ISH Frankfurt, one of the world’s leading trade fair for the Bathroom Experience, Building Services, Energy, Air-conditioning Technology and Renewable Energies taking place in Germany on March 10th – 14th, 2009, will be celebrating its 50 years of existence. The first ISH began on May 14th, 1960 and initially still had the title "Specialist exhibition for sanitation and heating technology". 520 companies, 63 of them from outside Germany, offered one of the most comprehensive product overview, seen by more than 190,000 visitors. The second ISH did not take place until 1963, when it lasted nine days and acquired its current title"International Trade Exhibition for Sanitation and Heating Technology" (ISH).

The holistic concept of ISH which, to a certain extent, brings together two trade fairs under the one roof (bathroom and building services/energy/air-conditioning technology) is one of the essential factors in the unique success of ISH. In the context of this holistic approach, some 2,400 companies, including all the market leaders and those leading the field in technology, will be there with a range that is unbeatable both in breadth and in depth. Moreover the success of ISH is based on co-operation between many different partners, particularly the sponsoring associations (ZVSHK,VDS and VdZ). With more than 200,000 visitors and a large number of international exhibitors and visitors, it is the most visited event of the Messe Frankfurt group. According to the organizer’s press release, the anniversary is being duly marked at the 2009 ISH with a special programme and an anniversary publication entitled "50 Years of ISH – Life with Water, Heat and Air".