This year marks a truly special occasion for two of the most important international trade fairs in the sun shading, doors/gates, and roller shutters sector. R+T Stuttgart, the world’s leading exhibition in its field, proudly celebrates its 60th anniversary.
Meanwhile, R+T Asia, its prominent counterpart in Asia, marks two decades of remarkable growth and success. Both events, meticulously organized by Messe Stuttgart, have firmly established themselves as essential global platforms for innovation, professional networking, and driving excellence in the industry. With these significant anniversaries on the horizon, we had the pleasure of chatting with Sebastian Schmid, Vice President of Messe Stuttgart, a key figure and fundamental driver behind these events. Our conversation focused on their rich history, current impact, and the exciting prospects for the R+T brand.
In this very significant year, marking the 60th anniversary of R+T in Stuttgart and the 20th anniversary of R+T Asia, how has your vision evolved regarding the role of these fairs as key platforms for the industry at a global and regional level, respectively?
Over the last six decades, R+T has developed into an indispensable meeting point for the international industry. While the R+T in Stuttgart sets global standards as the world’s leading trade fair, R+T Asia has firmly established itself in the Asian market over the last 20 years. From the outset, our vision has been to create platforms that reflect and actively shape trends, adapted to the needs and circumstances of the respective regions, but with an international network. This vision remains unchanged.
The high early booking rate for R+T 2027 demonstrates continued confidence in the fair. What do you believe continues to attract so many leading companies to Stuttgart year after year, especially in a constantly changing global landscape?
R+T is more than just a business platform — it’s also a family reunion for the industry. Many of the exhibitors have been attending for decades. We prioritise maintaining close ties with the industry, understanding its needs and showcasing them at the trade fair. Our success in doing so is reflected in the high level of repeat participation and trust. In uncertain times especially, companies are looking for reliability and quality — and they find it with us.
R+T is often described as a «pacemaker» for future topics such as serial construction, energy efficiency, and smart home technologies. How does Messe Stuttgart plan to continue driving innovation and facilitating collaboration in these crucial areas in the coming years?
One of our key strengths lies in connecting people who would never otherwise meet. This often leads to new ideas and collaborations. We aim to promote this exchange by creating spaces for encounters and offering a platform for innovations, for example through formats such as the R+T Innovation Award or specialised forums. To this end, we rely on our strong partnerships with associations, institutions, and companies.
Considering the growth and importance of R+T Asia over the past two decades, how do you see its role in the future of the Asian market, and how does its strategy complement that of the parent fair in Stuttgart?
R+T Asia is our gateway to the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific region. With a strong focus on local market needs, it also creates a bridge to the international R+T community. While Stuttgart remains the global industry meeting place, Shanghai provides direct access to regional trends, partners, and customers. The two events complement each other perfectly in terms of strategy and content.
Looking ahead, what are your main aspirations for the upcoming editions of R+T in Stuttgart and R+T Asia, and how do you hope these fairs will continue to impact and shape the roller shutter, door/gate, and sun shading systems sector globally?
For me, success means more than just visitor and exhibitor numbers — I want both events to be successful. Success also means that our trade fairs generate momentum that continues to have an impact long after the event has finished. We have fulfilled our mission if new ideas, projects or partnerships emerge from encounters on site that offer solutions to current challenges, such as climate change. Our events should remain places of new beginnings where the future of the industry is actively shaped.
Beyond Stuttgart and Shanghai, the R+T Alliance encompasses other significant fairs in various countries. How is the global strategy of the R+T Alliance coordinated to maintain consistency while adapting to the specific characteristics of each local market, and what synergies are you looking to foster between these different platforms?
In addition to R+T in Stuttgart and R+T Asia, the R+T Alliance now includes R+T Turkey in Istanbul, APAExpo by R+T in Valencia, Sun Shading Expo North America and OUTDOOR. AMBIENTE. LIVING, which is held alongside INTERGASTRA, the leading trade fair for hotel and gastronomy business in Stuttgart. APAExpo by R+T in Spain has just taken place to great acclaim. We coordinate the strategic direction of all events, while paying close attention to the specific needs of individual markets. We achieve this by working with strong local partners who have an in-depth knowledge of their markets. The result is a structure that reflects the diversity of the markets while upholding the uniform quality standards of the R+T brand.
Mark your calendars for the upcoming edition of R+T in Stuttgart, which will open its doors from February 15-19, 2027 and R+T Asia 2025 will be held May 26-28.
