It was in March 1980 that METAV (then subtitled “The Market For Metalworking”) opened its doors for the first time in Düsseldorf. It very quickly became the leading trade fair for metalworking in the even years. Today it sets the pace in the largest industrial metropolitan area in Germany and the neighbouring markets.
Hans-Joachim Molka, Managing Director of Römheld GmbH in Laubach, Hesse, has been an exhibitor from the outset. He points out: “For 40 years, the METAV has provided an outstanding platform for holding face-to-face discussions with our customers from North Rhine-Westphalia, but also with visitors from all over Germany and the neighbouring countries, for presenting our products and companies and for attracting new customers. We particularly value the high calibre of the visitors, which makes it easy for us to communicate the advantages of our products and technologies.” Reiner Hammerl, Sales Director at Index-Werke in Esslingen, adds: “The most obvious development in the METAV over the years is that it is moving away from its role as a pure machine fair to an event for presenting the process chain and for showcasing solutions, including organisational ones.
This is just what the trade visitors are looking for. They regularly give the event high approval ratings. 93 per cent of the 27,000 visitors from over 60 countries at the last event expressed strong satisfaction with METAV. The exhibitors, for their part, are most impressed by the high calibre of the visitors.
ans-Joachim Molka, Managing Director of Römheld GmbH, Laubach
Focus topics and innovations for METAV 2020
EMO 2020 will take place from 10 to 13 March. At the request of the exhibitors, it is being shortened from five to four days. The survey results suggest that this will raise the effectiveness for exhibitors. METAV 2020 will focus on the metalworking process chain, plus the topics Quality, Medical, Moulding And Additive Manufacturing. “Each area attracts its own visitors and has become an established platform in its own right,” says Dr. Wilfried Schäfer, Executive Director of METAV organiser VDW (Verein Deutscher Werkzeugmaschinenfabriken – German Machine Tool Builders’ Association). Industry 4.0 is also finally gaining ground in metalworking. Important aspects include networked manufacturing, cloud applications and data analysis. METAV offers comprehensive exploration and evaluation of this development, both on the exhibitors’ stands and in the supporting programme.
“Of course we also want to celebrate the 40th anniversary of METAV in a fitting manner and, in particular, give something back to our long-standing and loyal exhibitors,” says Dr. Wilfried Schäfer, Executive Director of the METAV organiser VDW (Verein Deutscher Werkzeugmaschinenfabriken). “This is why we have introduced an early bird discount, which provides attractive conditions for bookings made by 31 July 2019. The VDW is also making a one-off contribution to the shipping costs within the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre.” This should result in even more machines and even more technology on the stands.
The closing date for applications is 31 August of this year. “Although the attention of the companies is currently focussed on EMO Hannover, we are pleased about the strong response to the METAV announcement,” Schäfer concludes.
