From Spain, the United Kingdom, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands – but also from the Czech Republic and even Korea exhibitors will come to IMA’s 30th anniversary in Düsseldorf. In doing so, they underline the international importance of the International Trade Fair for Amusement and Vending Machines. “IMA exhibitors traditionally take advantage of the trade fair to present themselves with their new products at the start of the year; this is where the industry meets”, says Event Director Petra Lassahn. Approximately 200 exhibitors from 38 countries and 9,000 trade visitors from 17 countries are expected in Düsseldorf from 18 to 21 January.
One reason for IMA’s attracting a steadily growing number of visitors and exhibitors from abroad is the systematic further development of the fair. Lassahn: “Here we maintain close contact with our exhibitors and visitors to be able to take their needs and ideas into account as well as look at the wider picture.” As a result, IMA 2011 offers as many as two new special zones: the COFFEE WORLD and the SERVICE SOLUTION VILLAGE.
The BOWLING WORLD is already held as a separate exhibition segment for the third time and also enjoys international popularity. One case in point is the US company QubicaAMF, whose Dutch subsidiary has been an exhibitor from the start and will of course present itself again in Düsseldorf in 2011. With, among other things, the popular Highway 66 mini-bowling system. Folkert Nievelstein, EMEA Regional Sales Manager QubicaAMF Worldwide says,
“IMA offers us a unique global platform to present our products to the amusement industry. It helps us to establish new strategic contacts with industry key players. Through the BOWLING WORLD at IMA we gained access to and orders from customers who traditionally and up to that point had not considered bowling an investment option. On the other hand, the trade fair offers bowling centre operators the opportunity to integrate other concepts from the amusement and vending machine industry into their business.“
Besides the Highway 66 system, QubicaAMF will showcase the latest generation BES Bowler Entertainment System, the Conqueror Pro Center Management System and its Multi Media System, as well as the continuation of the Lifestyle furniture line which was successfully presented in 2010 already.
For the Dutch company JVH Gaming Products B.V., IMA as the first industry event of the year is the perfect place to “present ourselves with a new perspective of gaming marketing in Germany”, says Marketing Manager Ina Oome. “For us, IMA symbolises the launch of our new video multi gaming products on the amusement arcade and hospitality markets. The trade fair is the platform for us to present our Super Magic Star as a wall-mounted unit, or as a floor-standing unit for restaurants and casinos.”
Germany a sales market of international importance
Of course, the significance of the IMA location should not be underestimated either – for many foreign companies Germany, in particular, is an important market. One of these is the British manufacturer of automatic payment systems MEI. Marketing & Sales Coordinator Nathalie Kervaon says, “A major aim of being here as an exhibitor is expanding our presence in the German market. After our CASHFLOW SC product was so well received here, we will present our new SC Advance at IMA.”
Spanish exhibitors also like to use IMA for presenting new products. Says Marisol Rodriguez Martin of Diana Marketing CIA, S.A., “At IMA we will present our new sports and skill game ‘Super Shuffle’.” Another Spanish company presenting itself at IMA again is LAIV, S.L. from Malaga. Marketing Coordinator Christine Wate says, “IMA is the only opportunity for a personal meeting with our German customers and providing them with information on our new products. Besides we always make new contacts at IMA.”
At the trade fair, LAIV, S.L. will present a large number of toys for capsules as well as Chupa Chups products.
Many exhibitors from Austria
Exhibitors from Austria already came to IMA in large numbers in the past, this year their number has risen again. For good reason: “The bond between the German and the Austrian culture is strong. Machines with cash winning options developed in Austria are quite popular in the respective commercial market in this country – and IMA is the leading trade fair for commercial gaming in Germany“, says Johannes Weissengruber, managing director and proprietor of APEX Gaming which is domiciled in Austria. At IMA, APEX Gaming will therefore celebrate its entry into the German market for machines with cash winning options. Weissengruber:
“The aim of our extensive trade fair presentation is to convince the specialist audience that APEX Gaming is a reliable partner with a long-term perspective of activity in the German market. We will present our popular “Magic Classic” games package which comes in four different casing versions.”
Also coming to IMA from Austria is WEBAK Elektronik HandelsgmbH. Michaela Riedl, WEBAK Administration and Marketing, explains why: “IMA is a good platform for us to revive old contacts and establish new ones. Here we have the opportunity to present our products in an expert environment.”
At IMA 2011 WEBAK presents its new Slanttop, a wall unit and bar unit, as well as, on the hardware side, the Casino Chromeline and new games on the software side. Besides these two, there will be a large number of other companies from Austria presenting themselves at IMA 2011, such as Best Gaming Technology GmbH, BGtech GmbH, Impera Ges.m.b.H. and Quanmax AG.
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.
For further information please contact:
Nadine Lente
Press Officer Phone: +49 (0) 211 90191-191
Fax: +49 (0) 211 90191-138
Email: Nadine.Lente@reedexpo.de