Dates Announced for glasstec 2008

The next staging of glasstec, International Trade Fair with Special Show glass technology live, will be held from October 21 - 25, 2008 at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany. Exhibitor applications will be available from Messe Düsseldorf North America in September 2007. Over 1,300 exhibitors and 50,000 visitors from around the world are expected to attend.

Exhibit categories at glasstec 2008 will include glass manufacturing and production technology, glass processing and finishing, tools and replacement parts as well as process control technology, glass applications in the construction industry, solar energy, electronic display glass and laser technologies. Special presentations, symposia and the Architects´ Congress will complement the exhibits.

A special feature at glasstec 2008 will be the North American Pavilion, organized by Messe Düsseldorf North America (MDNA) and co-sponsored by the National Glass Association (NGA).

After the trade fairs´ successful staging in 2006, many companies have already decided to participate again in glasstec 2008. Over 1,300 companies, associations and research institutes from 46 countries and 54,000 visitors from around the world were present at the last event in 2006.´glasstec is the only truly international trade fair for the industry,´ commented Lilian Geurtjens, in charge of marketing at Scheuten. The visitors´ willingness to invest was an important factor in the show´s success. The Kyro Corporation (now Glaston Corporation) with its renowned machinery brands Tamglass and Bavelloni took orders worth Euro 27.8 million.

glasstec is not only the world´s largest exhibition for glass products, machinery and innovative applications but also the key exchange platform for contacts. Florian A. Stoffel, Managing Director at Bystronic Glass, summed up his experience: ‘To us, glasstec is the most important trade fair for the global glass industry. You will find all nations and those customers with a high buying potential gathered here in one place, which saves time, energy and stress - you gain the highest degree of efficiency when you are at this trade fair. Here you can have decisive talks with customers, deepen customer relations and find new customers.´

For Interpane Glas Industrie AG the opportunity to get new business contacts is a decisive factor for exhibiting at glasstec 2008. The company is among the leading glass processors in Europe and the objectives for glasstec 2008 are clearly defined. ‘Our primary goal is to win customers in the base glass segment on a national and international scale. glasstec remains the No.1 trade fair worldwide for coated and other alternatively finished types of base glass,´ explained Board Member Jörn Hesselbach.

Over the past few years, glasstec has also become a significant innovation showcase for companies from the booming solar industry. Solar*Tec AG, a manufacturer of innovative solar-cell technology from Munich will again exhibit in 2008. Focusing especially on customers for solar glass and/or architects who offer new concepts for the integration of renewable energies, Board Member Dr. Erich W. Merkle stated: ‘We plan to introduce new products - large-format, floor-to-ceiling, solar modules - even semi-transparent upon request - at glasstec 2008. This means photovoltaic functionality can now, for the first time, be incorporated in buildings and structures without the traditional limitations caused by small module sizes.´

The largest group of exhibitors at glasstec are small and medium sized companies, including Pellini/SreenLine SpA, one of Europe´s leading suppliers of thermal protection and privacy systems integrated in glass. Dr. Alessandro Pellini, General Manager and Partner of the company, commented: ‘glasstec is the most prestigious international showcase in this field bringing us into contact with both international and German trade visitors. The trade fair allows us to present all innovations in our product portfolio in a suitable setting.´

For more information, go to www.mdna.com.