Berlin, 25 August 2016 – One of the world’s most famous trade shows for consumer electronics and home appliances, IFA, is again fully booked, and in 2016 again sees encouraging growth in both visitor numbers and the exhibition area. With the greatest variety of products to date – from TV, audio and smart home, to smartphones, wearables, 3D printing, automotive, robotics, telecommunications and IT, from electrical wholesale to small appliances – the various trends covered by IFA offer an exciting range of innovations, services and applications.
It can therefore be expected that IFA will give a significant boost to international markets – not least because IFA is globally also the most important show in terms of orders (last year saw more than 4.35 billion euros in orders) and the main platform for trade and industry ahead of the main selling season around Christmas. No other trade show worldwide brings so many distributors, buyers, industry representatives and media together from around the world at this ideal time of the year.
IFA Global Markets: new additional B2B marketplace
To make even more advanced technology and new products accessible to visitors, IFA will for the first time open a new additional area outside the ExpoCenter City exhibition grounds: STATION Berlin 2016. IFA Global Markets is aimed exclusively at professional visitors and in particular provides a central trading platform for buyers and dealers, bringing together suppliers, component manufacturers, OEMs and ODMs with potential customers and partners in the CE and Home Appliances industry.
Over 300 exhibitors, including from China, Denmark, Germany, France, Japan, Korea, Austria, Poland, Slovenia, Taiwan and Turkey, will present their latest product highlights and services at the 10,000sqm exhibition space, including LG Electronics and Zerotech, a leading drone manufacturer.
To make it as straightforward as possible for visitors to get to and stay at the event, IFA – as part of IFA Global Markets – will offer shuttle services on various routes, as well as a free brunch from 10am - 2pm. IFA shuttle buses depart from the exhibition grounds (Halls 26 and 6.2), from Tegel Airport, and from selected hotels in Berlin.
The IFA “trade visitor” ticket gives access to IFA Global Markets, which opens from 4 - 6 September from 10am – 6pm and on September 7 from 10am - 4pm. Trade visitors who only wish to attend IFA Global Markets can register free of charge, either in advance online or on site.
Dr. Christian Göke, CEO of Messe Berlin: "The growing number of innovations and products at IFA has prompted us to create additional exhibition space outside the ExpoCenter City this year – IFA 2016 will be the biggest ever."
Jens Heithecker, IFA Director: "The full range of the digital world comes together in Berlin. The event is unique in terms of scale and quality. IFA is therefore the world's largest international trade show."
Smart Home: a new exhibition trend area
More than 40 exhibitors from 15 countries will present their latest products, services and solutions for the smart home in the new 3,000sqm exhibition area of Hall 6.2. In addition, the smart home will be represented and visible at the booths of some 150 partners, including all the important global brands and major exhibitors.
IFA+ Summit: it’s all about the future
With the slogan "Exploring the Digital Society", experts will reveal the latest developments in artificial intelligence, robots, virtual reality, and autonomous vehicles at the IFA+ Summit (5 and 6 September) – in other words, the smart, intelligently networked world of today and tomorrow.
This year's IFA+ Summit opens at the CityCube Berlin at 11am on 5 September. The opening is presented by Axelle Lemaire, Minister of State for Digital Affairs, France.
The market in Germany in the first half-year
The consumer electronics sector closed the first half of 2016 with a decline of 2.3 percent, and a significantly improved result over the first quarter (-6.6%). In consumer electronics, the period from January to June 2016 saw significantly increased sales in the TV product area. The increase of 4.1 percent (to 1.9 billion euros or 3.3 million units) is attributed to significant buying impulses associated with the UEFA Euro 2016 football championship.
Positive results have been seen for large and small electrical appliances. Large electrical appliances saw an increase of 3.7 percent in the first half, while small electrical appliances enjoyed sales growth of 3.8 percent. "The IFA will give a boost to national and international markets. For 2016 overall, we expect stable earnings at the previous year’s level for consumer electronics products. With regard to home appliances, the IFA will continue to support the positive trend in large and small electrical appliances," says Hans-Joachim Kamp, Chairman of IFA organiser gfu Consumer & Home Electronics GmbH. "Pioneering, exciting trends, developments and innovations have always been under the spotlight at the IFA. The event remains the pioneer in successful business developments, with a convincing line-up of products”, added Kamp.
IFA TecWatch
More than 70 start-ups and 100 companies, research institutions, universities and associations will reveal the future direction of technology at IFA 2016. In the 3,000sqm Exhibition Hall 11.1, IFA TecWatch, the “idea exchange” for tomorrow's markets, will present innovations and the latest product solutions from all areas of consumer and home electronics. The TecWatch Forum at the centre of the hall will enrich the exhibition with a supporting programme of fascinating lectures, panel discussions and presentations.
Young entrepreneurs have a firm place in the IFA TecWatch Hall. For the third time, the Bundesverband German Startups e.V. is in close cooperation with the IFA organisers to present five exciting theme days, the so-called “Start-up Days”. Each of the five Start-up Days will feature a group of young entrepreneurs presenting their product ideas. In addition, the founders will present their technology and marketing concepts on the stage at the TecWatch Forum each afternoon. For more information, please visit www.ifa-startupdays.de.
Careers day for young women – Girls’ Day
How can we get young people, especially young women, enthusiastic about technical professions A joint initiative of three associations – VDE, ZVEI ZVEH – will offer concrete answers on 6 September, “Girls' Day”, with live talks, hands-on activities and field reports from young people in training.
IFA Keynotes
The IFA 2016 is all about the smart kitchen, connected cars, virtual reality and IoT. Leading global personalities from consumer electronics, home appliances and related industries – all key drivers of the digital evolution/revolution – will communicate their personal visions for digitisation at the 2016 IFA Keynotes.
Industry trends
Ahead of the most important selling season of the year, the IFA traditionally gives a comprehensive overview of innovations and firsts. It shows the trends and highlights that will be commercially available in the coming months: televisions that display fascinating HDR images, UHD movies on the latest Blu-Ray discs, 3D sound and unlimited music offerings from streaming portals. Virtual reality goggles and cameras, and super-fast 3D scanners and printers represent new growth markets. Smart networking promises safety, comfort, time saving and energy efficiency. Sensors for sports and leisure, as well as household and small appliances for vitamin-dense, gentle food preparation support fitness and health. Further trends include energy efficiency and resource conservation, ease of use, time saving and, of course, excellent design.
