Enhanced international character, an overall increase in the number of visitors and more exhibitors from abroad – the results from Consense 2012 are impressive. In its fifth year the international trade fair and congress for sustainable building, investment, operations and maintenance experienced further growth.
Over two days Messe Stuttgart provided an important platform for the exchange of information and ideas among specialists and experts on the topic of sustainability. This year 2,376 visitors from over 50 countries took the opportunity at Consense to obtain first-hand information on current developments and new concepts.
In its anniversary year the organisers Messe Stuttgart and the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) also appeared satisfied. Over 50 percent of visitors belong to the top decision-makers of the industry, every third person is active on the Executive Committee or in management. Traditionally the group of architects, planners and engineers, as well as consulting firms and service providers, are strongly represented, followed by experts from the industry and manufacturers of construction products.
An upward trend can be discerned in the interest from project developers and managers. Consense once again recorded strong growth in the number of visitors from abroad. The number of visitors increased by 11 percent overall, which was noticeable both in the congress and at the trade fair. In addition to participants from the German-speaking countries Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the large majority of visitors came from Brazil, Russia, Italy and France, as well as the USA, Australia and China.
Overall visitors from 57 countries were registered, there was also an increase in interest from foreign exhibitors. The largest majority of visitors coming from within Germany hailed from Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westfalia and Hesse, and visitors from the central real estate locations Berlin and Hamburg also travelled to Consense. Their interest was primarily in the areas of building materials and building products, but the visitors were also happy to discover trends in and obtain valuable information on architecture, planning and renewable energies.
A large number classify the significance of the specialist event as important, almost 60 percent expect it to even gain in significance in the future. At the same time the trade fair is becoming more and more popular also among the congress visitors – for 70 percent it represents an important component of Consense. Overall the ratings from exhibitors are positive. Over 80 percent saw their objectives met mainly with regard to raising their profile and in terms of their own image cultivation.
The expectations in terms of information about the product range and the presentation of innovations were also satisfied: "This here is a really important platform. We have seen how Consense has developed in recent years and decided to present our new product here. We meet many visitors from Germany and also from abroad", summarises Laura Cremer, Internal Communication and Sustainability Manager Europe, Interface Deutschland GmbH. Joerg Nitzsche, CEO, TONI Bird Control Solutions GmbH & Co. KG, is also convinced: "We are looking for contacts with customers to whom sustainability is important. At Consense we were able to make good connections and obtain good feedback."
The evaluation of the business success and the post-trade fair business is significantly better than in the previous year – a large majority of exhibitors are optimistic about the economic development of the industry as a whole, as well as the post-trade fair business. They also want to recommend the trade fair. Bright prospects for Consense: Over 90 percent see the international trade fair and congress as a central meeting point, almost half assume that the event will increase in importance in the future.
The next Consense, the international trade fair and congress for sustainable building, investment, operations and maintenance, will be taking place on 18 and 19 June 2013 in the ICS International Congress Center Stuttgart. Photos from Consense can be found on the website of Messe Stuttgart at: http://www.expomediabase.de/messe/bildarchiv/web/index.php?rubrik=Messen%2FConsense%2FConsense_12%2FAllgemein&volltext=&merk=&sb More exhibitor comments on Consense 2012: Hans Dieter Wahl, Management, HD Wahl GmbH and CEO of GFS Gütegemeinschaft Metallfassadensanierung e.V.
This is already our third time at Consense and we'll be back again! The location of Stuttgart is optimally suited for a green theme. Very serious discussions are conducted here. We meet very competent visitors and decision-makers. Wolfgang Schnabl, Team Green Building, Sales and Marketing Business Division, Industry, Huber SE We would like to raise our profile in the area of green building, make contacts and carry out marketing activities. We use Consense to present our technology. We are happy with the visitors to the trade fair. The visitors in the green sector are experts and of an international character. We are delighted to be here.
Margit Pfundstein, European Construction Competence Center, BASF SE Consense fully satisfied our expectations once again. Here we find a perfect platform to communicate and network. A really special community meets here, it is an excellent way for us to reach the desired target group. We meet relevant decision-makers from the construction industry, architects, engineers, investors and auditors. The framework programme events in the evening are also excellent. What we particularly like is the increasing international character of visitors. Wolfgang Steinwachs, Key Account, Waldmann GmbH & Co. KG The quality of our contacts is excellent – and also the influx of international visitors has increased.
Robert Zewald, Light Controls, N.V. Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek "Nedap", Netherlands/ Helmuth Brunner, Industrie-Beleuchtungen, HBIB The topic is very important and an interesting growth market. The German market is very focussed on sustainable building. Here we reach an important target group with architects, planners and companies who want to receive information. For example we have already made one contact with China. This is our first time at Consense – an interesting event. The contacts at the trade fair are very sophisticated and have discerning tastes. We meet many decision-makers here. Herbert Brunnenmeier, Team Leader, Southern Germany, FURAL Systeme in Metall GmbH, Austria Sustainability always means producing in an environmentally compatible manner. We have a product that fits the bill. The topic also comes over very well in the workshops. You have to be there! There is still a lot being developed in this important market.
Victoria Sohnrey, Project Manager, ARCADIS DEUTSCHLAND GmbH In our company huge importance is attached to sustainability. At Consense we want to present our company and use the congress for suggestions and ideas. Here we conduct interesting conversations with the visitors to the trade fair. Christof Kerkhoff, Technology and Economy, Association of German Engineers VDI We have a professional cooperative venture with DGNB. We use Consense for our specialist area of architecture. Our aim is to make ourselves known among potential partners and disseminators. This is our first time here thus getting to know the trade fair and determining our alignment and focus of our stand for next year's event.
Further information about the trade fair Landesmesse Stuttgart GmbH Melanie Bachmann Messepiazza 1 70629 Stuttgart, Germany Tel.: +49 (0)711 18560 – 2631 Fax: +49 (0)711 18560 – 2657 melanie.bachmann@messe-stuttgart.de www.messe-stuttgart.de Further information about the congress German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) Tanja Dieterle Kronprinzstrasse 11 70173 Stuttgart, Germany Tel.: +49 (0)711 72 23 22 – 0 Fax: +49 (0)711 72 23 22 – 99 info@dgnb.de www.dgnb.de Press contact Proesler Kommunikation GmbH Martin Prösler Karlstrasse 2 72072 Tübingen, Germany Tel.: +49 (0)7071 234-16 Fax: +49 (0)7071 234-18 info@proesler.com www.proesler.com
