The seven most important trade fairs for the construction industry
Scarcely any industry sectors offer as much versatility, with so many various aspects, as the construction industry. That also applies to trade fairs that are organized for the sector. From architecture, through to construction machinery, materials, buildings technologies, interior design, sustainable construction and sanitation: there is an event to suit any topic affecting the industry.
As well as specific subjects such as building technology, machinery and materials, trending topics such as energy efficiency and sustainability are in high demand, while digitalization has long been a factor in the industry. Smart home technologies and BIM are also on everyone’s lips. In addition, there are entire sub-sectors such as landscaping and gardening, glazing and frontage construction, and lighting that complete the portfolio of events on offer in the sector.
As such, we have presented some of the most important events held in Germany, which are relevant to the entire sector, and which can even be seen as global leaders in their fields, breaking all visitor records.
Top 7 trade fairs for the construction industry
BAU – The World’s Leading Trade fair for Architecture, Materials and Systems
The BAU is held every two years at the Munich Exhibition Centre. It is the most important meeting point for the entire construction industry and, as such, forms the ideal business platform for gaining a foothold in the market. Everyone involved in the international planning, construction and layout of buildings attends the event.
Thanks to the Munich Exhibition Centre’s two new halls, the space available to exhibitors now amounts to 200,000 square metres. That is enough for over a quarter of a million visitors, who learn about trends and innovations in the construction industry over the course of a six-day event.
Date:
11th-16th January 2021
(BAU will not be held in 2021 as a classic presence trade fair. It will take place from 13 to 15 January as a hybrid format: on-site and digital.)
Light + Building – The world’s leading trade fair for lighting and building services technology
The lights go on in the Frankfurt Exhibition Centre every two years. That’s when 2,700 exhibitors from 55 countries present their products and latest innovations in the lighting, electronics, household and building automation and software fields to the construction sector at the global light+building event.
The portfolio of products on offer ranges from designer lighting in a variety of styles through to technical lights and lamps in different varieties, designed for every possible application, together with a large range of lighting components and accessories as well as outdoor and street lighting. This makes it the world’s largest event for lighting and a hotspot for architects, planners, electricians, retailers and property developers from all over the world.
As the proportion of international visitors exceeds fifty per cent, light+building is one of the most internationally focused events in the entire construction sector.
HOLZ-HANDWERK and FENSTERBAU FRONTALE – Trade show duo in Nuremberg
The specialist biennial trade fair, FENSTERBAU FRONTALE for windows, doors and facades, and HOLZ-HANDWERK for carpentry are held in Nuremberg on a joint basis, and feature topics like engineering, automation technology, furniture, and furniture supplies.
As a specialist event featuring light engineering technology and products for manufacturing and industry and woodworking, HOLZ-HANDWERK is one of the most significant events for Europe’s carpenters and furniture manufacturers. The wide range of products on display highlights the latest trends and innovations in the woodworking industry, from saws and sanding machines through to woodworking machinery and extraction systems.
FENSTERBAU FRONTALE is a global exhibition for windows, doors and facades.
Over 110,000 visitors and 1,329 exhibitors from 42 countries mean that this trade fair is a highlight of the industry. The next dual exhibition will be held from 18 to 21 March 2020, in line with its usual cycle.
Date:
29th March-1st April 2022
bauma – The world’s largest trade fair in the construction industry
bauma is the world’s largest and probably most important trade fair in the construction industry and has a total area of 614,000 m². Because of its immense size, bauma takes place in Munich only every three years. It takes a good five months until everything is ready.
As the leading meeting place for the industry, the world’s leading trade fair for construction, building material and mining machinery, construction vehicles and construction equipment sets the trends of the future. Over half a million visitors learn about excavators, concrete mixers and other machinery. Over a fifth of the 3,425 international exhibitors come from the mining sector. During the seven days of the fair, visitors can expect press conferences, media dialogues, country specials and film screenings.
IFH/Intherm – Trade fair for Sanitation, Heating, Air Conditioning and Renewable Energies
Covering an area as large as ten football fields, IFH/Intherm presents a broad range of practical solutions and innovative products and services for the plumbing, heating, HVAC and renewable energy sectors. This makes this event a must-visit highlight for tradespeople, energy advisers, construction professionals and architects who wish to catch up with the most recent trends and products and take advantage of networking opportunities.
IFH/Intherm is held at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre every two years. It has become the leading platform for all businesses in the plumbing and HVAC sectors who wish to reach professionals and decision makers in the wholesaling, industry, and craft trades.
Date:
26th-29th April 2022
IFAT Munich – Leading Trade Fair for Environmental Technologies
Environmental technologies deliver solutions and strategies across all sectors, and the construction industry is a sector with a high environmental impact. At the leading global event for water supply, sanitation, waste disposal and raw materials, 3,305 exhibitors present their future-focused technologies and innovations as well as tailor-made strategies and solutions adapted to specific market demands.
IFAT also addresses the topic of how the construction industry can use limited resources and how it can profitably employ innovative environmental technologies. IFAT is held every two years at the Munich Exhibition Centre and, as an significant event for the sector, it attracts 150,000 visitors to the Bavarian state capital.
GaLaBau in Nuremberg – The Leading International Trade Fair for Urban Green and Open Spaces
GaLaBau, which takes place in Nuremberg every two years, is one of the most significant specialist events for the garden and landscaping sector in Europe. This international leader provides information about products in trends for planning, building and maintenance of vegetation.
At the last GaLaBau, 1,253 businesses attended as exhibitors, occupying 14 halls for the first time, attracting a total of over 70,000 visitors over the course of the four-day event.
Date:
14th-17th September 2022
No matter which event you decide to visit, we’ll book your hotel!
It’s event season all year round in the construction industry. When deciding to attend an event, you should consider what you want to achieve through your presence at the event.
Book your hotel shortly after registering for the event. As business travel specialists, we can help you to find the perfect hotel for the exhibition or event. HM business travel will organise your trip to the exhibition, from hotel booking through to expense accounting.
You simply let us know how many rooms you need for the event, as well as the price range and hotel class you are looking for. We will use this as the basis to create a no-obligation, bespoke quotation for you within 24 hours. Send us a no-obligation enquiry today!
