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September 2007 INCREASED VISITOR ATTENDANCE AT A+A 2007At the recent staging of A+A 2007, International Trade Fair for Safety, Security and Health at Work, 1,460 exhibitors from 51 nations presented the latest products and technologies for the occupational safety industry to a record 55,100 trade visitors (compared to 54,350 in 2005). With these results, A+A underlined its status as a leading international platform for safety, security and health at work. The concurrently held international A+A Congress registered about 6,000 participants. Both trade fair and congress took place in Düsseldorf, Germany. The occupational safety sector is on an upward trend worldwide and the awareness for safety and health risks at the workplace has increased considerably. Eugen Müller, Chairman the Federal Working Group on Safety and Health at Work (Basi e.V.), commented: “Occupational safety has turned from a marginal issue into a modern discipline in the business process chain. A+A has accompanied it on this path and provided important momentum.” A+A also serves as an indicator for safety and security trends on the pan-European market which was evident by the high international visitor participation. More than one in five visitors came from outside of Germany. “After years of stagnation, the German market for protective products is finally growing again. Obviously, safety and security-related subjects are increasingly becoming the focus of attention for the top management. At A+A 2007 there were noticeably more decision-makers present than in previous years,” remarked Gerd Zeisler, President of the A+A 2007 Advisory Board and Director Sales Europe for Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA. From the U.S., 40 companies participated in A+A 2007, 19 of them within the successful North American Pavilion which was organized by Messe Düsseldorf North America and co-sponsored by the National Safety Council (NSC). In his keynote address at the A+A 2007 opening, Franz Müntefering, Federal Minister for Labour and Social Affairs, underlined the importance of safety and health at work for increasing productivity: “Safety and health are indispensable prerequisites for maintaining and promoting employees’ performance. This affects all of us - companies but also social security funds and politicians.” The A+A Congress program consisted of more international lectures series than ever before and the 15 simultaneously interpreted workshops held under the topic “Safety and Health at Work International” were well attended. The congress organized by the International Labour Organisation (ILO – UN organization), held as an integral part of the A+A Congress, attracted participants from 65 nations. This year’s event was entitled “Decent Work as a Global Goal and National Reality”. The next A+A will be held in Düsseldorf from November 3 - 6, 2009. For further information on visiting or exhibiting at A+A 2009, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America, 150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2920, Chicago, IL 60601. Telephone: (312) 781-5180; Fax: (312) 781-5188; E-mail: info@mdna.com. Or visit the web site www.mdna.com. # # # |