest contingent was from India. A rise in the number of visitors from Thailand and Japan was also recorded. The percentage of Taiwanese and Chinese attendees remained constant at 1% and 0.7% of the international visitors.

A distinct growth in the number of professionals from North, South and Central America was also noted. A total of 8,300 trade visitors from the U.S. and Canada took part in K 2007. On the exhibitor side, 63% were from countries other than Germany. The leading foreign exhibitor nations were Italy, China, the U.S., Taiwan and the U.K. The number of U.S. exhibitors includes 60 companies displaying their products within the two successful U.S. Pavilions, organized by Messe Düsseldorf North America and co-sponsored by The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI).

For more information, contact Anne Meerboth- Maltz, Messe Düsseldorf North America, 150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2920, Chicago, IL 60601, 312-781-5180; Fax: 312-781-5188; E-mail: ameerboth@mdna.com, Web: www.mdna.com.