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Transport Logistic Munich Takes Off

     While many players in the logistics industry are struggling for survival nowadays, Munich’s organizers of bi-annual Transport Logistik exhibition have no reason to complain because their trade show business is running exceptionally well.
     When the gates of the Convention Center swing open for the four-day event starting May 12, there will be a record number of attendees from 1,750 different enterprises rushing into the huge complex of steel and glass.
     Here is the superb opportunity for talks and biz at their company’s stands or to take part in one of the many panel discussions.
     This year the event expects many as 55 nations represented and that’s a plus of more than ten percent compared to the previous event in 2007.
     “Those figures reflect the determination of the industry to battle the crisis,” comments Messe Muenchen management board member Eugen Egetenmeir.
     Due to strong demand, this year’s Transport Logistik will for the first time extend over a space of 100,000 square meters, spread over eight different exhibition halls and a wide open-air site at the Munich Trade Fair Center.
     Exhibitors will showcase a broad range of the transport sector, including air freight carriers, forwarders, ground handling agents, airports and general sales agents.

Munich’s exhibition is a key event in the cargo landscape unmatched by any other air freight fair around the globe. It’s the multitude of industrial players that show up there, from producers of goods, their logistics partners, to cargo carriers, aircraft manufacturers, handling agents and end consumers. This denseness of the industry is extremely valuable and a perfect source for establishing new or renewing existing contacts. Tobias Jaeschke, Sales Development and Marketing Manager Germany & Austria at AF Cargo - KLM Cargo

Air Cargo Europe is a very important show. The mixture of participating shippers, forwarders and cargo airlines is conclusive for our business. There we can easily meet producers and consignees which is a tri-partite approach for better understanding their business. Knowing this the better we can perform and tailor our services. Germany is the European heartland of air freight activity, that’s why the Munich event is an absolute must for us. Ram Menen, Divisional Senior Vice President Cargo at Emirates SkyCargo

     Most air cargo operators can be found and personally contacted at their individual booths in Hall A4 where the special fair Air Cargo Europe takes place as an integral part of the Transport Logistik exhibition.
     Further an extensive conference program of panel discussions and round table talks will complement the event.
     Some of the pivotal topics for 2009 include:
               • The economic outlook – how to cope with the present situation
               • Emission trading in the EU
               • Where will the next major logistics hubs be located: Eastern Europe, the Gulf Area, China or Central America
               • Cargo planes and trains – synergies and multimodal transports
     In addition some exhibitors run their own show like the Lufthansa Cargo Group inviting participants to be part of a discussion about their different express product offerings (May 13, Hall A4, Stand 101/302, commencing 15h).
     Others like the SkyTeam Cargo Alliance are calling attendees to show up at their champagne reception for face-to-face talks with some of the big shots of the member airlines, namely VP Cargo Neel Shah of Delta and AF-KLM Cargo’s head Michael Wisbrun (May 13, Hall A4, Stand 537/634, beginning 16h).
     In total as many as 200 exhibitors from 36 different nations have registered for Air Cargo Europe.
     “This is a remarkable response in view of the crisis,” states Messe Muenchen spokesperson Petra Gagel.
     However, some industrial players will be missing like participants from, Iceland, Kazakhstan or the Ukraine.
     Another name that’s not listed is German Aerologic, the Leipzig-based joint venture of Lufthansa Cargo and DHL Express.
     On May 13, the newcomer will receive the first B777F from U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing – parallel to the “express talk” of the Lufthansa Cargo Group at Munich’s Air Cargo Europe.
Heiner Siegmund

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