Domotex

The International World of Floor Coverings

At the beginning of every year, Domotex Hannover brings together suppliers and buyers of floor coverings from all around the world. The trade fair’s international scope as well as the range and depth of the exhibited flooring products are unparalleled. Domotex in Hannover is the global marketplace for floor coverings.

Domotex is one of the most international trade fairs in the world. 80 percent of its exhibitors come from abroad. For suppliers from all regions of the world, this is by far the most significant industry meeting point. Exhibitors from a total of 60 countries use thisopportunity to close deals and make new contacts. Germany is the country best represented at the fair, followed in recent years by Belgium, Turkey, India, the Netherlands, China and Italy. Domotex also scores very high in terms of its international visitors. At past fairs, 61 percent of the more than 35,000 visitors were from foreign countries.

Domotex Hannover - textiles coverings

From Oriental rugs to ceramic tile
Domotex was held for the very first time in 1989. Suppliers of Oriental rugs no longer felt at home at Heimtextil and found a new exhibition platform in Hannover. Since then, Domotex has grown to encompass 171,600 square metres of exhibition space with 1,376 exhibitors from 63 countries.

The product groups exhibited at the fair have been progressively expanded over time. This enabled Domotex to integrate entirely new market segments, both in terms of suppliers as well as buyers. Even competing product groups such as carpeting and parquet could be brought together at Domotex. The final step involved the inclusion of ceramic tiles, which will be shown in 2010 for the very first time for the contract business. Today, virtually all product groups from the flooring industry are represented at Domotex.

Domotex Hannover focuses on the following categories:
- Rugs (handcrafted)
- Woven rugs (machine-made)
- Textile and elastic floor coverings
- Fibres, years and weaves
- Parquet and other wooden flooring
- Laminate flooring
- Ceramic tiles
- Installation, care and application techniques

Contract business: Domotex as a pioneer
With the Oriental rug segment, the retail trade was initially the most important visitor target group. In the mid-1990s, the leaders of Domotex began to make use of targeted events to address architects, analysts and buyers from the contract market. The aim was toprovide more business contacts to exhibitors for the furnishing of hotels, commercial and public buildings, etc. as they often not only offered solutions for retail but also for the contract market. With contractworld, Domotex created a forum for architects and interior designers 10 years ago, which has since grown to become one of the most essential sources of inspiration in the furnishing industry. By focusing on contract business, Domotex was truly a pioneer among furnishing trade fairs.

impetus to overcome the financial crisis in the furnishing market
The market for floor coverings has not remained untouched from the effects of the global financial and economic crisis. Residential and commercial construction activities for new buildings have been affected throughout Europe. However, the renovation market and to a certain extent also the market for interior work on public buildings are currently in a better position. Leading international trade fairs such as Domotex have a catalyst function in situations such as these.

Stephan Ph. Kühne, Member of the Board of Directors of Deutsche Messe AG: ‘Trade fairs are reflections of the markets and we therefore also feel the general uncertainty with regard to the current economic situation. However, Domotex – as a leading international trade fair – is greatly significant particularly in such difficult times. It provides the industry with orientation and impetus for future growth. With new focal points, forward-looking trend scenarios and targeted networking, we lay the foundation for our exhibitors and trade visitors from retail, trade and architecture to establish concrete business relations.’

New hall concept for handcrafted rugs
In 2010, handcrafted rugs will be moving from Halls 14 to 17 to Halls 19 to 23. This provides better access to the north entrance, which not only shortens distances but also makes better use of the exceptional traffic infrastructure of the north entrance.

The ‘Carpet Design Award’ (Hall 21) will continue to be awarded within this exhibition segment; under the name ‘Souk  Deluxe’ Jan Kath will showcase a selection of sophisticated handcrafted rugs (Hall 20). For visitors seeking some peace and quiet or for those wanting to hold talks away from the stands, the ‘Loom Lounge’ is now located in Hall 19.

Floorforum: trend forum for modern rugs and textile floor coverings
Floorforum in Hall 3 is the trend forum for modern rugs. This is where visitors can find out which colours, materials
and designs will define floors in the coming season. Designer Ulf Moritz is going to design four trend themes, although while each theme shall continue to focus on carpets, the holistic furnishing concepts will also encompass textiles, furniture, vases and lamps.

On its tenth anniversary, the new contractworld concept combines the lecture programme with the exhibition
With contractworld, Domotex has created a widely recognised platform to address architects, interior designers and analysts from the contract business. This has repeatedly succeeded in thanks to the top-class speakers. However, exhibitors have often complained that although the lectures are very well attended, the visitors hardly ever came to the booths to get more information on the exhibitors’ products and services.

Domotex is now experimenting with a new architectural approach: instead of just one single area for lectures and presentations, several stages will be used throughout contactworld for this purpose. The aim is to further increase interaction with the exhibitors.

Further offerings will also be available to increase the exchange between architects and exhibitors:
- Architect tours to select booths
- Product showcase: each exhibitor is provided with a so-called product showcase in which they can place their latest, architecturally relevant product. Visitors can use voting ballots to submit their own personal evaluation of what they believe to be the very best product.
- Speed workshops: The exhibitors themselves can get direct feedback on their product and companyat speed workshops. Several times a day, architects and interior designers are brought together with representatives of exhibiting companies. Together, the products are assessed in terms of their architectural relevance. Speed workshops take place at the stands of the exhibiting companies.

contractworld.award: International architecture award for innovative spatial concepts
In 2010 and for the tenth time, the contractworld.award will go to exceptional work conducted in the area of trend-setting working environments, creative hotel and
restaurant concepts as well as innovative store and exhibition booth construction. In addition, in 2010 there will also be awards in place for exceptional interiors from the areas of education and healthcare such as hospitals, nursing care facilities, surgeries, kindergartens, schools, universities and other institutes.

The competition, with prize money totalling 60,000 EUR, is known as one of the most significant architecture awards for interior design and as a decisive parameter for qualitative design in these areas.

Domotex Hannover - contract.world Jury

Visitor Tips
Bahn spezial (special offer from Deutsche Bahn): Deutsche  Messe in cooperation with Deutsche Bahn is offering very attractive special conditions for the train ride to and from the fairgrounds: fares start at just 79 € for a distance range of 350 km.
Combi-ticket: on the day of the fair visit, all tickets can be used on the GVH (Großraum-Verkehr Hannover) public transportation system.

Base: Living XL Special Edition 1/2010

Back to Focus Interior Decoration Fairs
DOMOTEX HANNOVER, 2009, EVENT REPORT
Domotex Report 2008
Domotex in a nutshell