Interzum 2021, the most important trade fair dedicated to supplies, components and semi-finished products for the furniture industry, will be held from 4 to 7 May 2021 in Cologne. This was confirmed by Matthias Pollmann, Vice President of Trade Fair Management at Koelnmesse GmbH, and Maik Fischer, Project Manager interzum cologne, together with Thomas Rosolia, Managing Director Koelnmesse Italia, during the online press conference presenting the event.
In addition to the certainty of the date, there is also the awareness that the next edition of the fair will be very different from the last interzum due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The Cologne-based trade fair has invested heavily in the security of the event and the new formula, a hybrid formula with exhibitors at the fair on the one hand and the digital platform interzum@home on the other.
“I think we all need to be aware that the world has changed and will continue to change rapidly, and that people's lives are changing with it. - said Matthias Pollmann. “But we firmly believe that everything is possible thanks to our #B-SAFE4business security program, our new far-reaching digital tools, interzum@home and a positive attitude. We at Koelnmesse have spared no effort to ensure that the playing field is best prepared for the industry and the unanimous signals we are receiving are positive and reveal that the industry needs interzum as an international platform, regardless of its shape and size.“

The #B-SAFE4business security programme

To make the trade fair as safe as possible, even in the era of the coronavirus, Koelnmesse has developed #B-SAFE4business, a programme developed in consultation with the authorities that includes all hygiene, medical and organisational measures to provide the highest level of security in an environment where business can grow again. The #B-SAFE4business programme is based on four pillars: Visit Safe, Meet Safe, Show Safe and Stay Safe. In concrete terms, in addition to hand hygiene, the use of face masks and spacing, the flow of people will be regulated at the entrances to the trade fair and in the corridors between the exhibition areas, which will also be widened to make the movement of visitors more fluid. Koelnmesse's exhibition spaces are also equipped with a state-of-the-art ventilation system that allows for air exchange and sanitation.
The entire visitor route is mapped, from the exclusively online ticketing system to the new eGuard app, which provides accurate information about the density of visitors at any point on the exhibition grounds and is used to direct the flow of visitors accordingly. Spacing rules will also be applied in the construction of the stands if space is limited. For security reasons, the interzum awards ceremony will also be completely digital.

The digital platform interzum@home

The experience of being present at a trade fair is and always will be something very special and irreplaceable, yet the interzum@home digital platform has the strategic aim of increasing the digital reach. As digital exhibitors, interzum@home participants will have the opportunity to present their products in their showrooms with images and text and to raise the company profile further by including video content, for example.
“Thanks to the digital platform, interzum 2021 wants to increase its influence and effectiveness. This will make it possible to reach those visitors who are not able to travel to Cologne and also to get in touch with people who have never visited interzum before,“ said Maik Fischer.

Interzum 2021: a year full of innovations

Other innovations at interzum 2021 include the opening of the new Hall 1, currently under construction, which will be dedicated to the Materials & Nature sector, also present in Hall 6, 5.2 and 4.2. The Function & Components sector will occupy Halls 7 and 8, while Halls 11, 9 and 10.1 of the fair will be dedicated to Textile & Machinery.
Another new feature is the presence of the “Flooring“ group in the Materials & Nature sector with the inclusion of parquet, solid wood and cork flooring and laminates.
As far as exhibitors are concerned, most of them have already confirmed their participation, confirming their willingness to take part in this important event.  The number of Italian exhibitors who have so far signed up for interzum 2021 is 251, down by 20% compared to the same period two years ago.