MEDICA 2014, World Forum for Medicine, and COMPAMED 2014, High Tech Solutions for Medical Technology, was held Nov. 12-15 in Dusseldorf, Germany. A total of 4,831 exhibitors at MEDICA 2014 as well as the 724 exhibitors at COMPAMED 2014 presented the almost 130,000 visitors with the latest product innovations and ideas for high-quality and affordable health care.
Approximately 84,000 visitors from some 120 countries outside of Germany attended. The average length of stay rose to 2.2 days from last year. The visitors’ decision-making authority at MEDICA 2014 was again very high with over 70 percent of the attendees decisively involved in purchasing decisions and an additional 10 percent involved in a consulting capacity.
From the U.S., 399 exhibitors participated in MEDICA 2014, with 185 presenting their technologies within the two successful U.S. Pavilions, organized by Messe Düsseldorf North America.
Photo Credit: Messe Duesseldorf
“The high number of international visitors gave medical device technology providers as well as their suppliers at MEDICA and COMPAMED tailwinds to strengthen their export business. Those putting their business on a particularly broad footing across country borders find it easier to compensate for an unclear market and safety situation in specific countries,” stated Joachim Schäfer, managing director, Messe Düsseldorf,
Reports from industry associations underscored the importance of MEDICA and COMPAMED as drivers for suppliers’ international business. About 85 percent of the medical device technology companies surveyed in the German Medical Technology Association (BVMed) expected sales to rise over the previous year, driven especially by dynamic export business.
“This year we expect turnover at the 1,200 Germany medical technology manufacturers to exceed EUR 25 billion for the first time, with growth abroad developing more strongly than on the domestic market. Exports account for 68 percent,” explained Marcus Kuhlmann, head of the medical technology association in SPECTARIS, the German Hightech Industry Association.
Regarding the trade fair business, Marcus Kuhlmann remarked, “MEDICA continues to be an outstanding venue for companies to present themselves and their products and is therefore a ‘must’.”
Successful re-launch of conference program
To also meet the needs of international visitors, MEDICA’s accompanying conference program had been fundamentally restructured over the past two years – with sessions not only geared toward German trade visitors, but also events held in English and conferences on very specific topics.
Cost-benefit ratio must add up
Discussions held at MEDICA’s well-attended themed forums – such as the MEDICA HEALTH IT FORUM and the MEDICA CONNECTED HEALTHCARE FORUM – along with the exhibitors’ product innovations demonstrated the efficiency and easy handling of medical devices and products is becoming a crucial purchase criterion.
Photo Credit: Messe Duesseldorf
“Quality in care and efficiency are becoming more and more important for patients at clinics and doctors’ practices. The numerous innovations and improvements on display at MEDICA make important contributions for this,” remarked Hans-Peter Bursig, general manager of the Electromedical Technology Association within the Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (ZVEI).
COMPAMED – Suppliers as competent partners
Held parallel with MEDICA, COMPAMED 2014 succeeded in further strengthening its position as the leading international event for suppliers to the medical manufacturing sector with over 700 exhibitors for the first time. Companies as well as research institutes presented their high-tech solutions for the development and production of medical device technology to about 17,000 visitors.
This year, the focus was specifically on miniaturized components, functional materials, intuitive control units and high-precision processes designed to make medical products cheaper, safer and more reliable.
A special feature at COMPAMED 2014 was the U.S. Pavilion organized by Messe Düsseldorf North America with products presented by 11 exhibitors. Overall, 66 U.S. companies participated in COMPAMED 2014.
Starting in 2015, the show dates for MEDICA and COMPAMED will be changed to Monday to Thursday and both events will be held concurrently on all four days from Nov. 16-19, 2015.
Staging the trade fairs on a “normal” week and working days, rather than Wednesday to Saturday as before, will, in the future, allow for a better distribution of the visitors on all show days and a more uniform utilization of the exhibitors’ presentations.
For further information on visiting or exhibiting at MEDICA or COMPAMED 2015, visit mdna.com.
