interzum 2023 exceeds organizers expectations

Photo By Koelnmesse / interzum

COLOGNE, GERMANY - interzum 2023, an international trade fair for furniture and interior design suppliers, was held May 9-12 in Cologne, Germany. Approximately 62,000 trade visitors from nearly 150 countries attended the event. The first in-person interzum in over four years exceeded all expectations, according to show organizers. The roughly 1,600 exhibiting companies unveiled innovative solutions and new products.

“The trade fair could barely have showcased its importance for the industry any better,” said Oliver Frese, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse. For him, the event’s success is a clear sign “that first-rate flagship events such as interzum are more vital than ever.”

The trade fair’s central theme was sustainability. Focusing on the overarching concept of neo-ecology, interzum brought sustainability, climate protection, resource efficiency, and forward-looking planning to the fore before the trade fair even began. Nearly all the exhibiting companies recognized the increasing importance of environmental issues. Aspects such as resource efficiency, smart materials, renewable energies, recycling, and upcycling were key to many of the innovations exhibited.

The varied program of events also explored these themes: the three interzum Trend Forums, the interzum Product Stage, and the interzum Trend Stage, where renowned industry experts discussed the most important developments, trends, and emerging topics in the worlds of furniture, materials, and furnishings, generated a lot of interest among the international trade audience.

interzum goes green: moving into a more sustainable future

The products, services, and special events were not the only things that honed in on environmental issues. Many of the exhibition stands were also designed with sustainability and resource efficiency in mind. What’s more, the trade fair accepts its responsibility and actively tries to protect the climate. In the run-up to the event, interzum launched an initiative to make the world’s biggest industry event for furniture production and interior construction more sustainable in the future. Drawing on the experiences gathered this year, and the trade fair will explore how to integrate sustainability into future events further.

interzum 2023 in numbers

Some 1,600 companies from 59 countries (2019: 1,806 companies from 61 countries) appeared at interzum 2023 on a gross exhibition space covering 186,000 m² (2019: 190,000 m²). This included 255 exhibitors from Germany (2019: 356) and 1,345 foreign exhibitors (2019: 1,450). Foreign exhibitors accounted for 84 percent (2019: 80 percent). Including estimates for the last day of the trade fair, 62,000 trade visitors from 150 countries (2019: 74,000 trade visitors from 152 countries) attended interzum, with foreign trade visitors accounting for approximately 76 percent (2019: 75 percent).

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About the author
Michaelle Bradford | Editor

Michaelle Bradford, CCI Media, is Editor of Closets & Organized Storage magazine and Woodworking Network editor. She has more than 20 years of experience covering the woodworking and design industry, including visits to custom cabinet shops, closet firms and design studios throughout North America. As Editor of Closets & Organized Storage magazine under the Woodworking Network brand, Michaelle’s responsibilities include writing, editing, and coordinating editorial content as well as managing annual design competitions like the Top Shelf Design Awards. She is also a contributor to FDMC and other Woodworking Network online and print media owned by CCI Media.