More than fifty companies from the Spanish railway industry participated in the eleventh edition of Innotrans held in Berlin from September 23rd – 26th 2016, forming the Spanish pavilion coordinated by the Spanish Railway Association. An assistance marked by the high number of technological advances presented and the positive reception by experts and visitors.
For the seventh consecutive year, under the coordination of Mafex, in collaboration with ICEX España Exportación e Inversiones, the Spanish railway industry occupied an area of more than 2,300 m2 in the most important world fair of the sector, placing Spain as the sixth country in terms of number of exhibitors.
On the occasion of this wide representation, Mafex organized different visits and acts with authorities such as the Secretary of State for Infrastructure and Housing of the Ministry of Public Works of Spain, Julio Gómez-Pomar, and Gonzalo Ferre, President of Adif, administrator of Spanish infrastructures, as well as representatives of railway companies from all over the world.
Innovations of the Spanish railway industry
This global showcase revealed the growing global weight of an industry that is already present in more than 90 countries where it has coordinated large-scale rail projects.
Spain is one of the most important countries in the field of transport. The deep railway know-how continues to grow, thanks to its extensive experience, high specialization and constant commitment to R & D in its business area. This was evidenced at Innotrans, where Spanish companies highlighted the launch of numerous innovations in most areas of the exhibition: rolling stock, auxiliary industry, infrastructure, signalling and ticketing, railway technology and global transport solutions. (See n.4 Innotrans 2016 Report).
Mafex’s experience at Innotrans was once again highly satisfactory. The association wants to continue playing a leading role in the mobility of the future and the boosting of the railway in the world. A solid path towards internationalization that is consolidated in professional platforms such as Innotrans.
Innotrans in figures
The eleventh edition reached its best figures: more than 144,000 visitors from 140 countries and 2,950 exhibitors from 60 countries, six of them participating for the first time: Egypt, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Hong Kong, Thailand and Vietnam.
“InnoTrans 2016 has been the biggest InnoTrans of all time,” said Christian Göke, president of Messe Berlin GmbH. The net exhibition area of InnoTrans 2016 increased by eight percent compared to 2014, occupying a total of 112,000 square meters.
One of the most outstanding features of Innotrans 2016 continued to be its high degree of internationalization both of exhibitors and professional visitors. The fair registered, with 62 percent, a new maximum value as far as foreign exhibitors are concerned. Companies from 60 countries presented their products and technologies to the global public. 36 of the most important professional and industrial associations in the world, including the Spanish Railway Association (Mafex), were present as exhibitors.
Most InnoTrans exhibitors were represented by companies from major European markets, including Germany, Italy, France and Spain.