Interview with Iris Jeglitza-Moshage (Messe Frankfurt's Vice President Technical Fairs)

2,400 exhibitors will present their trends and innovations on 250,000 square metres of exhibition space at the ISH – The World’s Leading Trade Fair for the Bathroom, Building Services, Energy, Air Conditioning Technology and Renewable Energies – in Frankfurt, Germany, from 6 to 10 March. For the first time, renewable energies are a major feature at ISH. Products and innovations in this field include, among others, solar thermal energy, wood and pellet burners, heat pumps, ventilation systems, biogenic energy sources and systems technology for buildings with high levels of heat insulation.

1- Why did ISH's organisation decide to focus this year's edition on the theme of "Renewable Energies"?

In Europe, around a third of primary energy is used for heating and operating buildings. To exploit the potential for savings in the building sector to the full, the EU's 'Energy Performance of Buildings' Directive calls for buildings to be seen as an entity in terms of their energy requirements and thus pushes building-related refrigeration, air-conditioning and ventilation technology closer to heating technology. At the ISH, the world's leading trade fair for the sector, leading manufacturers of air-conditioning, building services and energy technology present their well developed, highly efficient systems based on an intelligent energy mix of oil, gas and, increasingly, renewable energies.

2- What is the visitor profile of ISH? What's the importance of this fair for the world HVAC industry?

The ISH is attended by top decision-makers from the sector. Almost half of ISH visitors are top managers, including specialists from the installation trade and international engineers. Our visitor poll at ISH 2005 revealed that the majority of trade visitors (54 percent) are interested in heating systems. Over 25 percent said that air-conditioning and ventilation technology was their main area of interest.

3- How has been the event's evolution in terms of exhibitors, visitors, themes and international importance?
Over recent years, the ISH has been distinguished by increasing numbers of exhibitors and visitors. The growth in the number of exhibitors at this year's ISH is the result of our uncompromising concept of the event as an association of related product segments that brings together building-related air-conditioning and building-services and energy technology at the same time and place. Naturally, this association of product segments also includes refrigeration for air-conditioning, and renewable energies, both of which have been reinforced at ISH 2007. Some 360 exhibitors are presenting their latest products in the air-conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration technology section. Another 300 or so manufacturers are showing systems for use with renewable energies.
The number of exhibitors from outside Germany has risen constantly over the last ten years. Most of them come from Europe. However, there has also been growth in the number of ISH exhibitors from outside Europe. The same trend is to be seen on the visitor side: around seven percent more visitors travelled to Frankfurt for ISH 2005 than for the previous event. Of them, around 40,000 came from outside Germany.

4- Comparing with 2005's edition of ISH, what are your expectations towards this year's event?

We can already say that ISH 2007 is the biggest ISH ever. With almost 2,400 exhibitors, there are approximately 50 companies more than in 2005. The mood is highly optimistic and we anticipate very good results in terms of exhibitor numbers and that almost 200,000 visitors will make their way to Frankfurt for the ISH over the coming days.

5- What are the main novelties of this year's edition?

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