Chillventa will resume in Nuremberg in 2022, with a virtual event in 2020

Heinkel, Daniela, NuernbergMesse

Wolf, Petra, NuernbergMesse

In view of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and its effects on the global economy, NürnbergMesse has decided in agreement with the Exhibition Advisory Board not to hold Chillventa 2020. “This wasn’t an easy decision,” says Petra Wolf, Member of the Management Board of NürnbergMesse. “To gauge the mood of the industry, we carried out an extensive survey of the more than 800 exhibitors from around the world who registered for 2020 and all the visitors who attended Chillventa 2018. The results informed our decision to cancel Chillventa for this year,” she adds.

The organizers also advise that they are exploring options for digitalizing parts of Chillventa, using the original date this coming autumn. “The many discussions we have had in recent weeks have shown us that, given the unusual circumstances this year, our customers would still like the opportunity to interact, and they need to learn about new products, even if they can’t attend in person,” Petra Wolf, Member of the Management Board of NürnbergMesse, observes. “We are therefore pulling out all the stops to offer a platform we can use to hold the Chillventa CONGRESS, for example, or the trade forums or the product presentations in a virtual format, so we can satisfy the need to share knowledge and provide a dialogue with experts for experts. Be sure to keep the original dates open in your diary. It will be worth while, since this will be the first time the refrigeration, AC, ventilation and heat pump community has met on the web,” Wolf adds.

Surveys on Chillventa reveal strong commitment

The strong level of commitment and participation in the Chillventa surveys was extraordinary. As the leading international exhibition for refrigeration technology, Chillventa enjoys huge support from exhibitors and trade visitors alike. But the survey also revealed that concerns about holding the event this year were too great. Reasons include the current global uncertainty, which also affects the refrigeration, AC, ventilation and heat pump industry, and is dampening investor enthusiasm, causing revenue losses and interrupting production. At the same time, limited business activities due to government regulations and international travel restrictions are making it more difficult for trade fair participants in many locations to plan and prepare their attendance at events such as this.

“We are very grateful for the many candid and constructive conversations we have had with our exhibitors, professional associations and the Exhibition Advisory Board in recent weeks, all of which have helped us with our decision-making process. The most important consideration for us is not to hold any event against the wishes of the industry. Chillventa is the cornerstone of the international refrigeration, air-conditioning, ventilation and heat pump community, and that’s how we want it to continue. We believe it is important for it to maintain its character as the world’s leading exhibition for refrigeration technology. In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, travel restrictions and the current international economic situation, we assume that if we held Chillventa this year, it would not be the success our customers would prefer. Even if, as could be expected, the situation is different in October, now is the right time for us to cancel and enable our customers to plan with more certainty,” Wolf continues.

In times of crisis, in particular, it is increasingly clear that being able to meet in person, to learn and to interact are basic human needs. In the future, leading international exhibitions like Chillventa will again be there to provide guidance for all industry players, and will remain platforms for business success. “From the outset, Chillventa has enjoyed an extremely high level of international participation – about 70 percent in the case of exhibitors and about 60 percent for its visitors. This year, we would be unlikely to achieve the level of international participation that’s important to both our exhibitors and trade visitors, considering the current international travel restrictions and the economic situation as a whole. So by deciding not to hold the exhibition again for a further two years, we are lining up for a successful Chillventa at the Nuremberg exhibition venue in 2022. But before then, we will meet in a virtual space at the usual time this year. We’re looking forward to seeing you,” comments Daniela Heinkel, Exhibition Director Chillventa.

Save the date

Chillventa will resume its normal sequence on 11-13 October 2022. The Chillventa CONGRESS will begin the day before, on 10 October.