Light and Building
Under an air of general mobilization
Indeed, the fairy electricity is absolutely vital for our world, and today we measure its scope, as it has become such a precious asset whose uncontrolled enjoyment is no longer self-evident. Its prices are soaring on the planet and particularly in our Western world which has used and sometimes abused its use. It is through lighting that Messe Frankfurt shows us the efforts made by the actors of the profession, with this 2022 edition of the Light+Building trade show which thus marks its great return.
Source of life, light, brings us comfort, well-being. All of this seemed natural to us for a long time, but suddenly we come back to earth to realize that everything is not so simple. It is with some dismay that world public opinion discovers how much modern lighting, as essential as the air we breathe, is an indispensable element and its production can become a source of serious problems. This will be at least what we will have learned from the war raging on the European continent, particularly in terms of prices. The energy needed for our light sources has become very expensive. We will not dwell on the level of responsibility of each other in the surge in prices, but the fact remains that European consumers on the front line will have to face this reality which seems to be part of time. Indeed, everything suggests that nothing will ever be the same since the outbreak of this conflict, a true indicator of our vulnerability. Still, it is more than ever urgent to propose solutions to reduce a bill that has exploded and for which it is essential to control its cost, otherwise it will cause even greater difficulties for households and consumers. . Thus, it is therefore in a more than tense environment that was held from October 2 to 6, the very famous and renowned exhibition Light+Building, world leader in this dynamic, innovative market which found its exhibitors and buyers after the Covid tsunami which caused so many cancellations around the world, a phenomenon to which this one did not escape. This explains why Messe Frankfurt decided to offer the profession these new autumn dates in a classic scheme, since it was traditionally held in the spring. Only the request was there, and the organizers besides the Rhinelanders wanted to respond to it within the deadlines that best suited everyone.
Light and Building back in business
It is therefore in this particular context that this autumn 2022 edition was held, which welcomed no less than 1,531 exhibitors from 46 countries, which constitutes a quite remarkable score. Visitors were not lacking either, since they numbered a respectable number of 92,838 from 147 countries. They were able to discover the novelties and innovations of the lighting sectors in all its forms. Obviously our German friends have largely responded, but we must also greet those from Italy, the Netherlands, our good old France, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Austria, Great Britain, and Poland. Thus, the international participation represented a very honorable percentage of 55%. Knowing the requirements of Messe Frankfurt in this field, this result is quite remarkable. Better still, the level of visitor satisfaction clearly shows that the trip was worth it, since 95% of them declared themselves satisfied with having achieved their objectives, but also with the quality of the overall offer, which fact that 83% have already declared that they plan to go to Frankfurt for the 2024 edition, which will return to its spring slot according to its usual dates, namely from March 3 to 8, 2024. Light & Building is biennial.
These results satisfy Wolfgang Marzin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Messe Frankfurt who did not hesitate to express his satisfaction “We can only be delighted with the extreme interest shown by visitors who came to discover the autumn edition of Light+Building. The proposed themes offer answers to the current challenges of our time. In addition, as we have seen, physical meetings are and remain the central element of trade fairs. Business is done face to face, between people, which is an essential asset, especially in times of crisis. We can only salute those who had the courage and the will to take risks and approach the future with confidence and optimism, like all those who made the trip to the show. » That is what is said. In any case, the autumn edition of the show marks a remarkable return to business.
Problems and Solutions
If you had to define Light+Building in a word, we would use without the slightest hesitation, that of solutions. Because that is what this platform is all about, as our special correspondent, who is very familiar with this professional universe, was able to see after too long an interruption. In reality, the problems and major issues already brought to the fore before the pandemic are far from being resolved. They are even at the heart of public debates in all countries of the world. It has in fact escaped no one that the electricity that allows us to light up has become an energy that is suffering the brunt of terrible inflation. The war in Ukraine is certainly the trigger and the catalyst, but not only. There are indeed various causes, including the ever-increasing importance of environmental requirements, and a certain global disorder in the approach to energy policies. Certainly all this is not new and Messe Frankfurt had long identified the problem to such an extent that the show has become above all one of reflection and potential solutions around the consumption of buildings, whatever they are, which we know today are the most voracious in matter. This turn towards the resolution of the problems around their management was taken in a very voluntary and ostensible way, a few years ago. It must be said that this choice is more than ever the right one when we see the scale of the crisis and its potential consequences for industries and households if nothing is done to optimize every detail which will not only make more efficient sources, but also more economical, and more in line with respect for the environment, which has become an absolutely major subject. To this end, and beyond the high-tech products offered at the fair, the organizers have relied on education, via demonstrations and also numerous conferences, which prove more than ever their validity in a rapidly changing universe, is an understatement to say so. Still, the concept of reflection around the intelligent building in its design, construction, operation, is a signature Messe Frankfurt which builders can be proud of.
An offer from the useful to the pleasant
But the global offer is not only reserved for an elite of highly qualified specialists. Nevertheless, high technology having unsurprisingly been everywhere, there is some truth in this statement. Engineers and architects are obviously important interlocutors, but we must not forget that beyond these prescribers, there are principals and buyers, particularly in the field of products intended for the general public. Light+Building is not just a show dedicated to ultra-technical components and products. It is also a platform dedicated to vectors of light, home automation, and also let's not forget that of decoration, therefore as a consequence of design, since a price named design+award is given on occasion to the most successful creations on the subject. Lighting has become over the years an essential element of home comfort, but also a great support for decorative products that can radically transform your living space. This is all the more marked now with the advent of LEDs combined with connectivity, which allow great combinations in terms of light effects. The fact remains that this space reserved for lighting has been of great interest to visitors who have often been amazed by the imagination and sense of innovation of the creators and by the quality of the products presented. It goes without saying, however, that the major issues of our time have not been overlooked in this remarkable offer. Thus, all exhibitors had also bet on sustainability and energy saving, in terms of use.
From the most sophisticated products and components, through the solutions offered to solve the problems posed by the new situation in terms of ever more expensive resources, to lighting for pleasure and comfort, the sector, whether public, private, dedicated to trades in the profession or simply to consumers, is being forced to adapt to a disrupted market. The requirements are multiple, increasingly specific, in a context of long-term crisis. The teams Messe Frankfurt at the controls of the event have perfectly integrated all these parameters, and proposed with the assistance of the exhibiting companies an offer perfectly adapted to the great challenges that await our time. Admittedly, they did not wait for this fall 2022 edition to wake up. They were already well developed on all these phenomena before the pandemic. In any case, this living room Light+Building will have demonstrated that despite this long break, the organizers have not lost their touch. This is the result of their know-how and experience in a highly mastered field.