InnoTrans 2014: Leading trade fair for transport technology marks its tenth anniversary and sets new records

This anniversary event, the tenth edition, is the largest ever in the history of InnoTrans. A total of 2,758 exhibitors from 55 countries are occupying all available space at Berlin ExpoCenter City to present innovative railway technology and services. This represents a ten per cent increase in the number of exhibitors compared with the previous InnoTrans. And this year foreign exhibitors account for 61 per cent of the total, another new record.

With 140 products making their world premiere InnoTrans also demonstrates the impetus that it provides for innovations and its role as the leading marketing platform for the global rail industry. No fewer than 145 innovative rail vehicles, the largest number ever, are being presented on the outdoor display area and on the rail tracks. During the four days of this trade show Messe Berlin is expecting more than 100,000 trade visitors from all over the world.

InnoTrans has reached new highs

“InnoTrans is a real phenomenon“, according to the Chief Executive Officer of Messe Berlin, Dr. Christian Göke. “Since its launch in 1996 InnoTrans has never ceased to expand, becoming the industry’s leading event in record time. Aptly marking its tenth anniversary the trade fair has set new records, with an overall display area of 200,000 square metres and a renewed increase in exhibitors.“

“For the global rail industry InnoTrans is the ideal location for companies to define their market position, introduce new products and access new markets“, according to the event’s director Matthias Steckmann. “During its four-day run this trade show achieves the highest possible concentration of supply and demand for the worldwide rail market. This in turn creates outstanding conditions for everyone involved in planning sales and organizing procurement.”

International participation is a distinguishing feature

Since the previous InnoTrans was held the proportion of foreign exhibitors has risen by four percentage points to 61 per cent. In addition to the global players in this industry it is the many international suppliers and rail companies, together with the 35 industrial and trade associations from 21 countries, that are the defining feature of InnoTrans 2014. Other exhibitors at this year’s event include service providers and well-known research facilities from Germany and abroad.

Debuts: exhibitors from Argentina, Morocco, Belarus, Lithuania and Macedonia are participating in InnoTrans for the first time and this year the proportion of non-European exhibitors has reached 17 per cent for the first time, with the highest growth rates coming from Asia and from North and South America. China and the USA are particularly prominent in this respect. Compared with 2012 the number of Chinese exhibitors has risen by 41 per cent, and those from the United States by 71 per cent. Once again the vast majority of exhibitors at InnoTrans have come from the main European markets, with Germany, Italy and France being most strongly represented at the trade show.

Compared with 2012 the net display area at InnoTrans 2014 has increased by nine per cent to 102,802 square metres, and foreign exhibitors occupy 56 per cent of this area. Above-average increases in their display areas, by more than 50 per cent, have been recorded this year by Portugal, Hungary, Romania, Ireland and Turkey. The skills and capabilities in the rail technology sector are being displayed by the international supply industry on 39 combined stands belonging to 21 countries and regions. Once again Japan occupies an entire hall, while the USA is exhibiting on a combined stand that is twice as large as in 2012.

World premieres and the outdoor display area

Driving innovation and a platform for product premieres: a total of 140 products are making their international debut this year in Berlin – a new record and proof of the growing importance of InnoTrans as a platform for presentations and marketing by this industry. The range of products making their international debut encompasses innovative communication technology, creative catering items and new generations of vehicles. A record total of 145 vehicles from all the global rail sector’s best-known manufacturers are being displayed on 3,500 metres of rail track at InnoTrans.

Once again global players with products making their international debut are among the main attractions on the outdoor display area: Alstom is presenting the latest version of its Citadis trams, Bombardier is introducing its new Innovia monorail and Siemens is displaying its new Desiro City, which has been designed for London’s Thameslink route. The Citylink NET 2012 light rail train from Vossloh is also making its first international appearance in Berlin. Other exhibits making their debut include high-powered locomotives, road-rail vehicles and shunting vehicles as well as metro trains and rolling stock. The Italian manufacturer Ansaldobreda is giving rail experts the first opportunity to see its ETR 1000 high-speed train.

An overview of the innovations and products making their international debut at InnoTrans 2014 can be found in the Innovations Report: www.innotrans.com/innovation

Future Mobility Park: visions for the future and design concepts for the next-generation ICE Velaro and Intercity Express

For the first time, this year’s event features a Future Mobility Park which showcases forward-looking, creative and visionary transport concepts. They include Horizon, a visionary mobility system that seamlessly and dynamically connects ground and air transport and is designed to eliminate delays.

Commissioned by the magazine ’Wirtschaftswoche’, three international designer teams have created new logistics concepts, attractive interiors and contemporary furnishings for the trains of the future. Two of them will be on display at the Future Mobility Park. For example, one design demonstrates an economically efficient concept and new ways for improving and modernising the ICE Velaro using intelligent add-ons. The Future Mobility Park also showcases design concepts for the Intercity Express of the future.

New: Special Gauge Display, CityCube Berlin, career tours, and more

The outdoor display site is a unique feature of InnoTrans. For the first time, the Special Gauge Display on the outdoor site provides an additional area for showcasing wide-gauge and narrow-gauge rail vehicles. Eight exhibitors, including Solaris and Stadler, are presenting their latest vehicles there. The Special Gauge Display provides the industry with even more options for exhibiting their rail vehicles to international audiences at InnoTrans.

The CityCube Berlin, the multi-purpose venue for trade fairs and congresses, provides two extra floors for exhibiting products at InnoTrans. Each floor covers 6,000 square metres. Thus, for the first time, InnoTrans occupies 40 halls (previously 38). In the CityCube Berlin the focus is on transport companies and maintenance services. Exhibitors include Deutsche Bahn, Russia’s rail operator RZD and the East Japan Railway Company.

With the student tours InnoTrans is expanding its career services and actively supporting careers for young people. This represents an important topic for the rail industry. Two career tours are available daily free of charge and will bring young people into direct contact with exhibitors. This year the Travel Catering & Comfort Services segment is offering its own themed route which guides visitors directly to the exhibitors in question.

CEO tours at InnoTrans

On Friday, 26 September, senior international transport industry executives will take an exclusive tour of InnoTrans and visit the industry’s main suppliers. The tours give CEOs a special opportunity to make personal contact with their business partners and suppliers at the highest level. Taking part in the tours are the CEOs of Solaris Bus & Coach, Istanbul Ulasim, Hitachi Europe and SC Softronic.

InnoTrans Convention: high-level dialogue and a forum for ideas

In addition to the exhibition the specialist supporting programme of the InnoTrans Convention features high-level panel discussions on the subject of mobility both now and in the future, thus providing an outstanding opportunity for exchanging technical information as well as a forum for ideas. This year’s programme features five key events: the Dialogue Forum, the Rail Leaders‘ Summit, the International Tunnel Forum, the Public Transport Forum and the PTI Hall Forum.

Full details of the specialist programme of supporting events can be found at: http://www.innotrans.de/Events/Convention/

Open Days for the public on 27 and 28 September

The Open Days for the public on the InnoTrans rail track and outdoor display area will feature hi-tech exhibits, railway nostalgia and great entertainment. On 27 and 28 September technically interested rail enthusiasts can marvel at the wide range of innovative rail vehicles, including trams, goods wagons, passenger carriages and high-performance locomotives. With its offer of savoury dishes and featuring a brass band and numerous colourful attractions this unique event for train enthusiasts of all ages will be taking place on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. Once again Emma, a historical steam engine, will be huffing and puffing and be taking children for railway rides. All the latest information about passenger services for visitors and training opportunities will round off the event.