Big industry players have been meeting at IMA for 30 years
For 30 years now, IMA has been the industry event to start the new business year: at the International Trade Fair for Amusement and Vending Machines, all the major industry names will meet again from 18 to 21 January 2011. "In its 30th year, IMA will again be and continue to be the leading trade fair for the German amusement and vending machine industry and beyond. At the same time this proud anniversary is yet another proof of the industry's many years of positive development ", says Mario Hoffmeister, Head of the Central Department of Communication with Gauselmann AG. This development is to be continued in 2011: "By international comparison, Germany handled the financial and economic crisis relatively successfully. For 2011, we expect a further revival of the economy. Given the necessary legal framework our industry will also benefit from that."
Volker Isenmann, Press Spokesman for NSM-Löwen Entertainment GmbH agrees "In terms of the overall economy there is certainly an upturn." However, he shares the view that political decisions will be decisive for the industry: "Current political discussion is concerned with a number of important issues. Among these are the results of the evaluation report on the Gambling Ordinance and possible consequences for future practice. Another is the necessity of revising the German Interstate Compact on Gambling as a result of the ECJ ruling on sports betting. Unfortunately, this has prompted attempts from some politicians to include gambling on machines - which is ruled by industrial, and hence Federal, law - in this state level legislation. From the perspective of our industry, this is inconceivable. Positive economic development for our industry can therefore only be expected if these relevant issues are solved in a way that is satisfactory from the perspective of our industry and the necessary planning reliability is guaranteed."
Besides the favourable general economic conditions, the process of transformation triggered by the Technical Directive should not be ignored, says Bernhard Eber from the Press & PR Department of Bally Wulff Entertainment GmbH. "This trade fair is quite clearly the parting of the ways between TR3 and TR4. Our clear commitment to TR4 has been known since 2008. Now is the time when our decision will be vindicated."
Regina Freese, Marketing Manager with Crown Technologies GmbH, sees a long-term economic recovery and also hopes for decisions that will have a positive effect for the future: "At present we expect the economic situation to remain positive both in our industry and our company. We succeeded in further expanding our market position in 2010 and thus continue on smoothly from the trend of the preceding years. The change-over of gambling machines with cash winning options to 4.1 will be successfully completed, and there are promising products available for 2011. On the other hand, the discussions on some framework conditions of importance to the industry make forecast for more extended periods difficult. We do however think that objectivity and a sense of proportion with regard to the overall economy among all parties will lead to solutions that are acceptable to our industry."
Prof. Dr. Kurt Biedenkopf to open IMA
The festive opening of IMA with Prof. Dr. Kurt Biedenkopf will take place on the first day of the fair at 11 a.m. (reception starting at 10.30 a.m.) in Hall North A (access via IMA Entrance North B). The event will be moderated by Chief Tagesschau newsreader Jan Hofer and will be followed by a trade fair tour. At IMA 2011 which will take place from 18 to 21 January the host, the Verband der Deutschen Automatenindustrie (VDAI) and Reed Exhibitions Deutschland GmbH as the organiser expect approximately 200 exhibitors and 9,000 visitors. It will showcase a broad range of gambling machines with cash winning options and the full spectrum of electronic amusement machines, sports games, Internet terminals as well as cash management systems and furnishing concepts for state-of-the-art arcades.
www.ima-messe.com
For further information please contact:
Nadine Lente
Press Officer
Phone: +49-(0)211-90191-182
Fax: +49-(0)211-90191-138
Email: Nadine.Lente@reedexpo.de