Berlin, 26 March 2018 – Trade associations and federations combine the interests of their members, representing them in dealings with politicians, authorities and the media, and actively supporting member companies on international markets: and InnoTrans here has an important part to play. A total of 23 national and international associations from countries including Australia, Denmark, the UK, Romania, Sweden and the Czech Republic are presenting their individual capabilities on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds from 18 to 21 September. During the preparations for InnoTrans these associations have been dealing with many of the organisational arrangements for the booths and for travel to this event. This puts exhibiting members in the best possible position to face the worldwide market.
Under the aegis of the SWISSRAIL Industry Association, 46 of its more than 100 member firms are represented on more than 1,000 square metres of display space at InnoTrans. Spread over two combined stands in the Railway Technology and Railway Infrastructure segments of the trade fair, the displays by Swiss manufacturers of vehicles and components as well as service providers, cover every aspect of rail transport. General manager Michaela Stöckli is eagerly awaiting the four-day trade show. “We are expecting a record number of visitors and, as always, some fascinating and very interesting discussions. We are looking forward to some hectic activity and the convivial company of many familiar faces and, of course, some new ones too. It goes without saying that we are also keen to see what our ‘competitors’ are up to, both in terms of their products as well as their innovative booth designs.“
Another long-term exhibitor at InnoTrans is the Spanish industry association MAFEX, with over 70 member firms, almost half of which are attending the twelfth InnoTrans.
In Hall 4.2 the Association of the European Rail Industry UNIFE will be representing 14 national rail industry associations and 95 direct member companies. Philippe Citroën, director general of UNIFE: “We are currently preparing an interesting four-day speaking programme on European initiatives such as Shift2Rail, investment and financing planning for 2030, the implementation of the technical Pillar for the Fourth Rail Package, ERTMS, IRIS Certification™ and the UNIFE’s Digitalisation/Cyber-security activities. The speakers will come from EU institutions and UNIFE member companies, as well as the representatives of international interests.”
From further afield there will be the representatives of business associations from the USA, with REMSA (Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association), and from Japan, with JORSA (Japan Overseas Railway System Association), demonstrating the competitiveness of their countries’ industries. The ’Japan Hall’ is now a regular feature of the event. With 13 member firms, JORSA is again occupying the whole of Hall 7.2a this year. “Our members include suppliers, operators and institutes, enabling us to present all aspects of Japanese rail technology and hardware to trade visitors at a single location, as well as convincing them of the quality of these products”, explains Shinji Sayama, director at JORSA. But Japanese involvement in InnoTrans does not end here. The member companies Fuji Electric, Hitachi, Hitachi Nico Transmission, J-TRECawasaki Heavy Industries and Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation also have their own booths on the exhibition grounds.
About InnoTrans
InnoTrans is the world’s leading trade fair for transport technology and takes place every two years in Berlin. At the last event 2,955 exhibitors from 60 countries presented the global rail industry’s innovations to 137,391 trade visitors who came from 119 countries. The five segments at InnoTrans are Railway Technology, Railway Infrastructure, Public Transport, Interiors and Tunnel Construction. InnoTrans is organised by Messe Berlin. The twelfth edition of InnoTrans will take place on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds from 18 to 21 September 2018. More details are available online at www.innotrans.com.