News

ZOW 2009: New ideas and new markets
International supplier fair sets the scene for trends

The next ZOW in Bad Salzuflen, running from 9 to 12 February 2009, is eagerly anticipated. More than 400 furniture supplier companies from all over the world have already registered, and will be exhibiting the new products of the season in February 2009 just in time for MOW. The innovative force of the sector has not let up and signifies concentrated design competence; new sales markets are the focus of the supplier industry and are perfectly at home at ZOW. ZOW 2009 will be the showcase for modern design ideas in the furniture and interiors industry, architecture and design, trade fair and retail design, lightweight construction and logistics.

By focussing on architects, interior designers and designers, ZOW in Bad Salzuflen has been on a trend-setting journey since 2006. Commercial business is becoming increasingly interesting for companies in the supplier industry, giving rise to new, lucrative sales prospects, which require systematic processing. The architectural lounge – which will be bigger and more informative than ever before in 2009 – offers these group of trade visitors an attractive point to start discovering the diverse ZOW product range in Hall 22.2. Guided tours around the exhibition start here, the universal design highlights are presented here, and special talks run in cooperation with selected partners take place here. The architectural lounge is the perfect place to pick up ideas and exchange impressions in an exciting atmosphere.

Lightweight construction is the hot topic. With a high-class exhibition located very near the architectural lounge, this exciting and innovative topic sets the scene at ZOW. Both young and renowned companies in the international supplier industry will present their newest solutions from lightweight construction, which will revolutionise the furniture and interior world in the coming years, in an area of around 500 m². As well as simple handling, it’s primarily the low transport, energy and packaging costs which make lightweight construction solutions so interesting for the furniture and interiors industry, trade fair and retail design. The Lightweight Network (IGEL) forms the focal point of the exhibition, which encompasses many companies involved in lightweight construction (www.igel-ev.net).

“materialZ” – creative material ideas at ZOW
The step from lightweight construction to material is not a large one. At ZOW 2009 in Bad Salzuflen, for the first time ever visitors will have the chance to attend a material exhibition entitled “materialZ“ as a show in show in Hall 23.2, organised by the German subsidiary of the world famous Material Connexion material library in Cologne. Material producers from Germany and neighbouring countries will present the highlights from the international material scene here. Creative ideas which invite visitors to take a look, marvel and plan. The exhibition looks at the latest trends including topics such as smart materials, sustainability, acoustics, new surfaces and structures. “materialZ“ offers architects and designers a new information forum for individual design ideas.

If you’ve always wanted to know how RFID works, then you’re in the right place at ZOW. abaco Informationssysteme GmbH (Löhne, Germany) will present how this modern technology works in Hall 23.1 in cooperation with IBM. The RFID factory will show the complete way of a piece of furniture trough the supply chain, from the supplier, through industry, to retail, even including transport. The presentation will primarily inform visitors about production, technology and logistics and show how this technology can increase time and cost-efficiency in companies. At ZOW, visitors have the opportunity to experience RFID “up close and personal”: Equipped with an RFID tag, all sorts of creative areas of application are just waiting to be discovered . . .

E3S European Solid Surface Show in Hall 22.2 displays the trends in solid surfaces and engineered stone, which has taken place at ZOW since 2006. Here, national and international manufacturers, processors and suppliers present new products and technologies from this universally used material. E3S offers ZOW visitors a specialist forum, including a colourful diversity of materials and structures, a combination of product and built architecture, and the chance to exchange thoughts with the exhibitors (www.e3s.de).

“iFurn“, the online database for the day-to-day work of designers and planers in the furniture and interiors industry, is celebrating its birthday. One year after its premiere at ZOW 2008, the “iFurn community” is getting together in hall 23.1 at ZOW 2009 for this celebration. Virtual communication through the exchange of data will become a physical meeting place to swap experiences. And it’s all happening at the very place where “iFurn” was launched: at ZOW, the supplier fair for the furniture and interiors industry. “iFurn” sector portal outlines what there will be to see in the exhibition hall online (www.ifurn.de).

And if that’s not enough, there are more exhibition highlights like home entertainment in the pipeline. ZOW claims to be the trend show of the sector and rises to this challenge year after year. 2009 will be more interesting, more informative, more creative, more exciting and more thrilling than ever before. So don’t miss the opportunity to visit Bad Salzuflen in February!