Dental News - IDS press conference emphasises success story of the global dental trade fair

Dental Tribune International

Mon. 13. March 2023

save

COLOGNE, Germany: On 25 January, about 50 trade journalists from Europe joined the IDS press conference in the halls of Koelnmesse, marking the start of the final preparation phase for the trade fair that will open to visitors and exhibitors from across the globe tomorrow. At the press conference, representatives from the organising bodies of the show gave an outlook for IDS, which will be held for the 40^th time and is celebrating its 100^th anniversary this year.

In his opening, Mark Stephen Pace, chairman of the executive board of the Association of the German Dental Industry (VDDI), highlighted some milestones in the history of IDS, which was first held in 1923. Under the patronage of the VDDI’s predecessor, Verband der Deutschen Dental-Fabrikanten, which was founded in 1916, the first show took place in Berlin and was attended by 29 companies, exhibiting over a space of 350 m². Pace underlined that the first years of IDS, during which time the show was held annually, were characterised by war and inflation—quite similar to the current situation in Europe. After moving to Düsseldorf in 1937, IDS was forced to go into hiatus from the onset of the Second World War and was held again in Hamburg in 1951. Parallel with the flourishing economy in the 1950s, IDS grew significantly and toured various cities across Germany in the years that followed. The internationalisation of the show took off when the organisers entered into a partnership with Koelnmesse in 1992 and IDS settled in Cologne. In 1995, the number of foreign exhibitors exceeded the number of German companies. In 2015, there were more visitors from abroad than from Germany for the first time. By 2019, the number of exhibitors had increased by threefold. In that year, over 2,000 companies and more than 160,000 visitors attended IDS.

Oliver Frese, COO of Koelnmesse, said that he expects a strong IDS 2023. (Image: Koelnmesse/IDS)

Looking back on the last IDS, which had to be postponed to September 2021 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and the related restrictions on mass gatherings, Pace said: “Holding IDS in 2021 was the right decision in order to demonstrate that the German dental industry is able to offer technological as well as organisational solutions even during difficult times. Although IDS 2021 was much smaller, it was a very important event that reaffirmed the show’s standing.” In summary, Pace said that IDS has developed into the world’s most comprehensive innovation showcase, an indispensable industry meeting point and an exhibition for the global dental industry over the past 100 years.

Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse Oliver Frese stressed how delighted and proud he is that Koelnmesse has been part of the IDS success story for 30 years. He said that registration by over 1,700 companies from 60 countries demonstrates that the trust in trade fairs has returned after COVID-19. “We are well prepared for the anniversary event. The current registration numbers are close to those pre-pandemic,” Frese stated.

He added that Koelnmesse is pursuing digitalisation in all areas. A mix of in-person and online formats is planned again for this year’s IDS. However, he also pointed out that the past three years have shown that, although digital offers create important added value, in-person engagement at trade fairs is indispensable.

Tags:

To post a reply please login or register

IDS reaffirms its leading position as global dental trade fair

COLOGNE, Germany: The International Dental Show (IDS), which took place in Cologne from 12 to 16 March, fulfilled the high expectations of the global ...

GC IDS press conference: A look into the future

COLOGNE, Germany: This morning, media representatives from around the world met at the Koelnmesse fairgrounds for the GC IDS press conference. The main ...

Editorial: The growing localisation of trade fairs

We are almost in the fourth quarter of 2021 in the second year of the pandemic. What has changed so far in the German and international exhibition market ...

“The big plus of the hybrid event is the digital reach well beyond the trade fair period”

COLOGNE, Germany: Losses in the millions, cancellations of events and a completely new strategy—these are just a few of the hurdles and achievements ...

IDS press conference—date for September ultimately confirmed

COLOGNE, Germany: In preparation for the International Dental Show (IDS) this September, organisers held a press conference yesterday to inform ...

“Shaping the dental future” with 100 years of success at IDS

The 40th IDS marks 100 years of the trade fair, and this is surely a reason to celebrate, says Mark Stephen Pace, chairman of the board of the Association ...

The status of trade fairs in Germany—a look at the current environment

LEIPZIG, Germany: It is no secret that the 39th edition of the International Dental Show (IDS) will look vastly different to previous iterations. The record...

Dentsply Sirona at IDS 2019: Building success of the dental practice and laboratory

COLOGNE, Germany: Further improving treatment workflows, making optimal use of digital technologies and ensuring practice success both today and in the ...

New survey on European dental trade announced at IDS

COLOGNE, Germany: At this year’s IDS, the Association of Dental Dealers in Europe (ADDE) has presented the new edition of its market review, the 2017 ...

Study emphasises role of dental professionals in screening patients for chronic disease

LIVERPOOL/PLYMOUTH, UK: The connection between oral health and chronic disease has been increasingly supported by substantial evidence, revealing shared ...

Education

Live webinar
Wed. 24 April 2024
8:00 am EST (New York)