The world´s leading fair for tools, security, locks and fittings and Home Improvement / DIY

70,000 Buyers Gathered in the 2008 International Hardware Fair / Practical World

The leading trade fair of hardware in Cologne brought thousands of buyers to its suppliers.

The biennial event International Hardware Fair / Practical World is acknowledged as the largest and the most important trade fair of Hardware and DIY Supplies. This year, held from 9th to 12th March 2008 in Cologne, attracted more than 70,000 visitors from 129 countries, of which 58 percent are from outside German to participate in.

There were 3,375 exhibitors from 61 countries featured in the Koelnmesse Fair Ground, and were divided into 3 main sections: 1.Tool, 2. Security, Locks & Fittings, 3. Home Improvement / DIY. Each section caters visitors of a diverse range of products include tools, workshop fittings and equipment, furniture fittings, locks and keys, safeguarding systems, wood, interior fittings, building components, flat-pack furniture, paints, chemical products, electrical supplies, lamps and lighting, sanitaryware and fittings, houseware, ironmongery and fastening technology.

This "One-Stop-Shopping" gathering brought out related industry segments together and made a comprehensive survey of hardware & DIY products to its interested buyers. Numerous business contacts and products information exchanged amongst suppliers to wholesalers, retailers, distributors, and industry buyers across the globe in the exhibiting space of 255,000 sq. meters.

For Tool / Fastening industries (Hall 1-5 &10), several leading players made their presents at this important event including Wera, Gedore, Cooper, and Wiha. However participants from Asia together occupied 54 percent of all exhibitors in this section, (China and Hong Kong 30%, Taiwan 24) and an area Hardware from Asia was set in Hall 1 & 2.

Owing to the rise of Euro, the number of visitors and companies was slightly declined compared to 2006 of exhibitors dropped by 3 percent; while the diversity of countries of exhibitors increased by 5 percent.

The International Hardware Fair / Practical World was founded in 1971 and organized by Koelnmesse GmbH.

The next fair will be held from Feb 28 to March 03, 2010 in Cologne.