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ZOW 2009: Materialz - THE meeting place
Innovative materials for design and architecture

Visitors are invited to discover the exciting world of materials at the special Materialz show at ZOW in Bad Salzuflen from 9 to 12 February 2009. This innovative exhibition shows visitors from design and architecture, retail design and commercial construction, the furniture industry and interior design the huge diversity of creative material ideas for the product solutions of today and tomorrow. Materialz is the new information and inspiration platform for individual design ideas and is curated by the Cologne-based subsidiary of the world famous material library Material Connexion.

At the heart of the exhibition lies a presentation of material innovations in free-standing containers, featuring effective integrated lighting to show off the very best of the exhibits in terms of colour and design. Covering an area of around 400 m², right at the southern entrance in Hall 23.2, Materialz opens up an emotionally appealing design world to visitors, inviting them to feel and examine the materials on show. The material experts from the exhibiting companies are looking to enter into dialogue with the ZOW visitors, to communicate the specific material characteristics to them and discuss new applications for the products of tomorrow. Designers show how innovative materials can be transformed into products. With its transparent stand architecture and open atmosphere, Materialz is the ideal place to cultivate proven contacts and establish new business relations.

The exhibiting companies will surprise ZOW visitors with inspiring material highlights and creative applications. Materialz only showcases cream-of-the-crop products and offers its visitors a refreshing insight into the full innovative force of the modern material world. Material is often the key to the success of a product, which is why constant monitoring and further development of materials in their respective applications is so important. But Materialz wants to go one step further. At ZOW, both young and renowned designers show visitors how they can transform materials and use them in a new context.

Lamps made from silicone, cushions made from popcorn

A new dimension of creative product development has been reached when unusual lamp objects are being made from sanitary silicone or comfortable floor cushions are being made from popcorn. Materialz invites visitors to broaden their horizons and discuss the material highlights of today and tomorrow. A material which has been successfully used for years in one sector can suddenly incorporate an entirely new function and thereby become even more successful. Experimenting with materials, recognising their specific characteristics and transferring them to other sectors – that is what is so appealing about material research and forms the ideal basis for developing new product worlds. Materialz invites visitors to discover this world.