Koelnmesse, the organisers of The Tire Cologne exhibitiom, are suspending cooperation with Russian companies in support of the people of Ukraine. Writing in statement published online on 1 March 2022, Gerald Baese, CEO of Koelnmesse GmbH said:
After a four-year absence, The Tire Cologne is preparing to make a comeback in May. Continental, Falken, Hankook, Michelin and Pirelli have already signed up as exhibitors. Show organiser Koelnmesse and conceptual sponsor the German Tyre Retail and Vulcanisation Trade Association (BRV) discussed their plans at a digital press conference this morning.
Later today the organiser of The Tire Cologne is expected to confirm that the trade fair will not take place in May, as previously announced. Instead, Koelnmesse intends to focus upon plans for The Tire Cologne to return in 2022.
The exact timing for a return to a pre-2020 kind of normalcy is anyone’s guess, and this uncertainty makes event planning a risky undertaking. The organisers of tyre exhibition The Tire Cologne are therefore hedging their bets by combining the traditional trade fair format with a virtual show. Both are scheduled to take place between 18 and 20 May 2021.
In light of the news that Koelnmesse took the decision to delay The Tire Cologne until 2021, Tyres & Accessories interviewed communications manager, Voelker de Cloedt in order to find out more about the thinking behind the move as well as the particular dates the company has chosen. The conversation began with a question about the nature of physical exhibitions in light of analysts reports suggesting we could be witnessing to transition of the sector to virtual shows.
Koelnmesse has postponed The Tire Cologne 2020. The organiser of the largest tyre business show in the world came to the decision following what it calls “an in-depth consultation.” The postponement was made in agreement with the German Tyre Retail and Vulcanisation Trade Association (BRV), Koelnmesse’s partner for the event. Originally scheduled for 9-12 June 2020, the show is to be rearranged for 18-20 May, 2021.
Although Angela Merkel predicted this week that up to 70 per cent of all Germans could catch coronavirus, people there are responding to the risk in very different ways. This can be clearly seen in plans for two automotive shows.
In the wake of decisions to cancel a number of exhibitions and trade fairs in Europe, including the Geneva International Motor Show, the organisers of The Tire Cologne met yesterday to discuss how the coronavirus could affect this year’s show and how they should respond to the situation. After taking many factors into consideration, they’ve decided to continue preparing for the exhibition’s doors to open on 9 June, but are keeping a close eye on developments nonetheless – and will act to minimise the potential risk to exhibitors and visitors.
The organisers of The Tire Cologne are feeling pleased with themselves. Not only is 70 per cent of the next show’s exhibitor floorspace already booked and rented a good nine months before it begins, the exhibitor list includes all five of the world’s leading tyre makers.
Despite being just seven months since the premiere of The Tire Cologne, Koelnmesse and the BRV are already working on the next edition, which will take place in June 2020.
On 16 November, the supervisory board of Koelnmesse terminated its working relationship with chief operating officer Katharina C. Hamma (52) with immediate effect. According to the company, the board fired Hamma “in light of differing views on the future strategic direction of the company.”
Avon Tyres will unveil a new motorcycle tyre during the 2018 Intermot motorcycle expo (3-7 October, 2018; Hall 6 B-021 Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany). Avon adds that its stand will feature its entire range of motorcycle tyres, special guest appearances and custom bike exhibits.
Many consider it successor to the Reifen tyre fair, therefore comparisons are inevitable. For this reason, the organiser of The Tire Cologne may be nervous about visitor and exhibitor numbers. But should this be the case, Koelnmesse isn’t showing it.
The organiser of The Tire Cologne reports that firms from 41 countries have signed up as exhibitors for next month’s show. According to Koelnmesse GmbH, international exhibitors account for around 68 per cent of the 530 providers and 70 or so brands whose presence has already been confirmed. The strongest international contingents are from Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Turkey, as well as from China, India, Taiwan and the USA.
When the doors to the inaugural The Tire Cologne open in just over a year’s time, visitors to the show will find all of the ten largest international tyre manufacturers amongst the exhibitors. Show organiser Koelnmesse GmbH reports completing the ‘top ten’ set with the recent signing up of Hankook Tire. It also confirms that number 11 on the list of global tyre majors, Cooper Tire & Rubber, is now also on board for next year’s exhibition.
