A+A Exhibition Preview

What can visitors expect from this year’s show?

As always, A+A 2013 in Düsseldorf will be the central meeting point for the world’s professional scene in all matters of health and safety at work. This leading market, information and communication platform attracted over 60,000 visitors at the last show and more than 1,600 exhibitors are expected for 2013. 

But the significance of A+A is about more than just numbers. It is a place where professionals receive important stimuli from a diversity of areas that are covered by the trade fair and the accompanying congress. The transformation and globalisation of the workplace make it vital to keep continually up to date. Offering a wide variety of thematic areas, A+A has the answers to new challenges in occupational health and safety management. One such example is recent demographic trends which require companies to make adjustments to their work routines and their workplace design.  

What are the key themes for 2013?

Key themes for 2013 will once again be personal protection equipment (safety), a healthy workplace and workplace design, corporate security and special equipment for corporate fire and disaster protection.

What's new for 2013?

We continually work with the A+A Advisory Board, to ensure that the trade fair meets requirements of the market and also to highlight specific areas that are becoming increasingly relevant to both visitors and exhibitors. This year we will focus on corporate health and corporate fashion. One area that is particularly gaining in importance is corporate health management. This is due to demographic changes, a general increase in the workload, new patterns of communication (with an expectation of continuous availability) and an increase in psychological stress at work. The bandwidth includes nutrition, methods of relaxation, drug prevention and fitness schemes, and a range of suitable models will be presented by exhibitors at A+A. Hall 10 will feature a theme park called Workplace Design, dedicated specially to ergonomic aspects of this area. Visitors will be shown best-practice cases with in-depth presentations, featuring workplaces in a variety of industries. 

Another major area to receive attention at A+A will be Corporate Fashion – i.e. fashionable clothes for the workplace with mildly protective functions – as this area has recently seen an increasing rise in demand. Fashionable uniforms are a positive way to convey a company’s corporate image to customers. Moreover, they serve to increase a sense of belonging among the workforce and thus greater corporate loyalty. The latest fashionable collections from leading suppliers can be viewed at the A+A Fashion Show (in the Live Pavilion near Hall 4). There will be several presentations each day.

How is the health and safety market around the world performing? What are the key trends?

There have been positive developments in the personal equipment market, especially in countries where industrial production (with protection-intensive workplaces) continues to be intensive despite the economic crisis of the last few years – countries where the economic environment is now beginning to show signs of recovery. This applies, for instance, to Germany, the biggest market in the European Union, and also to Turkey (the A+A partner country in 2013) and the steadily growing markets of East Asia. Also, the latest economic data indicates that even the USA and Japan – traditionally high-volume industrial nations – will soon be back on the scene again.    

Although the starting point for trade can differ substantially from one country to another, A+A generally represents a dynamic multi-billion market of over €17 billion, including nearly €6 billion in Europe alone and approx. €1.7 billion in Germany (source: matrix insight / IVPS, 2010-2011, macrom study 2013). In this representative role, A+A with its fixed two-year intervals functions as a leading market and information platform. The most robust sub-segments are considered to be protective clothing, gloves and footwear.

How are you promoting and celebrating innovation at this year’s show?

Numerous innovative models and services will be presented at A+A 2013, for instance at the Safety & Security Innovation Park (Hall 7a). Three thematic areas will be covered by the participating companies and associations. On the first day (5 November) the focus will be on hazardous substances, on the second day (6 November) on corporate fire and disaster protection and on the other days on personal protection equipment. The Safety & Security Innovation Park should be a must for all visitors. 

What are the main topics being covered at the congress?

The A+A Congress will pick up all the central issues in health, safety and ergonomics. Events with importance across industries are, in particular, those on occupational health & safety and security management, as well as on ergonomic working time structures, workplace organisation, standardisation in health and safety and events on preventative care in response to demographic trends and also presentations on the retention of professionals within a company. One special focus in 2013 will be on the thematic complex of "Health”, including psychological stress and illnesses.

What advice would you give to visitors wanting to make the most of their time at the show? Are there any tools available to help people do this?

The A+A online portal (www.AplusA-online.com) offers numerous useful tools  to ensure that each person’s visit will be a successl. This is where exhibitors and innovative products can be found as well as being a useful facility for each visitor to plan their visit in a way that suits their preferences. Also, the programmes of all the theme parks, special shows and the Congress can be viewed here. In addition, A+A provides a highly user-convenient A+A app for both iOS devices and Android smartphones. The app has all the important functions required for the trade fair. 

What about for those who can’t make it to the show? Will they be able to keep up to date in other ways?

Here, too, the A+A online portal provides excellent search options. The industry news section is continually updated by an expert editorial team, and exhibitors can update their details of innovative products all year round, so the website is always worth a visit.