Press release

No. 5 / November 2021, Cologne#INTERNATIONALEEISENWARENMESSE

EISENWARENMESSE – International Hardware Fair
Cologne cancelled in 2021 due to the pandemic
Preparations for EISENWARENMESSE – International Hardware Fair
Cologne from 6 to 9 March 2022 will start in the coming weeks
The new hybrid concept and content for EISENWARENMESSE – International Hardware
Fair Cologne 2021 was still receiving very positive feedback at the European press
conference at the end of October. However, due to the dynamic infection situationand international travel restrictions, the majority of exhibitors have ultimately
decided not to participate in the trade fair. Even the comprehensive #BSAFE4business hygiene and safety concept for coronavirus-compliant implementationof trade fairs was still not able to provide the trade fair participants with moreplanning security. After careful consideration together with the associations andexhibitors, Koelnmesse therefore decided to cancel the EISENWARENMESSE –International Hardware Fair Cologne hybrid event planned from 21 to 24 February
2021 due to the pandemic.
"We sincerely regret the need for this decision. We were well-positioned andbelieved that many things would have been possible with our hybrid format. A purely
digital format would also not have been a substitute for the new, hybrid approach
because the focus of EISENWARENMESSE – International Hardware Fair Cologne is still
the physical presence of exhibitors, who can make good use of the offerings andpossibilities of the EISENWARENMESSE@home digital platform. But with broad
commitment from the industry, we are now looking forward optimistically and withrenewed energy to the event in 2022," emphasises Catja Caspary, Vice President ofKoelnmesse.
Matthias Becker, Director of EISENWARENMESSE – International Hardware Fair
Cologne had this to add: "An important unique selling point of the trade fair is thehigh level of internationality of both the exhibitors and visitors, and the innovative
range of topics. Nevertheless, in view of the continuing rise in infections worldwide
and the associated lockdowns, it was no longer possible to guarantee enoughparticipation of international exhibitors and visitors.”"The decision to cancel was also very difficult for the Advisory Board because we areconvinced that the industry needs this trade fair in order to be able to do businesssuccessfully in the long term," said Wolfgang J. Kirchhoff, Chairman of the Advisory
Board and Managing Director of Witte Tools. “Still, we remain positive about thefuture and are especially looking forward to 2022, when the industry can start theyear again in person here in Cologne with the EISENWARENMESSE – International
Hardware Fair and EISENWARENMESSE@home.”

INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE
FAIR
21.02. - 24.02.2021
www.eisenwarenmesse.com
Your contact:

Monika Kühnhenrich-JacobyTel.

+49 221 821-3513
Fax+49 221 821-3544
e-mailM.Kuehnhenrich-Jacoby@
koelnmesse.deKoelnmesse GmbH
Messeplatz 150679 Köln
P.O. Box 21 07 6050532 Köln
Germany
Tel. +49 221 821-0
Fax +49 221 821-2574
www.koelnmesse.com
Executive Board:
Gerald Böse (President and Chief
Executive Officer)
Oliver Frese
Herbert Marner
Chairwoman of the Supervisory
Board:
Mayor of the City of Cologne
Henriette Reker
Headquarters and place ofjurisdiction:
CologneDistrict Court Cologne, HRB 952

Page“As the largest tool manufacturer in Europe, Germany needs theEISENWARENMESSE – International Hardware Fair Cologne as its leading trade fair.
The planned concept is absolutely viable for 2022 as well, and we will do everything
possible to put on a powerful and innovative EISENWARENMESSE – International
Hardware Fair Cologne together with Koelnmesse," says Stefan Horst, Managing
Director of the Association of German Tool Manufacturers (FWI).
"Koelnmesse has completely convinced our members with its #B-SAFE4businessconcept and we have no doubt about the ability to ensure the safe execution of anevent. Nevertheless, we made the recommendation to cancel in consultation withour members because the EISENWARENMESSE – International Hardware Fair Cologne
would not have been able to become the meeting place expected by our members
due to the present unforeseeable events," explains Ralf Rahmede, Managing Directorof the German Association of Home and Garden Manufacturers (HHG).
And actually there is reason to be excited – from 6 to 9 March not only canexhibitors and visitors look forward to the new, hybrid trade fair format with evenmore international reach but also an attractive event programme.
This includes a top lineup of informative special events and theme platforms such asthe eCommerce area, which will feature a variety of innovative, disruptive solutions
and strategies for business in the areas of payment, shop systems, ERP, hosting,search engine optimisation and multichannel.
Koelnmesse – Hardware worldwide
As an international top organiser of trade fairs, Koelnmesse is the global market
leader for the product sections hardware/ironware divided up into the segments
Tools, Industrial Supplies, Fasteners and Fixings, Fittings, Home Improvement as well
as for the innovations of these industries. The leading trade fair EISENWARENMESSE INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR Cologne as well as Asia-Pacific Sourcing in Cologne,
the Hardware Forum in Milan/Italy and CHIS - China International Hardware Show inShanghai/China are exemplary for this. www.hardware-worldwide.com
Note for editorial offices:
EISENWARENMESSE - INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR photos are available in ourimage database on the Internet at www.eisenwarenmesse.com/imagedatabasepress information are available at: www.eisenwarenmesse.com/pressinformation
If you reprint this document, please send us a sample copy.
EISENWARENMESSE – INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR Cologne on Facebook:www.facebook.com/eisenwarenmesse
EISENWARENMESSE – INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR Cologne on twitter:
www.twitter.com/eisenwarenmesse
The official EISENWARENMESSE – INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR Cologne blog:
www.eisenwarenmesse.com/news/up-to-date/news-overview-19.php

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Your contact in case of queries:
Monika Kühnhenrich-Jacoby
Koelnmesse GmbH
Tel. +49 221 821-3513
Fax +49 221 821-3544
E-mail: m.kuehnhenrich-jacoby@koelnmesse.deInternet: www.koelnmesse.com
Koelnmesse GmbHMesseplatz 150679 Köln, Germany
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