More Than 39,000 Visitors From 115 Countries Attend Security Essen
Security Essen is the international meeting place for solutions relating to everything to do with civil security: At the 20th global fair for security and fire protection technology, more than 39,000 trade visitors from 115 countries obtained information from 1,086 exhibitors from 40 nations.
Four days' long, companies and institutions presented their innovations at Messe Essen. Frank Thorwirth, Chairman and CEO of Messe Essen: "Over 35 percent of the trade visitors came to us from abroad. Therefore, Security Essen is by far the most international fair worldwide in the field of civil security. The internationality amongst our exhibitors was 46 percent -- thus, the trade visitors were able to profit from a comprehensive range on offer with solutions from all over the world. Therefore, our trade fair has once again provided impressive proof of its position as the number one in the sector."
The strong interest in security solutions was reflected in the positive economic situation of the sector: The worldwide turnover is estimated at Euro 100 billion and the Germany-wide turnover of the segments represented at Security Essen alone at Euro 11 billion -- with an upward tendency. This good development characterised the course of the trade fair: 26 percent of the visitors stated that their companies will spend over Euro 250,000 on security next year; 13 percent want to invest over Euro 1 million. The decision takers came to Security Essen in order to prepare these purchases: 82 percent of the trade visitors are involved in procurement measures in their companies. A quarter of the trade visitors placed orders directly at the fair. The exhibitors are very satisfied with how the fair has gone: Over 95 percent of the companies are expecting good post-fair business.
Obtaining information about new products and services and about trends in the sector, maintaining business contacts and preparing investments were at the very top of the agenda of the trade visitors. Guaranteeing the security of public spaces, transport security, monitoring areas and security for buildings and installations were important subjects for them. There, system solutions are in ever greater demand.
The exhibitors showed numerous innovations which extended from the individual product right up to the complete solution equipment. One conspicuous feature was the strong presence of smartphone-capable developments: Cameras and alarm installations can be controlled with mobile phones on which the owner can have displayed who is standing in front of his door. A system for monitoring tilted windows using a smartphone was shown as well. Mobile phones are also suitable as contactless keys for opening doors. Moreover, camera technology has been refined extremely. It was possible to see systems which, only after an incident relevant to security, make previously pixelled people recognisable. Messe Essen honoured particularly pioneering innovations with the Security Innovation Award. The prize winners included a security door closer from Assa Abloy Sicherheitstechnik which is equipped with an escape door opener for simple retrofitting on fire and smoke protection doors in conformity with the standards as well as a 360-degree camera from Syperion GmbH which creates precise panoramic images.
International institutions also used Security Essen as an information platform. For example, the European Commission staged its Security Conference at the trade fair. With the title of "Security Research Meets Industry: Growth. Technology. Markets", experts provided information, amongst other subjects, about strategies for the security industry as well as about possibilities of safeguarding borders or alerting the population and sought the dialogue with partners from industry. The strong presence of the EU Commission highlighted the status of the fair: Thus, the fair was opened by Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the EU Commission and Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship. Gilles de Kerchove, Anti-Terror Coordinator of the European Union, obtained information at Security Essen. For the first time, the European Commission was also represented at the trade fair with a booth on which research-oriented companies and institutes presented themselves.
An independent theme park was dedicated to the subject of "IT Security" which is becoming ever more important. There and in freely accessible lectures, experts provided generally comprehensible information about hacker attacks, cyber crime and protective measures. For the first time, exhibitors from the Fire Protection section were represented in two halls. In Halls 1 and 9, more than 140 companies (a plus of over 30 percent) showed products and services for everything to do with installation technology, operational and constructional fire protection as well as fire alarm and smoke and gas warning equipment.On the "First Training and Further Education Day", the fair, together with Bundesverband der Sicherheitswirtschaft (BDSW - "Federal Association of the Security Industry"), focused on the occupational chances at security service providers. In live demonstrations on the "Fire Protection Day", the professional fire service in Essen and exhibitors showed how dangerous fires can be fought optimally and what new products are available.