The interbad Innovation Days – Congress/Show/Networking, which ended September 23rd, proved that exhibitors and visitors do not want to give up personal encounters and intensive face-to-face discussions. The new format at the Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre offered every participant from the swimming pool, sauna and wellness industry two exciting days with a Congress, networking and an accompanying exhibition.
Packed into two days, the trade visitors were able to choose up to six topic slots from Congress talks, look at innovations on the stands of the 46 exhibitors and media partners or meet in the Networking Area for a personal discussion. The coherent concept was totally convincing: a total of more than 900 participants attended the interbad Innovation Days.
Andreas Wiesinger, a member of the Board of Management of Messe Stuttgart, affirmed: «With the interbad Innovation Days, the first attended event for the industry this year, we were able to take account of the request for personal interaction. We followed the right path with the deliberately compact designed format, the systematic emphasis on innovations and their live experience on site. We are therefore now looking forward all the more to the customary interbad in 2022.» The concept is therefore being continued directly for Dagmar Weise, interbad Project Manager: «After implementing the alternative concept of the interbad Innovation Days, we are now starting to plan interbad 2022. We are already looking forward to seeing one another again at the international trade fair.» Supply and demand relating to innovative technology trends and creative design ideas in the areas of swimming pools, saunas and spas will then come together again in Stuttgart from 25 to 28 October 2022. It is already certain that the 18th International Sauna Congress will be held on 25 and 26 October 2022 as part of interbad.
Topics in touch with the latest trends
Together with its partners, i.e., the German Association for the Recreational and Medicinal Bath Industry (DGfdB) and the German Sauna Association, Messe Stuttgart presented a diverse and future-oriented Congress programme. «A total of around 100 visitors took part in the events during the Congress for Pool and Bath Technology,» said Christian Mankel, Managing Director of the German Association for the Recreational and Medicinal Bath Industry. Whether «Water Worlds 2030/POST-CORONA WATER WORLDS 2023 and local implementation» or «AI»: opportunities for digitalisation in the swimming pool industry» through to «Challenges for the swimming pool industry in the opinion of the Bäderallianz (Swimming Pool Alliance)», the topics were in touch with the latest trends, «were very well-received and led to technical and substantive discussions.» The so-called series of events entitled «Saunaimpulse», which was organised by the German Sauna Association, also proved very popular. Sustainability was the focal point of these events which provided valuable input for sauna and swimming pool operators.
Exhibitor testimonials
Martin Niederstein, Managing Director, German Sauna Association: In my opinion, the interbad Innovation Days 2021 were a total success. We conducted many intensive discussions and the idea of networking in an exclusive group proved worthwhile. The «Saunaimpulse» event contained first-class talks and was well-attended. I am eagerly looking forward to interbad 2022 during which the International Sauna Congress will be staged. This Congress is expected to attract people from all over the world with an interest in saunas. This event during interbad will once again emphasise the importance of the trade fair as the world’s largest showcase for saunas.
Christian Mankel, Managing Director, German Association for the Recreational and Medicinal Bath Industry: The first Innovation Days fully lived up to their claim. Two days driven by dynamism, networking and personal interaction sent out a positive signal to the swimming pool industry that we, as Germany’s leading platform for the pool scene, wanted. Accompanied by a Congress programme whose impetus in the areas of digitalisation and energy efficiency could be actively experienced in the exhibitors’ booths, the visitors to the Innovation Days obtained many good arguments why they cannot afford to miss the next regular interbad trade fair in October 2022.
Dr. Klaus Batz, Managing Director, European Waterpark Association (EWA): It was very important for us that the industry finally obtains a starting signal towards normalisation. The interbad Innovation Days provided such a signal. As a long-standing partner of interbad, the EWA and its members are aware of the importance of the trade fair for swimming pools, saunas and spas. The industry meets in Stuttgart, and a visit to interbad is a highlight and a fixed date in the diary of every participant. It was therefore very disappointing when the trade fair had to be cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic. The delight over the interbad Innovation Days is now that much greater. The trade visitors at the interbad Innovation Days confirmed to us that guests are returning to swimming pools in increasing numbers and that they appreciate this small holiday experience right on their door step. After months of uncertainty, the willingness of public swimming pools to make investments can now also be clearly felt again. These assessments mean we are looking forward with optimism to interbad 2022 where we will present our company in a special show on ‘Theming and story telling’. This is also embodied by the new ‘Rulantica’ water park at Europapark Rust – an exemplary forward-looking concept based on highly experience-oriented and emotional design features.
Hans-Georg Gerlach, Anwendungstechnik CONTI+: I have known interbad for many years. For us here at CONTI+ interbad is and will remain one of the most important trade fairs, if not the most important. It was therefore also natural for us to be present at the interbad Innovation Days in this small but refined format. On our stand here in Stuttgart this year we presented innovations focusing on hygiene for fittings and flushing systems, as well as various solutions in regard to disinfection, for example of surfaces, room air and drinking water. We also presented a new product in the form of an innovative shower panel with a proportional mixing valve and scalding protection. Pure cold water hygiene rinsing is possible with this shower panel.
Robert Kaesler, Product Manager, Dr. Nüsken Chemie: interbad is the most important event for our company, we meet our target group here. Although some well-known companies were not present at the interbad Innovation Days, we were very certain that we wanted to use this platform to present our innovations. Our trade fair concept comprised three cornerstones. They included filter cleaning products, but also a new measuring instrument which raises photometric chlorine measurement to a new level and both clearly simplifies and makes it quicker. We also presented our renewed spa and wellness products in Stuttgart.
Norbert Pohlen, Managing Director, eccos pro: interbad is indispensable for the swimming pool industry. It is therefore the most important platform for our company to cultivate contacts and present our innovations. In our opinion, the decision to create the interbad Innovation Days was correct so that we could meet one another this year. As the very first industry meeting point for what seemed ages, we were impressed by the interbad Innovation Days and the expertise of the trade visitors. Trade fairs generally provide a unique opportunity to meet many interested parties in person or forge new chance contacts. In Stuttgart we presented entirely new digitalisation modules which are fully integrated in our guest management system, e.g. a check-in function with verification of the corona vaccination certificate. The response here so far has been extremely positive.
Wolfram Kuhn, Managing Director, Herborner Pumpentechnik: We did not come to Stuttgart with the aspiration we would have with a ‘normal’ interbad. We were therefore all the more positively surprised by the response and expertise of the trade visitors. We used the interbad Innovation Days as an industry meeting point and a place to cultivate contacts. A digital format would not have been an option for us because that cannot replace personal contact. During the Innovation Days we presented for the first time a digital platform for our systems in which all the data of the pumps in use can be collected, linked and evaluated so that operators and service partners are precisely informed about the status of the system, as well as the risks and potential for improvement.
Alexander Rohr, Managing Director, Lilian Labs: The interbad Innovation Days are very important for us and also our first trade fair. We are a young innovative company and have only been on the market since January 2020. The compact concept of the interbad Innovation Days was a very good match for us since it offered pandemic-related planning certainty and permitted long-desired dialogue with the industry. Nearly every visitor came to our stand during the trade fair and we conducted a large number of successful discussions. We presented for the first time our new measuring system which makes water testing easier and quicker. This system also features a digital component. Every visitor who wanted to try out the measuring system was able to drop by our stand and even win a system. This was fantastic. The right concept and some discipline on the part of the visitors showed that events such as conferences and trade fairs function very well.
Joachim Maier, Managing Director, Pool out of the BOX: We realised that the objectives of the interbad Innovation Days were networking and discussions. The concept was also ideal in this respect. The visitors came to the trade fair very specifically and not just to walk around. We held some good discussions and were able to extend our network. Swimming pool construction is one of the most demanding areas. We presented swimming pools with a modular design during the interbad Innovation Days. The modules are prefabricated and expanded in a production hall under the same conditions.
About interbad
interbad, International Trade Fair for Swimming Pools, Saunas and Spas, is the world’s most important platform for public swimming pools and one of the top 3 trade fairs for all interests of private swimming pool owners. Worldwide, it is the trade fair with the largest range of products in the area of saunas. Exhibitors in Stuttgart present in their wide range of products and services relating to public baths construction, swimming pool technology, pools, saunas, spas and private spas. The international trade visitors obtain information on the latest products, trends and future-oriented ideas. The offering is rounded off by a large number of talks, workshops and discussions in the Congress and accompanying programme. The next interbad, International Trade Fair for Swimming Pools, Saunas and Spas, will be held at Messe Stuttgart from 25 to 28 October 2022.
