October 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact:

Anne Meerboth-Maltz
Tel. (312)781-5185
Fax (312) 781-5188
email: ameerboth@mdna.com

Messe Düsseldorf North America
150 North Michigan Avenue
Suite 2920
Chicago, IL 60601

REHACARE 2009 DEMONSTRATED POTENTIAL OF REHABILITATION MARKET

The recent staging of REHACARE 2009, International Trade Fair and Congress Rehabilitation – Prevention – Integration - Care in Düsseldorf, Germany, demonstrated that the rehabilitation and care market has great potential. “The Industry’s prospective is enormous. But demand is currently restrained due to cuts in health care technology supply. Nevertheless, given the demographic development, we are convinced that the need for assistive devices will continue to grow and REHACARE as the leading platform for the industry will profit from this,” commented Wilhelm Niedergöker, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf.

A total of 48,000 international visitors came to REHACARE 2009 to view the latest rehabilitation technology presented by 706 exhibitors from 29 countries. “As befits the cycle, REHACARE’s range of presentations was comparable to that of 2007 and attracted 47,000 visitors,” explained Wilhelm Niedergöker. The majority of the visitors were interested in walking and mobility aids, transportation devices and wheelchairs. Every second visitors was looking for daily living assistive devices.

The exhibitors at REHACARE 2009 were very pleased with their participation, particularly with the quality, the purchasing authority and internationality of the attendees. Friedel Rinn, Chairman of the Federal Working Group for Self-assistance of People with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses and their Families, was delighted to see the lively attendance at the booths of the self-assistance groups and praised the wide range of products: “REHACARE is literally a market of possibilities. The range extends from individual solutions that are already suitable for daily use to intelligent support systems which in the future will make life easier for people with disabilities, care requirements and chronic illnesses. Anyone who wants to get an overview of the latest technology should not miss REHACARE.”

Norbert Aumann, General Manager of Otto Bock HealthCare Deutschland GmbH, a leading manufacturer of wheelchairs and transport devices, considers REHACARE an important international marketplace: “The acceptance of REHACARE is still good – and so is the atmosphere among the exhibitors and visitors. This year, we presented our sport product range for the first time and successfully reached new target groups. We were also able to increase the attractiveness of our brand in the areas of prosthetics, orthotics and neuro-stimulation.”

Heiko Keuchel, Manager of Thomashilfen, is convinced that REHACARE is on the right path to successfully address the topics of care and dementia on an internationally level: “The enormous interest of the visitors in our products in the area of dementia has positively surprised us. Also, as specialists in children’s rehab, we were once again very satisfied with REHACARE’s role as the industry’s big marketplace. In no other place are customers, retail, insurers and manufacturers represented in such variety and intensity. In Düsseldorf, the personal exchange with parents and therapists is a unique feature.”

Charlotte Fraser, International Manager of Medilink Yorkshire & Humber and organizer of the British Pavilion with 24 companies, was enthusiastic about the international specialists who visited the booths of the British companies. “We were absolutely amazed. Our companies were able to make valuable contacts all over Europe and far beyond.”

The exhibits at REHACARE 2009 were supported by seminars and continuing education sessions. In addition, the REHACARE “Dream Living Space” Congress about barrier-free building and living attracted over 500 participants and the Federal Working Group for Self-assistance successfully promoted the “Foundation for Self-determined Living”.

The next REHACARE staging is scheduled for October 6 - 9, 2010 in Düsseldorf, Germany. For further information on visiting or exhibiting at REHACARE 2010, 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; Visit our web site http://www.mdna.com; Subscribe to our blog http://blog.mdna.com; Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/mdnachicago