The world’s largest trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances expects significant growth at the 50th edition in 2010. In 2009, despite the recession IFA reported stable trade visitor numbers, while visitor attendance rose.

50th IFA In Berlin To Seek Break Records


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Tuesday, August 10, 2010: The world’s largest trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances expects significant growth at the 50th edition in 2010. In 2009, despite the recession IFA reported stable trade visitor numbers, while visitor attendance rose.






This year it aims to build on its unique international standing with double-digit growth.

According to Messe Berlin all display sections are in high demand, so that IFA is fully booked up. IFA has benefited from the industry’s innovative drive, which this year will result in an unprecedented number of product premieres. What is more, more TV networks and a bigger entertainment programme mean the organisers are highly optimistic about the interest it will attract from visitors and the media.

Positive market situation - IFA boosts growth

According to Hans-Joachim Kamp, Vice-President of ZVEI and member of the Supervisory Board of IFA’s organisers, Gesellschaft für Unterhaltungs- und Kommunikationselektronik mbH (gfu), the markets are in a positive mood. “The economic performance figures released by the Ifo index and GfK Konsumklima bode well for IFA. Following outstanding sales of TV sets (+34 %) during the World Cup, gfu expects turnover in the German consumer electronics market to grow to around 25 billion Euros."

Compared with a decade earlier, over the ten-year period between 2000 and 2010 turnover has risen by 25 per cent, proof of the industry’s innovativeness. During the same period annual spending in domestic households on consumer electronics products has risen from 501 to 615 Euros, an increase of 23 per Cent.

"In the electrical home appliances sector we expect turnover in the market for large-scale appliances to remain stable, at around 7 billion Euros, while this year sales of small appliances will reach nearly 3.5 billion Euros, an increase of around 2 per cent. We are confident that the 50. Edition of IFA will give both markets a noticeable boost ", said Kamp.

The market sectors represented at IFA will have a wide range of innovative products on show. HDTV, 3D TV, home networking, TV/internet convergence and mobile media are the current trends driving the CE market. In the home appliances sector, the focus is on lifestyle, design, ease of operation and ergonomics. In both cases energy efficiency is a prominent issue and one that demands a responsible approach. Once again, IFA will have the latest innovations on display.



“We are confident that the manufacturers will continue to be successful and generate further growth. As a result we are eager for the 50th IFA to begin and are sure it will be a success", Hans-Joachim Kamp added.

Extremely satisfied with bookings
Dr. Christian Göke, COO Messe Berlin: “We are extremely satisfied with the high number of exhibitors and in particular with the amount of hall space we have rented out. We are currently even building an additional temporary hall and are making efforts to exploit every available space inside the existing halls. There has been a double-digit increase in the amount of space occupied“.

“IFA is in excellent shape. Every year exhibitors benefit from more and more international trade visitors and from the global media attention. Manufacturers meet more retailers here than anywhere else in the world. The media benefit from the fact that no other trade show has more product premieres than IFA“, said Jens Heithecker, Director of IFA.

3rd joint conference programme of medienwoche@IFA and medienpolitik@IFA

IFA’s successful collaboration with Berliner Medienwoche, which takes place in the same week and is organised by Medienanstalt Berlin-Brandenburg and Medienboard Berlin Brandenburg, continues in 2010. medienwoche@IFA will include the format medienpolitik@IFA, which is co-organised by IFA’s holders gfu and ZVEI, and takes place on 6 and 7 September. The conferences, podium discussions and keynotes involving partners of IFA will once again make up an attractive joint conference programme.

This collaboration offers visitors to the trade show and conference a parallel event with coordinated content. Topics at the conference include the outlook for media policy making and the device manufacturing industry. In combination with IFA visitors have direct access to innovations from the consumer electronics industry.

serviceforum@IFA 2010 – the secrets of digital added value

The serviceforum@IFA panel discussion will take place for the fifth time. Representatives of the industry, the media, skilled trades and retailers will discuss sales and business opportunities, new licence fee schemes and the importance of offering expert service and advice. The results of the BVT/gfu survey on the subject of networking will also be released.



Co-organised by BVT, ZVEH and the consumer electronics trade association ZVEI, the serviceforum@IFA traditionally gathers members representing retailers, retail stores, retail groups from the CE sector, retail specialists and the skilled trades, and members of the industry and the media. It takes place on Sunday, 5 September 2010 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the IFA Red Lounge.



TV networks at IFA

All the major TV networks, ARD, ZDF, n-tv, N24 and, a first this year - Super RTL and Sport 1 – will be represented with stands and studios at IFA.



For the first time this year the Cologne-based TV broadcaster SUPER RTL will transform the entire show hall into a colourful discovery world for families and their children. Live coverage, exciting games all to do with this station’s TV formats, imaginative discovery worlds, popular children’s shows such as Bob the Builder and lots of stars await children and their parents visiting the IFA, both in this hall and in the Summer Garden on the weekend. A full programme of sports entertainment awaits visitors to the SPORT1 sports bar in Hall 7.2c, where there will be daily live coverage of the latest sporting action.



A spectacular premiere – the IFA iZone and IFA eLibrary

Demand by companies to exhibit in the new special display areas, the IFA iZone and the IFA eLibrary, has been high, with 1,000 square metres rented out. More than 40 exhibitors from every sector, including app developers, retailers, the media, software distributors, have already announced their participation, once again emphasising the trend-setting effect of the world of i-products. Media partners linked with this section are falkemedia with Maclife, IDG Deutschland with Macwelt, and Mac-news.de.



TecWatch – the innovation centre at IFA

TecWatch, the innovation centre at IFA, will be presenting itself in new surroundings at IFA 2010. Next to the display sections in Hall 8.1, exhibits highlighting research and development work will once again fascinate the wider public, with the new sophisticated hall layout providing an additional attraction.



Joint presentations by associations and the E-Haus

The industry association Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie (ZVEI) will be represented at IFA for the first time. Together with Verband Elektrotechnik Elektronik Informationstechnik (VDE) and Zentralverband der Deutschen Elektro- und Informations­technischen Handwerke (ZVEH) they will be jointly discussing the topics of home networking and energy efficiency. The main attraction is the E-Haus from ZVEH, a comprehensive prototype of the networked home, which demonstrates how technology that is available now can be put to use in the future. The associations can be found in the IFA TecWatch area in Hall 8.1.



Entertainment in the IFA Summer Garden

The Kooks - opening concert at IFA on 2 September 2010

The successful UK band The Kooks are due to perform only one concert in Germany this year, namely the opening concert at IFA. Sponsored by rbb-Radio Eins and the music magazine unclesally*s, the concert will take place in the Summer Garden on 2 September 2010, the eve of the show. An up-and-coming young rock band, The Courteeners, will support The Kooks as their special guests.



Scooter – live in the Summer Garden on 4 September 2010

On Saturday evening a live performance by SCOOTER, one of Germany’s most successful bands, will transform the open air stage in the Summer Garden into a dance floor.



Programme of daily shows

Inka Bause, Jürgen Karney, Lou Bega and the Baseballs: international top acts, celebrities from the world of sport and exclusive open air concerts will get everyone dancing in the Summer Garden. From 3 to 8 September a colourful and entertaining programme of shows awaits visitors to IFA.



Schule@IFA 2010 – a project for schoolchildren from 7th grade onwards

Schule@IFA 2010 is back, following the successful launch in 2009 with 80 school classes. Currently 120 schools from the Berlin and Brandenburg region have applied to take part. Assisted by tour guides, 81 classes will go on five information trails to explore the world of IFA. Besides the project, extensive teaching material covering five modules has been put together for 8th to 11th grades. ZVEI is a partner of the Schule@IFA project.



From 3 to 8 September IFA will be celebrating its 50th edition on the Berlin Exhibition Site. The show is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.