• Review of Materialica 2006
• Review of Materialica 2007
• Preview of Materialica 2008
• Preview of Materialica 2009

By Ania Dardas

Established in 1998, Materialica is now in its 10^th year as one of the most important specialist trade fair for materials applications, surfaces and product engineering. Held in Munich at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre from October 16 to 18, 2007, the show is a common platform for developers, construction engineers and designers from all over Europe. On show are raw materials, semi-finished products and components as well as pioneering surfaces and test methods for the next product generation.

Materialica also includes a separate trade fair entitled Composites which, having more than 200 exhibitors last year, established itself as the largest trade fair for fiber-reinforced technology in the German-speaking world. For the first time this year, ESA – the European Space Agency – will be holding its European Space Technology Transfer Conference in parallel. According to ESA’s Acting Head of Technology Transfer Programme Office, Frank M. Salzgeber: “ This is the place where we meet our target groups. ESA has already transferred over 200 space technologies into other industries. Our participation at this conference gives us a broad overview of success stories and future transfer projects, for example for the automobile, sports and medical industries.”

Materialica is characterized not only by its broad range of specialist exhibitors, but also by its highly professional visitor base with a large proportion of decision-makers. Visitors came primarily from the following industries: aerospace (13.1%, automotive (34.7%), building (5%), Consumer (20.3%), engineering (22.4%) and medical applications (4.5%).

This year, Materialica is expecting around 400 exhibitors grouped into the categories “Composites”, ”Plastics”, “Metal light”, “Ceramics”, “Surface”, and “Nano”, as well as “Testing and research”, and is looking to top its record number of 7,144 visitors from last year.

Definitely worth noting in your calendar! And in the words of Gerhard Kölbl from Fischer GmbH: “Excellent contacts guaranteed!”