115,000 visitors from 148 countries: increase of 9 per cent - 1,956 exhibitors from 58 countries - 145,000 m² area - large number of visitors from abroad - visitors with impressive decision-making credentials - IDS generates strong momentum for a successful business year - sector delighted with resultsThe world's leading dental trade fair IDS came to a close on Saturday, 26th March with an extremely upbeat mood and outstanding results after five days in Cologne. The number of trade visitors rose by about 9 per cent compared to the previous event, while the number of exhibitors was up by 7 per cent and the amount of occupied exhibition space increased by 5 per cent. In total, about 115,000 trade visitors came to the fair from 148 countries to gather information about the product ranges exhibited by 1,956 suppliers from 58 countries. In all, 66 per cent of the exhibitors come from outside Germany. The number of companies from outside Germany rose by 9 per cent. The number of visitors from abroad rose by over 20 per cent to approximately 42 per cent. "We've succeeded in making the International Dental Show even more attractive, both domestically and internationally. The strong increase in international participants especially shows that IDS is the world's leading dental trade show," says Dr. Martin Rickert, Chairman of the Association of German Dental Manufacturers (VDDI). "What's more, participants were able to forge high-quality business contacts, both between industry and trade professionals as well as between the industry, dentists and dental technicians. Thus the trade fair once again signalled better times ahead and generated momentum that will help the dental sector stay on course for a successful business year." Koelnmesse Executive Vice President Oliver P. Kuhrt added: "IDS more than satisfied everyone's expectations. Once again, IDS offered a whole range of new products and excellent opportunities to exchange information, communicate with partners and place orders. That's why exhibitors, visitors and media representatives alike were all delighted with the trade fair."Excellent trade fair results and upbeat mood The upbeat mood at IDS 2011 was especially due to the large number of visitors. Accordingly, the trade fair's halls were very busy and the exhibitors' stands were extremely well visited. Exhibitors confirmed that representatives of all important professions - ranging from dental practices and dental labs to the dental trade, plus the higher education sector - visited their stands. Exhibitors were particularly pleased with the large number of international visitors to the trade fair. This year there was a strong increase in visitors not only from Latin America and South America, Australia, the United States and Canada, but also from Italy, France, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Israel, China and India. IDS was also a huge financial success for many exhibitors. Countless orders were placed, both domestically and internationally, and so numerous companies were able to boast a long list of orders. Of equal if not greater importance to many exhibitors were the opportunities to establish and maintain contacts, generate customer loyalty, win new customers and open up new foreign markets. All of these goals were also reached at the 34th International Dental Show. Last but not least, the exhibitors expressed great satisfaction with the visitors' high decision-making authority. This finding is confirmed by the initial results of an independent visitor survey, as 85 per cent of all trade visitors are involved in purchasing decisions at their company.Highly satisfied trade visitorsNot only the exhibitors but also trade visitors report that the trade fair was a great success. This is confirmed by initial responses to the visitor survey. Altogether 95 per cent of respondents indicated that they were satisfied or very satisfied with IDS. 1,956 international exhibitors and numerous new products ensured that 95 per cent of visitors indicated that they were satisfied or very satisfied with the range of products and with having achieved their goals at the trade fair. In addition, 93 per cent would recommend a visit to IDS to a close business associate.Enormous interest in innovationThe specialist trade and users were especially interested in the innovative new products and technologies on display. According to Dr. Martin Rickert (VDDI), the trade fair demonstrated that digital processes and technologies are becoming increasingly popular since they facilitate even more efficient and higher quality treatments. Hence a major focus of IDS 2011 was on products and systems that offer users and patients improvements in preventative care, diagnostics and dental treatment. These include expanded ultrasound systems that enable painless professional preventative care, digital intraoral scanners, improved root canal treatment methods, new dental filling materials, aesthetic dental crowns and bridges that look especially natural, and improved digital X-ray diagnostics that are especially useful in the area of implantology. (For more information, see the attached trade review of IDS 2011.)German Dental Association (BZÄK): "Dental market is engine for growth in Germany"The President of the German Dental Association (BZÄK), Dr. Peter Engel, is pleased with the positive results of the trade fair: "Germany's economy is recovering - you can tell that from the latest IDS. Even more visitors and exhibitors than in previous years can mean only one thing: The profession is progressive and medium-sized German businesses are fostering innovation - and they're attracting enormous interest internationally. The dental market is providing Germany with economic drive. In the future, these innovations in dentistry may provide patients with even better dental treatment and preventative care. And this is where sound political decision-making is needed. Policy-makers have to create health policy frameworks so that these innovations can be put into practice. For example, dentists are awaiting several important and overdue amendments to be passed. These include amendments on dentistry licenses and dentist fees, as well as an adjustment between West and East German salaries.The fact that the German Federal Ministry of Health intends to loosen budget restrictions on statutory health insurance is now sending a positive political signal. So we're optimistic that we'll be able to ensure innovative, top-quality dentistry in the future, too." The German Dental Association also held a coordinating conference for aid organisations at IDS, where over 40 participants presented aid projects to improve the dental health of the world's poor. The projects were developed by dentists and dentistry students who work in hotspots all over the world. Some of them also work in Germany. They provide dental services for a range of disadvantaged patients, including orphans, homeless people, disabled patients, people requiring care, drug addicts and inhabitants of remote areas who wouldn't receive medical treatment otherwise. To do this work, dentists and students often have to overcome enormous challenges. The coordinating conference offered participants a special opportunity to share their experiences in organising aid efforts.Association of German Dental Technicians' Guilds (VDZI): "Impressive proof of the sector's innovative power"Jürgen Schwichtenberg, President of the Association of German Dental Technicians' Guilds, was also very satisfied with the trade fair: "From the point of view of the dental technician trade, the International Dental Show 2011 once again offered impressive proof of the dental sector's innovative power. We registered a decidedly optimistic and future-oriented mood among the exhibitors as well as among the dentists, dental technicians and visitors to the trade fair. Considering the breadth of products on display in Cologne and the rapid development of new, particularly digital technologies, it will be even more important in the future for dental technicians to actively supplement these new technologies and solutions with their expert knowledge and to put these into practice in their laboratories in order to ensure an all-round high-quality treatment. Our partners in the dental industry in general and dentists in particular will be able to continue to rely on these important services." One partnership that was started at IDS is gaining increasing importance: the cooperation between the Association of German Dental Technicians' Guilds and the European Association for Dental Technology (EADT). The aim of the cooperation is to bundle dental technology expertise and to provide further training of the highest theoretical and practical standards so that practitioners can learn about the latest state-of-the-art dental technology. The VDZI stand at the trade fair proved to be a popular location to make contacts and discuss subjects relating to all aspects of the dental technician trade as well as specific trade policy projects. In addition, VDZI conducted a competition for the 13th Gysi Prize which honoured the best up-and-coming dental technicians.Speakers' Corner well attendedMany visitors also took advantage of the Speakers' Corner feature to gather information on the latest developments from science and research. New products and processes were presented there on all five days of the trade fair, with around 80 presentations by exhibitors. The subjects ranged from implant systems and digitization to dental aesthetics, laser technology and dental anaesthesia as well as the options that modern stress management offers dentists.The International Dental Show (IDS) is held in Cologne every two years. It is organized by the GFDI Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Dental-Industrie mbH, the commercial enterprise of the Association of German Dental Manufacturers (VDDI), and staged by Koelnmesse GmbH, Cologne.IDS 2011 in figures:A total of 1,956 companies from 58 countries (2009: 1,823 from 57 countries) took part in IDS 2011, on a gross exhibition area of around 145.000 m² (2009: 138,000 m²). The participants included 654 exhibitors and 17 additionally represented companies from Germany as well as 1,252 exhibitors and 33 additionally represented companies - and thus 66 per cent (2009: 65 per cent) - from abroad. Including estimates for the last day of the fair, IDS attracted around 115,000 trade visitors from 148 countries (2009: 106,147 trade visitors from 136 countries); approximately 42 per cent of them (2009: 38 per cent) came from abroad.*All figures have been calculated in accordance with the guidelines of the Society for Voluntary Control of Trade Fair and Exhibition Statistics (FKM) and are subject to audit by an auditor (www.fkm.de).The next IDS - 35th International Dental Show will take place from 12th to 16th March 2013. The specialist supporting programme will once again be organized by the German Dental Association (BZÄK) and the Association of German Dental Technicians' Guilds (VDZI).Digital press service:The Final Report, additional press releases, exhibitors' press compartments, the new products database and an image database with image material and logo are to be found on the Internet at www.ids-cologne.de in the "Press" area.If you reprint this document, please send a voucher copy.<hr/>
Feedback from exhibitors:
Jost C. Fischer, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Sirona Dental Systems "The trade fair was very successful as far as we're concerned. The number of visitors was amazing. In fact, all of our employees were involved in discussions around the clock. You could clearly see that the economy had picked up again. As a result, the atmosphere at the fair was extremely positive. In my opinion, it was the best IDS ever."
Mark Stephen Pace, Managing Director, Dentaurum GmbH & Co. KG "We are very satisfied with this year's IDS. We used the fair to make personal contacts and maintain existing relationships. Thanks to the high quality of the visitors, it was possible to conduct really good business discussions. We had the impression that many of the visitors had clearly targeted what they wanted to see at the fair. As a consequence, we can say that the number of orders placed was very encouraging and better than normal - particularly in the areas of implantology and laser technology. The same applies to our subsidiaries and international trading partners worldwide - regardless of whether they are based in Switzerland, Italy, France, Uruguay, Brazil or China."
Sebastian Voss, Managing Director and Partner, Hager & Meisinger GmbH "In our opinion, a hallmark of this year's IDS was the fair's international scope. Both traders and end customers came from all over the world. At the same time, because the visitors came very regularly the halls were always pretty full. We're thus highly satisfied. After all, our customers were here in Cologne and we conducted very good business discussions."
Susanne Stegen, Managing Director, DMG Chemisch-Pharmazeutische Fabrik GmbH "IDS is an ideal venue for anyone who wants to meet international trading partners. That's because many people interested in innovative dental products come to Cologne from all over the world. And when it comes to quality, this is a great place to get in touch with the right business partners."
Klaus Rübesamen, Managing Director, Komet/Gebr. Brasseler GmbH & Co. KG "As far as Komet is concerned, IDS 2011 was a great event. In fact it even exceeded our expectations. Once again, we were able to present ourselves to a broad specialist public as an innovation leader when it comes to dental instruments and tools. The many customers we met from Germany and abroad were very positive about our innovations. As a result, we are optimistic about the future."
Dr. Alessandro Gamberini, President PROMUNIDI Srl / Vice-President U.N.I.D.I. Italian Dental Industries Association "IDS 2011 was really good. In fact, in our opinion, it was even better than the last event. According to our estimates, the number of visitors increased once again. At the same time, they came from all over the world. What's more, the quality of the event was very high. We're thus highly satisfied. After all, when IDS is a success, that's also a success for us."
Troy Williams, Executive Officer, Australian Dental Industry Association (ADIA):
"The Australian Dental Industry Association has received favorable feedback from exhibitors in the Australian Pavilion, with a common theme being that IDS 2011 has allowed them to build new contacts that will support exports across Europe and North America. The pavilion at IDS 2011 has also proved useful in allowing Australian-based distributors source the latest innovative products for sales to dentists and allied oral healthcare professionals within Australia."
Andrew Parker, President and CEO, Mydent International "The high quality and number of prospects generated at the 2011 IDS Meeting accounts for a staggering 50% of the export leads obtained during the course of the year for Mydent International. More importantly, as a central meeting spot for our existing customers, we are able to cost effectively review our worldwide customers progress and demonstrate our new Defend brand products without costly travel and time inefficiencies. Lastly, the USA Pavilion provided a superb Trade Show experience that is geared towards the exhibitors needs and in 2011 has exceeded my expectations."
Paula Portugal, Marketing Manager, Brazilian Medical Devices Manufacturers Association (ABIMO) "For several years now, there has been a Brazilian pavilion at IDS. This year's event was particularly good as far as the Brazilian exhibitors are concerned. Our members report that they have made important contacts to new dealers and new markets. At the same time, all the existing customers were here. As a result, our members are very satisfied with the level of ordering during the fair. One of our aims here was to promote the image of Brazilian manufacturers in the dental sector as reliable partners. IDS has shown that this is the right place to achieve such a goal. In other words, we can say that our investments have paid off."
Linda Miller, President, PDT Dental
"The IDS gives us the opportunity to cost effectively and efficiently meet face to face with our distributors around the world. The IDS has a great reputation so it draws distributors from countries that we have not had the chance to approach. International sales have grown to 35% of our sales and rapidly developed due to our IDS contacts."
