ILMAC 2013 proves to be a mirror of the Swiss market

At its 19th edition from September 24 to 27, 2013, at Messe Basel, ILMAC, the trade fair for chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology, emphasizes its leadership role as an innovation, information, and networking platform. Thanks to new specialized areas and a diverse accompanying program, ILMAC recorded a positive overall result despite lower visitor numbers and was able to meet expectations satisfactorily. The high quality of visitors was particularly praised by exhibitors.

After four days, ILMAC closed its doors on Friday, September 27, 2013. Exhibitors and visitors alike expressed satisfaction with this year's organization of Switzerland's most important industry event for process and laboratory technology. With 12,046 visitors, the organizer, MCH Messe Schweiz (Basel) AG, reports a decline in visitors while maintaining a very high visitor quality. The reason for this lies in an effective market-driven decrease and the fact that the congress exhibition MipTec, which was held together with ILMAC in 2010, was spun off in 2013. As a mirror of the industry, ILMAC continues to present itself as a good and realistic market indicator.

Expansion of Specialized Areas
The expansion of the existing specialized areas of laboratory technology, process technology, specialty chemicals, and services to include focus topics such as food technology and pharmaceutical packaging attracted new interested visitor groups to the new hall building at Messe Basel. Strong partners and a solid lecture program at the ILMAC Forum, along with significant media resonance beforehand, especially supported the success of the new food technology sector. Patrick Meyer and Lukas Hablützel from Endress+Hauser welcomed many visitors from the food sector and agree that ILMAC must further develop this important area. Andreas Zopfi from the Swiss Packaging Institute SVI particularly appreciated the networking in the Packaging Village: "It is an opportunity for the packaging industry to reach the target group of pharmaceuticals and place their message." Overall, exhibitors were delighted with the high quality of visitors, most of whom are in key positions. This allowed many valuable contacts to be made and successful leads generated. The feedback from exhibitors is predominantly positive. Heinz Peyer, Carbagas AG: "ILMAC was consistently positive for us. We are very satisfied. The Swiss market is small, but ILMAC is the decisive trade fair."

Popular "Lunch & Learn"
The new content format "Lunch & Learn" during lunchtime also enabled busy professionals to attend ILMAC and led to a fully booked ILMAC Forum. Events such as "Counterfeit Medicines" under the patronage of the Swiss Packaging Institute SVI and "Hygienic Design in the Food Industry" under the patronage of the trade magazine LT Lebensmitteltechnologie attracted particular interest. "The Lunch & Learn lectures were very good and informative. I would very much welcome an expansion of the lecture program at ILMAC," says visitor Heinz Zitzer from Medtech Services GmbH. The presentations are published at www.ilmac.ch.

Dialogue-Oriented ILMAC Lounges
The positive response to the lecture series confirms the decision of the organizers to introduce ILMAC Lounges during the two years between the main events, focusing on networking, knowledge transfer, and product showcases. The official announcement and intensive discussions with potential exhibitors and partners during ILMAC received great positive feedback. The organizers, along with their partner inspire innovations GmbH, organizer of the New Lounges in Stuttgart, have already received numerous pre-reservations. This expands the offerings of the MCH Group in the life sciences market segment and supports and maintains industry dialogue. The first ILMAC Lounges are scheduled to take place from September 23 to 25, 2014.

Strong Partners
The Swiss Chemical Society has been an important patron partner of ILMAC since its inception. The SCG actively participates in a joint stand, provides exciting content at the ILMAC Forum, and awards the newly established University Award as well as the Dr. Max Lüthi Award.

With Endress+Hauser as the official Presenting Partner, one of the world's leading providers of measuring instruments, services, and solutions for industrial process technology supports ILMAC. Endress+Hauser employs over 10,000 people worldwide, with around 4,700 in the Basel region.

The next ILMAC will be held from September 20 to 23, 2016, at Messe Basel.