News

ZOW in Bad Salzuflen: Meeting Point for Trendsetters
Furniture Suppliers show Product News of Season 2006

Clear the stage for innovations from furniture suppliers! In the extended Bad Salzuflen Exhibition Center, around 700 German and international suppliers will display their latest developments at the ZOW Zuliefermesse Ost-Westfalen (Furniture Components Trade Fair) - for the furniture industry and interior design sector from February 20th - 23rd, 2006. More than 14,000 trade visitors are expected to attend this year's meeting point for trendsetters.

The broad product range of the ZOW, thematically arranged under the three main categories of "Fittings: Furniture in Motion", "Elements & Systems: Furniture with Added Value" and "Materials & Surfaces: Furniture Protection & Style", promises an exciting journey of discovery through all areas of the industry.

The ZOW will be able to use the new Halls 22 and 23 in the Bad Salzuflen Exhibition Center for the first time this year, and with the new color and space concept the exhibition areas are now structured even better. The increase in hall space from 28,000 m2 to around 41,000 m2 means a generous use of space in Halls 19 to 23, pleasingly broad aisles and greater exhibition space along the sides of the aisles, providing greater display flexibility. This should all allow the ZOW to go off without a hitch and create an altogether congenial atmosphere show atmosphere. A further restaurant in Hall 22 which seats 340 now increases the choice for keeping body and soul together at ZOW.

The ZOW will guarantee fast communication of innovative ideas. In 2006, the most interesting new developments emerging from the "Innovations Scouting" will again be selected by an independent jury ahead of the show and be presented to the press and public during the ZOW. All product areas of the ZOW promise to reveal pioneering trends:

New Shapes & Functions for Fittings

The manufacturers of fittings are continuing their striking path in terms of look and proving once again that design and technical finesse can form a powerful combination in the product lines. For doors, drawers, chests of drawers and hinged fittings, the focus is being placed on optimum movement with high design quality. Long-term user comfort is achieved through wear-free materials for the air glide runner, soft and quiet dampening of closing mechanisms, hygienic coatings for the kitchen or clever workmanship details such as narrow installation widths for fittings which allow better use of storage space. Following their triumphant success in the kitchen, dampening mechanisms for revolving doors and chests of drawers are now being used in the office.

Huge emphasis is placed in functional fittings on the issue of ergonomics, with adjustable backrests, tilted relaxing positions or recliners, for example: well thought-out ergonomic solutions which work well are designed to increase user satisfaction even further. Furniture handles will be introduced primarily in stainless steel, aluminum and zinc diecast designs; the corresponding trendy surfaces for these are the stainless steel look, chrome gloss or aluminum colors. In addition to regular series, some manufacturers are also tending towards organic styles. In essence, there are product series for a wide range of design scenarios with variable handle lengths.

High-Quality Surfaces and Decors

High value and design quality in a number of trends are the main themes in the surfaces and front panels product area. In veneers, zebra wood, macassar, wenge and teak are just as popular in the top-end segment as oak or ebony; in light wood veneers and decors, European woods such as cherry, walnut, pear, maple, beech, birch and alder are all the rage. Oak decors in the modern-rustic look are given an intense contrast effect with white limed, laser etched or oiled effects. In the exotic decors, there are differences in taste between southern and northern Europe: while close-grained teak decor varieties are successful in Italy, for example, stronger grains are popular with customers in the north.

Ever more colorful and efficient: LEDs

Light in and on furniture is not just designed to guide; it is of growing interest to manufacturers in the industry as a stylistic and atmospheric design feature. LED technology continues to develop at a rapid pace: the characteristic features of the energy-saving and long-life LEDs are improved performance with a greater output of light in each new generation, RGB color matching, including white light, and light changes with almost an unlimited range of possible variations. The white light-emitting diodes are currently experiencing an enormous leap in development. Manufacturers anticipate that these may even force the conventional bulbs used in general lighting completely off the market in the future. Due to their diversity and easy controllability, they allow considerable design flexibility and are ideal for use in all areas of architectural lighting.

There will be ample opportunity for the trade visitors to Bad Salzuflen to discover these and other exciting products at the trendsetting 2006 ZOW from February 20 - 23. For further information about ZOW, please go to www.zow.de and for E3S go to www.e3s.info.

The next ZOW will take place from February 26 through March 1, 2007 in the Bad Salzuflen Exhibition Center.