PaintExpo 2024: Great visitor response, very good, constructive atmosphere and more international than ever before

Automation and the teaching of robots, such as here at the Wagner stand, was a major topic in Karlsruhe.

PaintExpo has once again impressed exhibitors and visitors alike as the world's most important international industry platform for industrial painting technology. "We're very pleased about the large number of visitors, which has once again increased significantly compared to the last trade fair edition. PaintExpo proved to be powerful and innovative - and more international than ever before. The heart of industrial painting technology beat here for four days. This underscores PaintExpo's position as the world's most important source of inspiration for the industry", says Markus Geisenberger, Managing Director of Leipziger Messe.

Industrial painting technology in one place

The world's leading trade fair for industrial painting technology presented the entire spectrum of international products and services for industrial painting technology along the entire value-added chain. The spectrum ranged from pre-treatment to paints, systems and application technology through to final inspection and packaging. The focus was on many world premieres, technological developments for more sustainable and energy-efficient painting processes, pragmatic solutions for increasing quality and the digitalization of production processes.

The exhibitors were very positive about the trade fair. In the official survey, 94 percent of exhibitors stated that they would exhibit again at the next edition of the trade fair. Nine out of ten respondents expect good post-fair business.

 

Conveyor technology plays an important role in efficiency and productivity. Caldan had brought some interesting examples with him to Karlsruhe.

Michael Müller, CEO of WAGNER International, for example, was very satisfied with the world's leading trade fair for industrial coating technology: "Our stand was very busy from the very first minute of the event. Half of the visitors we welcomed came from abroad. From Argentina to Japan - there were guests from all over the world. This is particularly important for us as a globally active group of companies."

Oliver Zanner, Head of Marketing at FreiLacke, also praised this year's trade fair: "Even before PaintExpo started, we could clearly sense the great interest shown by visitors. It had a completely different, intense dynamic than at the previous trade fair. We were able to exchange ideas with a large number of visitors and hold very high-quality discussions. As a system coating specialist and manufacturer, we meet our customers from a wide range of industries at PaintExpo. PaintExpo is the most important industry get-together for us."

Challenging times, but PaintExpo radiates optimism

The general conditions for the industry are currently challenging, but the atmosphere during the four days of PaintExpo exuded optimism. "The past year presented our industry with considerable challenges! Numerous projects had to be postponed or scrapped altogether. Since the middle of the first quarter of 2024, however, there have been signs of recovery and investments in sustainable technologies and innovative automation solutions are noticeably picking up speed again. I was also able to see this positive development at PaintExpo. A large number of interested parties and existing customers came to find out about the latest developments in this area. I am convinced that numerous fascinating projects and state-of-the-art systems will emerge from these discussions and I am looking forward to the rest of the year. We are already looking forward to the next PaintExpo and are determined to take part again", explains Thomas Rippert, Managing Director at RIPPERT.

Great satisfaction and a high proportion of decision-makers among visitors

The visitors also gave PaintExpo very high marks: In the survey, nine out of ten respondents stated that they would recommend PaintExpo to others and visit the next edition of the trade fair again. The number of top decision-makers and specialists and executives was also very high. 83 percent of visitors have a significant influence on investment decisions in their companies.

 

Sergey Guskov, Sales and Service Manager Central and North Europe Industrial Coating Systems at Nordson Germany, emphasizes: "PaintExpo offers excellent opportunities to make new contacts and initiate business. Networking is very important here. Participating in the trade fair was very successful for us. We're very happy to be back at PaintExpo."

More than one in three guests traveled from abroad

PaintExpo also had a lot to offer in terms of international visitors: More than one in three guests traveled from abroad. In addition to Germany, visitors came in particular from Switzerland, Italy, France and the Netherlands.

Ulrich Tautz, Senior Manager Sales Industrial Products at Dürr Systems, was also pleased that PaintExpo 2024 attracted a large number of international visitors: "We had an employee with 25 years of trade fair experience with us - and he said that he had never experienced such a strong day as the second day of PaintExpo. My colleagues from different countries regularly exchanged ideas with the visitors during the trade fair in their respective national languages. This illustrates just how international PaintExpo is."

Infrared drying increases productivity and can have a positive impact on the CO2 balance. The infrared emitters at Excelitas Noblelight were a showstopper with their heat pulses.
Pigging technology helps to minimize paint losses and also reduce rinsing agent consumption - here at the Dürr stand.