California Apparel News

The future of the triennial IMB technology and textiles show in Cologne, Germany, was dealt a blow after the event’s main sponsor recently ended its longtime partnership with Koelnmesse, the host venue and producer of the show.

The VDMA (German Engineering Federation), a division of the German Garment and Leather Technology Association, has opted to sponsor a new show—TexProcshy;ess—to take place in 2011 in Frankfurt, Germany, where it will co-locate with the TechTextil show at the Frankfurt Messe convention center.

The move is another example of recent consolidation within the global trade show scene.

Raleigh, N.C.–based SPESA (Sewn Products and Equipment Suppliers of the Americas) is moving its show, which takes place every three years, to Atlanta in 2010 to co-locate with TechTextil North America. SPESA was previously held in Miami Beach with the Material World & Technology Solutions show.

Elgar Straub, general manager of the German Garment Association, said during a recent press conference that the move to Frankfurt is a “win-win” for exhibitors and visitors.

“Manufacturers and customers need a central marketplace at which the trends of the sector are presented and initiated every two years. That’s what TexProcess will offer.”

Almost all of the exhibitors at IMB are members of VDMA and are expected to make the move to Frankfurt, but executives at Koelnmesse plan to continue the event without VDMA. An informal poll showed that it has substantial support, said company Chief Executive Officer Gerald Bouml;se. The show has been held in Cologne for the past 35 years.

“It’s very difficult to understand this decision, especially right now,” said Bouml;se in a statement. “In spite of the difficult overall economic situation, Koelnmesse organized a very satisfactory event [last month]. We will analyze the new situation together and then make a decision concerning the future of textile processing as a trade-fair theme at our exhibition center in Cologne.”

SPESA President Benton Gardner said it was too early to gain a consensus of how SPESA members, many of which show at IMB, will react.

Several exhibitors at the recent IMB show—such as Jochen Cramer, marketing and sales manager for cutting-equipment supplier Kuris—support IMB.

“We would like to see more visitors from the USA and Asia. Apart from that, we hope that the location of IMB remains in Cologne,” he said.

Thomas Willing, managing director of Avery Dennison Central Europe GmbH, said last month’s show was successful for the tags and labels supplier.

“We achieved everything we aimed to achieve,” he said. “Our [booth] was packed, and we had more visitors than three years ago.”

Added Bouml;se: “The positive response of the sector is a huge motivation for us. We will use the excellent international reputation of IMB as a high-tech platform for the textile and clothing industry to once again considerably increase the international scope of visitors and exhibitors at IMB.”—Robert McAllister