Deutsche Messe has announced today that Hannover Messe 2020 will be postponed to July 2020 due to covid-19 outbreak. The decision was made in close cooperation with the Hannover Region Health Authority, the Hannover Messe Exhibitors' Council and the partner associations VDMA (German Engineering Federation) and ZVEI (German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association).
Strong health measures recommended
The Hannover Region Health Authority had strongly recommended that Deutsche Messe follow the advice of the Robert Koch Institute, which includes comprehensive measures to safeguard health when hosting major events. For instance, fever measuring stations at all entrances and not allowing people from risk areas or those who have had contact with people from risk areas to enter the exhibition center. This would have entailed a comprehensive evaluation of all trade fair participants – from exhibitors and visitors to service providers, exhibit builders and catering companies.
The reasons of the switch of date
Deutsche Messe is unable to implement the proposed measures. In addition, their implementation would impair the staging of the event to such an extent that the event would not fulfill its purpose or would do so only with considerable restrictions for exhibitors and visitors.
Since the health of exhibitors, visitors, employees, and the public is the top priority for Deutsche Messe, the decision was made in consultation with Hannover Messe's exhibitor advisory councils to switch to the July date.
"With the July date, we offer our exhibitors the earliest possible time slot to present their innovations to a global audience and to initiate business," says Dr. Jochen Köckler, Chairman of the Board of Management of Deutsche Messe AG. "In view of the global economic challenges triggered by the Coronavirus in the first half of the year, the new date offers great opportunities. Thus the world's most important industrial trade fair can provide important impetus for the global economy at an early stage."
The best possible option
"The VDMA supports the decision of Deutsche Messe AG. In regards to the current challenges caused by the Coronavirus, postponing Hannover Messe until July is the best possible option," says VDMA Chief Executive Thilo Brodtmann. "We assume that the situation will calm down in the coming months and that the mechanical engineering industry will then benefit from a reviving business situation."
"Today's decision by Deutsche Messe AG to postpone Hannover Messe comes at the right time," emphasizes Wolfgang Weber, Chairman of the ZVEI Management Board. "As an internationally important industrial trade show, its USP is the gathering of people from all over the world. This can only happen if there are no health risks. Furthermore, it is important for the electrical industry to present its products for Industry 4.0, electrification and greater energy efficiency to the public this summer."
