© 2006 Door & Access Systems
Publish Date: Winter 2006
Author: Tom Wadsworth
Page 52

European Door Show Attracts 50,000

The triennial R+T show, held Feb. 7-11, 2006, in Stuttgart, Germany, attracted 50,000 visitors from 91 countries. Here’s a quick sketch of the 2006 show.

Note: R+T stands for Rolladen + Tore, meaning “roller shutters” and “gates.” The show’s product categories are doors (including garage doors), gates, roller shutters, and sun protection.

By the Numbers
Frequency Once every 3 years
Duration 5 days
Countries represented 91 countries
Exhibitors 545 exhibitors from 38 countries
Attendance More than 50,000
Change from 2003 Show 9% decrease
Visitors from North America 4 percent (up from 3% in 2003)
Visitors from Europe 79 percent
Visitors from Asia 12 percent (up from 8% in 2003)
Average visitor stay 2 days
Next R+T Show Feb. 10-14, 2009

Sabine Armbruster of Messe Stuttgart, the firm that manages the show, offered Door & Access Systems her analysis of key trends of the show.
· Products: “The topics of energy conservation, security, and increased ease of use were very much in vogue.”
· Attendees: “Visitors from Asia increased because of the large growth of the construction industry in China.”

R+T Innovation Awards

DOOR VENT SYSTEM: Belu Tec, a German manufacturer of rolling and sectional garage doors, won an Innovation Award in the garage door category. The company exhibited a sectional door with a built-in ventilation option. The feature, which can be operated remotely, is intended for automotive garages and applications where ventilation is needed. The ventilation system can be retrofitted on existing doors, including other brands.

CONTROLLED SPEED: GfA (Gesellschaft für Antriebstechnik), a German company, won an Innovation Award for the “Dynamic Duo,” a door/gate operator with control station that allows you to set and control the speed of door operation. GfA says the system is simple, economical, and safe.