Europe’s leading medical technology fair keeps getting bigger

According to the organisers of the MEDTEC Europe trade fair, to be held in Stuttgart from 22 to 24 March 2011, the expansion of 2011 event reflects that of the industry as a whole: Germany’s fast-growing medical technology sector achieved sales of over €23 billion in 2009. Event Manager Gregor Bischkopf, explains why he expects the industry’s continued growth to be reflected in exhibitor and visitor numbers at Europe’s leading medical technology fair. -First part of the interview-

The medical technology sector weathered the recession well. How do things look now that many other industries are staging a recovery?

• It’s true that most companies in the industry have survived the recession unscathed and achieved stable growth, and I think that will continue. The prospects are still very positive. Are there figures to support that?
• Globally, experts are forecasting medium and long-term growth of around 8 percent in the medical technology sector, though this could vary a great deal from one region to another. For example, we’re expecting more than 10 percent growth in the developing countries, but only 4 to 6 percent in Europe and the United States. Germany’s position is particularly strong, at 5.8 percent. So do you expect similar levels of growth from MEDTEC Europe?
• I actually think we’re going to benefit disproportionately – at least we have done over the last few years. The percentage increases in exhibitor and visitor numbers have been in the high teens each year, and we’re expecting the same thing to happen in 2011. What will the main focuses of the next event be?
• The central, overarching theme is precision technology, and there’ll be a specific PrecisionTec Pavilion, which attracted a lot of visitors last year. It will be a chance for manufacturers of medical components, orthopaedic implants and cardiac surgical equipment to meet suppliers of raw materials and machine technology.
• There’ll also be specialist pavilions for a number of other areas. The medical packaging section will be devoted to the whole spectrum of products from filling technology to packing material, with exhibitors including single-use product manufacturers and outsourcers. The medical plastics area will focus on the latest developments in plastics and processing machinery, and the automation and assembly section will showcase the technology used on medical and pharmaceutical production lines.

There are many other questions to ask to Gregor Bischkopf, keep in touch with Eurotec…

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