R+T expands international network

Happy faces (left to right): Simone Bandle-Enslin, Corporate Development Messe Stuttgart; Javier Sanchez, Coordinator of the APA work group Trade Fairs and Events; Enrique Lerma, Coordinator of the APA work group Trade Fairs and Events; J. Dídac Contreras Contreras, President of APA, the Spanish association of manufacturers of automatic doors/gates; Roland Bleinroth, President of Messe Stuttgart; Ricardo Ricart, General Secretary of APA; Bernhard Müller, Vice President Messe Stuttgart International

From 2 to 4 February 2022, Messe Stuttgart and the Spanish association of manufacturers of automatic doors/gates (APA) will for the first time hold “APAExpo by R+T” in Barcelona. Previously, this international trade fair for automatic doors/gates took place under the name of FIPA – most recently in Valencia with over 100 exhibitors and 3500 specialist visitors. In 2017 and 2019, FIPA was already organised with the support of the APA. In cooperation with the team for R+T – the leading world trade fair for roller shutters, doors/gates and sun protection systems – the trade fair will now become a triannual event and relocate to Barcelona.

“We are always interested in expanding our international network – especially in Europe. Only in this way can we open doors to new markets,” explains Sebastian Schmid, Department Director at Messe Stuttgart. “So we’re all the more pleased to intensify our cooperation with the Spanish doors/gates association APA, as we’ve been cooperating closely and trustingly for many years already.” There has been a media and stand partnership between R+T and APA already since 2016. In addition, last year APA organised the international congress ICAD during R+T 2018.

Also Ricardo Ricart, General Secretary of APA and General Manager of the Spanish publishing house “PA ediciones”, is looking forward to the joint project: “With this cooperation, we want to specifically benefit from our synergies and further strengthen the event’s status as an international trade for automatic doors and gates. With its experience and professionalism, R+T is in this respect the ideal partner for us.” Schmid adds: “With ‘APAExpo by R+T’, the R+T family is getting further reinforcement in the area of doors and gates, and can thus expand its competence in this field. Furthermore, thanks to the cooperation with APA, other than Spain, additional markets such as north Africa and Latin America are opening up for R+T.

But first of all we are looking forward to ‘APAExpo by R+T’, which will provide another event highlight for the sector in each year following R+T.”