Thanks for your visit in Duesseldorf!
Where did the visitors come from? What do they expect? What did they plan to see and buy? Has A+A 2009 met their interests? Let A+A 2009 visitors talk for themselves - here are the answers:
It is Irina Iwanowa's* first time in Duesseldorf and she arrived with the order to return to Russia with a new technology. "We are not really up-to-date with nanotechnology at the moment", the woman from Moscow tells. At least when it comes down to clothes, safety and fabrics. In hall 3, she did find a booth exhibiting a new technology how to treat garments with nanoparticles. However, first of all she needs to see more - there is a lot to discover at A+A.
*Name changed
Ranbir Singh wants to make sure that nobody will fall down from dizzying height. That is why he is looking for devices having to do with fall protection. Is Duesseldorf with its flat surroundings the right place? Of course! "A+A is the best trade fair in the world concerned with safety", the Indian says. It has been the sixth time that he visited the fair - which makes him also to an expert in the field of German beer: "Duesseldorf's old city is a good place for that!"
They are laughing, yakking and are in a real good mood. Annick, Dorin, Petra, Ingrid and Lies (from right to left) come from Belgium and the Netherlands and are also colleagues in a company producing workwear. "We are looking for special fabrics", Annick explains. That is why they crossed the border to Germany this morning in order to visit Duesseldorf and A+A. "We are some kind of workwear designers", the women are laughing. They had just visited the fashion show that took place on the A+A catwalk.
Babis and Dimitrios stroll through the halls without a hurry, they have already collected a lot of information that they carry around with bags. "We have already met all our competitors from Greece here, it seems", they laugh. At least all competition from the area of gloves, helmets and breathing apparatuses. "It truly is very comfortable that all companies we are interested in can be found in one area." And that is A+A.
Shoes, soles, leather - she takes a close look at all of them. Maria is Director of the division for research and quality for a technological centre. "I am here to buy products that we would like to test", says the Portuguese woman. "We do that in order to help companies improve their products." The institute does not just do the testing, though. It is also distributing certificates afterwards.
Seah Hong Yee has been traveling through Germany during his university years. That is why his visit this year is totally concerned with A+A and protective equipment and clothing - the word sightseeing does not appear on his agenda. His agenda is filled with meetings: "I need all four days to see all may clients and to also take a look at the trade fair. Therefore it is good to have everything from my area of interest concentrated at A+A."
Tilok Premarathna (middle) came by last minute - he insisted on also traveling to A+A in the company he is working for. Now, the man from Sri Lanka accompanies his colleagues Indika Kulathunga (right) and Prabhath Mendis (left) and they look out for innovations from the area of protective gloves. "We get a lot of inspiration here", he says. "Especially for us coming from an island and not living in the centre of Europe, it is important that we find everything and everybody having to do with our business here at A+A."
Shoes are his passion - when it comes down to his working life. Andreas Larsson traveled to Duesseldorf for a day. "A+A is one of the largest fairs in terms of work shoes", the Swede says. He has been looking out for retailers and producers and has already found plenty.
Visitor statements about A+A 2009
The A+A Congress
High calibre forums and seminars are the essence of the A+A Congress. Some 5,000 participants could be registered in 2009. More than 300 international experts discussed the effects of economic crisis on the safety and health at work. Another focus were the fields of application and the challenge of nanotechnology. We have summarised for you the highlights of the four congress days.
Are there reasons to believe that companies are saving on occupational safety measures in times of economic crisis? How can you protect employees from serious psychical and physical damages? At the A+A trade fair exhibitors showcase every 2 years the entire cross-section of products and services for personal protection and the realisation of smooth-running, health-retaining business processes. The event is accompanied by an international high-calibre congress which welcomed about 5,000 participants in 2009.
Joint protecting Office furniture, special protective clothing or the newest equipment on the market - that is only a small overview of the products presented at this year's fair for occupational safety and security. Every two years, the A + A takes place in Düsseldorf. And this years results are once again positive.
Personal Protection by Kimberly Clarke
Kimberly Clark presents at A+A 2009 the whole spectrum of personal protection from gloves to "coveralls" under the motto "Evolution of care". Our reporter Michael Kriess talked to the Vice President EMEA, Gil Madrid at the stand of Kimberly Clark at A+A 2009.
Fashion Show at A+A
The times that trendy fashion came at the expense of security are over. Now, style and functionality enter a symbiotic relationship - the visitors saw for themselves during the fashion at A+A.
The firefighters were the first ones on location as usual! Sympatex opened up the fashion show at A+A by presenting firefighter, police and military clothing - everything a hundred percent wind and water resistant and - for the sake of the environment - one hundred percent recyclable. Due to functional textiles that are permeable to water vapor but not for water itself.
Where are we now? Strolling down remote streets in New York or looking over a building site? It is hardly possible to see a difference thanks to Dickies and its wind and water proof protective clothing with style. The audience was taken with it - especially because of the groovy choreography happening on the catwalk.
They should be flexible and at the same time should protect against heat and flames. Lauffenmühle produces textiles that resist all extreme circumstances - also the artistic wrenches of the model's breakdance show on the catwalk presented in protective clothing.
New clothes for a new job - not necessarily. There is no need to always buy the clothing: Berendsen offers workwear for rent without neglecting quality. The models present any kind of workwear for the industry or any other area where hard workers are required.
"I'm not hot" - says the model's shirt which certainly is only true for the fabric, a speciality produced by BodyKnit. The company is known amongst other things for its antistatic underwear. Long johns and shirts worn underneath protective clothing make up the second line of defence against wind, water, heat and flames.
Hospital nurse, cook or sushi tamer - all of them and others can now be dressed according to their profession without missing out on fashionable feelings. Albiro makes sure that style finds its way into gastronomic and health care areas. The result are clothes representing a modern young look.
The chemical industry, the building site and cold regions have been the inspiration for designers that delivered the ideas for producing clothes according to Planam standard - fashionably styled up and combined with up-to-date security standards.
As long as it is easy! This is just wishful thinking for most stages in life. However, when it comes down to handicraft it is an essential wish in order to work without being constantly interrupted by mishaps. Also the models at A+A were happy to be able to dance with ladders that are especially easy to handle - thanks to Günzburger Steigtechnik.
Most of us are tucked away in it for at least eight hours per day - working clothes truly need to be of hard-wearing quality. Excess knows about this and convinced its clothes to team up with a water plant. Jackets and trousers are being protected by the lotus effect which just brushes off dirt attacking from the outside.
Ansell made sure that the fashion show finishes with a proper end. Colourful hands swirl through the air - protective gloves in all different colours from green and yellow to purple and red wave the visitors good-bye.
Pictures of the Fashion Show at A+A 2009
Simulated disaster exercise
When a disaster occurs everything must run smoothly. The different relief units have to work together well. But unfortunately curious onlookers often make their work difficult. We are going to show you just how such a operation can take place and how firemen, rescue workers and the Agency for Technical Relief work with each other.
Highlights at A+A 2009
Every two years at the trade fair in Düsseldorf, issues concerning occupational health and safety are at the center of attention. Ranging from simulations of rescue operations all the way to fashionable clothing - the A + A presents itself diversely throughout the 53,000 square meters. Even Federal Minister for Labour and Social Affairs Franz Josef Jung was present at the opening!
Dauphin: Healthy sitting - not only in the office
Dauphin will be giving visitors to the stand the chance to experience healthy sitting and ergonomics with its successful Ergolab. Intelligent measuring facilities including the “eyeSeat” are used to analyse and explain people’s sitting habits. The special teaching chair features pressure sensors in the seat and backrest. A screen shows how the chair is being sat on. If necessary, a signal is given warning of incorrect postures.
Uvex: Protection from head to toe
Protection from head to toe - that is what UVEX is known for, mainly in the skiing and motor sport community. And this full protection is what Uvex translates to the safety at work. AplusA-online.com had an interview at A+A with Frank Seuling, CEO of Uvex.
Demonstration of a rescue mission at A+A 2009: A plant fire department rescues an injured person from a tube. (Video: Werksfeuerwehrverband; Association of plant fire departments in Germany)
Interview with Joachim Schäfer - Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf and responsible for the A+A 2009 on the occasion of the opening press conference on 02 November 2009 in Düsseldorf
Messe Düsseldorf
