R+T digital already with 135 national and international exhibitors / Usual high level of entries for the Innovation Award
From 22 to 25 February 2021, exhibitors at R+T digital will have the opportunity to present their newly developed products to the worldwide R+T network – and all the content will remain available even after the live event until R+T 2022. This virtual sector meeting place with digital trade fair stands, exhibitor forums and a large conference programme provides many new opportunities for the participants. This is precisely the concept that has convinced many exhibitors at the world’s leading trade fair for roller shutters, doors/gates and sun protection systems. Thus, 135 exhibitors from 19 countries, including 80 international companies, have already registered for R+T digital in February 2021. “In order to ensure the success of our digital market platform, it is essential that the exhibitors find their wishes reflected in our concept and are willing to support us on this path. The positive feedback from the sector within such a short time encourages us all the more and shows that, with R+T digital in 2021, we have touched the right nerve,” says Sebastian Schmid, Department Director Technology.
Dr. Theresa Schöne, Marketing Manager at heroal, confirms the concept of R+T digital: “Our participation in R+T – whether as a face-to-face event or in digital form – was never in any doubt. As an important sector meeting place, R+T provides us with the ideal opportunity to present new approaches regarding our product portfolio and our range of services. As a solution provider in the field of sun protection, we look forward to presenting innovations from this product range in February 2021, and to exchanging ideas and opinions with our customers and other interested persons.”
Helmut Friedrich, Managing Director of ASO GmbH Antriebs- und Steuerungstechnik, is also convinced by the concept of R+T digital: “In our view as a component manufacturer, the significance of R+T has great weight even on the digital level, so the participation of ASO Safety Solutions is self-evident. The real-time perception of current market developments and, equally, of our novelties, should not wait.”
This view is also shared by Christian Dietl, Head of Technology (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) at Deceuninck Deutschland: “Our new product PROtex 2.0 is now available. We therefore do not want to wait until R+T 2022 in order to present it to a broad public. We want to show our presence at R+T digital and maintain relations with our regular customers, but also to specifically make new contacts.”
Sully Briskomatis, Marketing & Communication Manager at the Italian outdoor equipment manufacturer Corradi, also stresses the importance of the world’s leading trade fair: “R+T has always been one of the most important international trade fairs, and we are confident that the digital edition will also provide us with new inspiration. This past year has imposed new challenges on all of us and made us change our thinking, so we therefore believe that people are ready for a digital trade fair and will be able to benefit from the numerous opportunities presented by the new technologies.”
Large number of registrations for the R+T Innovation Award
The entry phase for the R+T Innovation Award was concluded at the end of October. This will be the centrepiece at R+T digital. On the first live day, 22 February 2021, the jury will make the final judgement on the winners, who will be presented with the award in an exclusive prize-giving ceremony in the evening. Altogether, around 100 entries were accepted from 13 countries for the pre-judgement in all eleven product categories. The entries are thus on a very high level – as has been the case in the previous awards. Sebastian Schmid is delighted with the response from the sector: “The number of applicants shows the need in the sector for companies to be able to present their developed innovations to the specialist public already in February 2021. For this reason, the presentation of the R+T Innovation Award will be the central focus of the concept of the digital event.” The pre-judgement will take place at the beginning of December, in which the entries will be viewed by the specialist jury and the product nominations will be decided. For the first time with this award, several prize winners will be honoured for each category.
The applicants again include renowned companies who have already taken part in the Innovation Award several times, but also some new companies. In addition, there are long-term R+T exhibitors who have entered their products for the R+T Innovation Award for the first time. “Overall, we’ve got a great mix with the applications! We are delighted that the companies are accepting and using the opportunities we are offering with R+T digital. Innovations will again play an important role at R+T 2022, because the physical face-to-face trade fair will continue to be the trend barometer and highlight of the roller shutters, doors/gates and sun protection systems sector,” adds Sebastian Schmid.