The 50th interbad has drawn to a successful close in Stuttgart. The exhibitors, visitors and organisers all agree: The trade fair for swimming pools, saunas and spas, which is organised by the German Association for the Recreational and Medicinal Bath Industry, was an absolute success. On an exhibition area spanning over 35,000 square metres, 437 exhibitors presented new products, practical solutions and innovations.

 

The harmonious concept of an exhibition, congress and accompanying programme was convincing and proved a big hit: An overwhelming number of guests (92%) expect that interbad will also play a significant or increasingly important role for the industry in the future. About 14,000 visitors altogether attended the trade fair and the accompanying congress.

 

interbad logo

 

 

Future-oriented themes

 

    

Building Information Modeling

Hans-Georg Oltmanns

 

An important theme at this year's interbad was digitalisation, which Minister for Economic Affairs, Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, described as a "decisive factor for the coming years" in her opening address. Presentations on the topic, such as "Making of - Smart private SPA", in the "creating atmospheres" forum, which was set up in 2014, therefore generated great interest among visitors. An important pillar of the Stuttgart-based interbad, the Congress for Pool and Bath Technology organised by the DGfdB, was also "well attended", according to President Dr. Christian Ochsenbauer. "A total of around 1,000 visitors took part in the congress and the events of the accompanying programme", stated Ochsenbauer.

 

In particular the event on Building Information Modelling, BIM for short, was "well received and led to technical and in-depth discussions". The presentations of the interbad Innovation Award, the Public Value Award and the Spa Business Award, which recognise innovative, future-oriented solutions and concepts, also proved a big hit.

 

 

 

International audience


Looking at the future "the growing international character of the trade fair is extremely encouraging", stated President of Messe Stuttgart, Ulrich Kromer von Baerle: The trade fair registered guests from 72 countries, representing an increasing of well over ten percent. The largest visitor groups came from Eastern Europe at around 20 percent, as well as Switzerland and Austria with a joint share of over 25 percent. The percentage of foreign exhibitors is 37 percent.

 

High quality of visitors


The quality of the visitors was high as usual: 22 percent were self-employed entrepreneurs, 33 percent held management roles in a company, nine percent were managing directors. Overall, 86 percent stated they were involved in the purchasing and procurement decisions. With almost 60 percent the swimming pool operators once again represented the largest visitor group, followed by sauna and/or spa operators (27 percent) and swimming pool construction companies and specialist dealers (28 percent). The high willingness of the visitors to invest shows that interbad is becoming more and more attractive for decision-makers and financially sound private clients: More than one in five visitors expressed their investment intentions in the region of 250,000 Euro; almost 40 percent are planning on spending over 50,000 Euro.


Satisfied exhibitors


No wonder that there was consistently positive feedback from the exhibitors: In Stuttgart one meets a "fantastic, high-quality public", happily stated Friedhelm Schuch, President, Odenwald-Pool GmbH. "We prepared the ground for lots of follow-up business and even closed deals directly at the trade fair, which is generally very rare. It was simply incredible!" Stefan Schöllhammer, Managing Partner of KLAFS, also seemed impressed: "We had high expectations of the interbad anniversary event - and they were more than satisfied. We were able to once again increase the already good visitor frequency and quality of the last
event across all our target groups."


The next interbad takes place at Messe Stuttgart from 23 to 26 October 2018.

 

interbad

 

 

 

Exhibitor testimonials for interbad 2016


Franz Reps (junior), President, Compass Ceramic Pools:
"Many swimming pool construction companies and private clients attended interbad 2016. We were well-positioned in the 'right' hall, the quality of visitors was high, and we met our target group. Here we were able to establish new contacts and to cultivate our relationships with existing contacts. For us interbad is an important trade fair and pioneering for the business of the future."

 

Cedrik Mayer-Klenk, President, Chemoform AG:
"We are very satisfied with the outcome of interbad 2016. Our subsidiaries from abroad brought their customers to Stuttgart, meaning there was always a lot happening at our stand. The public was perfect, and we met our target group here."

 

Armin Herger, President, Speck Pumpen:
"Right from the very first day the trade fair was much better than expected! The exhibitors showed dedication and were active, the visitor numbers were good, the proportion of professional and foreign visitors was encouragingly high. Eastern Europe and Scandinavia were particularly well represented. These are important markets for us. Overall, we are extremely satisfied!"

 

Pavlína Stulová, Marketing Manager, Alukov:
"We are very satisfied. Our products met with a positive response, and the atmosphere on the whole was superb. interbad is an important trade fair. Many dealers and retailers came to Stuttgart, also from abroad. We met both existing customers and also new prospective customers. We are regularly at interbad, and I think we'll also be back again in 2018."

 

Bertram Krainz, Deputy CEO, Whirlpools World Outlet:
"For us interbad is a very important trade fair, and we are delighted to be able to take part. The quality of visitors was excellent, the feedback good, and we were able to establish, strengthen and foster several promising contacts!"

 

Michael Pauser, President, Ospa Apparatebau Pauser GmbH & Co. KG:
"interbad 2016 was a well-attended trade fair for us. It was already in full swing on the Tuesday. Many visitors came to us with specific projects. The quality of prospective customers and the requests was therefore equally high. We met private individuals and hoteliers from North Germany to South Tyrol and also met up with many of our partners. We achieved our trade fair objective and are satisfied."

 

Paul A. Müller, President, PAM PIONIER ABDECKSYSTEME-TECHNIK GmbH:
"interbad in Stuttgart was always good, but the interest and quality of the visitors exceeded the events of two, four and six years ago. We enjoyed a really successful trade fair. In our view this holds true for all areas - local authorities, dealers and also private customers. With regard to the local authorities, it is clearly noticeable that there is money there for infrastructure measures. We sometimes meet customers who we last saw 14 years ago. There is money available for investments in the municipal construction of baths."

 

Dr. Klaus Batz, President, European Waterpark Association e.V.:
"We focussed more on the topic of 'Meeting Point', and many members used the opportunity to meet up at the stand. We were also able to further expand our international contacts."


Rolf-Andreas Pieper, President, German Sauna Federation:
"For us interbad 2016 was an excellent trade fair, during which we met many members and pool operators at the stand."