A+A: “It’s Not Only About Protection. It’s Also About Passion”

By Maureen Paraventi

The displays are being disassembled. The impact-resistant gloves, high visibility garments, respirators, safety footwear, hardhats, fall protection harnesses and all of the other occupational safety and health products that drew safety-minded visitors from around the world have been packed up and are on their way back to their respective companies – which are also from all around the world. A+A’s 13 cavernous halls are being emptied and will soon be prepared for the next trade show which will fill them by the hardworking staff of Messe Düsseldorf, the German trade fair company that operates A+A and other events at one of the largest exhibition grounds in the world.

Some 67,000 visitors from 150 countries and 2,340 exhibitors from 70 countries descended on Düsseldorf last week for a whirlwind four days, to show or to see an incredible range of products, technologies and innovations aimed at keeping workers safe and healthy in as sustainable a manner as possible. The numbers represent a significant increase from A+A 2023, which had 2,200 exhibitors and 62,000 visitors.

The motto for the show: People Matter.

Stepping into the leadership role of A+A is Daniel Feische, who will also be responsible for Messe Düsseldorf’s glasstec show. Feische succeeds Lars Wismer, who heads to Singapore for a new position, that of Regional Head Messe Düsseldorf for Asia (MDfA).

A conversation with the two men reveals both the challenges and rewards of producing what is deservedly called “the world’s leading trade for safety, security and health at work.”

Wismer notes that A+A “is getting more and more international,” with an increase in visitors from Asia and the U.S., in addition to Europe.

Elaborate Displays, Complex Planning

Many exhibitors opted for large spaces and elaborate displays, with on-site fashion shows, eye-catching multi-media presentations and waitstaff serving food and beverages to booth visitors. Others went a simpler route, with smaller spaces, fewer products and an emphasis on person-to-person conversation.

Wismer likened the planning that goes into accommodating different exhibitors’ space needs and booth dimensions as being akin to “a complex game of chess, or Tetris.”

And once all of parts have been assembled and the show is in progress?

“What we’ve seen in the last years is, it’s not only about protection,” said Wismer. “It’s also about passion. It’s about making a statement. More and more companies make sure that whatever they do – shoes, trousers, workwear – they are passionate about it. They want to create a brand and an image.”

Although the show has continued to grow, Wismer emphasized that Messe Düsseldorf is committed to keeping the growth at a healthy level. “We have to make sure that there is a good mix of visitors and exhibitors.” There is a waiting list of companies who wish to exhibit, and certain product categories are limited to ensure that there isn’t an overabundance of some types of products.

A+A is an enormous venture to take on, but Feische, whose resume includes Head of the group New Product Development and Market Research in the Business Development division of the company, is ready. His previous experience positions him to create and manage events and to analyze international markets.

“I worked on the topic of a circle economy – which I really believe is one of our future topics all over the world, because it’s so special – and we do have it in A+A already,” said Feische. “There are companies working on a cradle-to-cradle basis, taking the old product, making a new one out of it.”

Feische embraces the ‘People Matter’ focus of A+A. “It’s really important for us to support the workers and people who are in the daily business of working hard and having safety problems. We can assist them with our show, getting new technologies for them to use, so that they have an easier life and an easier working life.”

AI, Exoskeletons are Gaining Prominence

A+A has always reflected emerging trends in the OSH space. Are there trends in the making right now that will play a prominent role in future A+A shows?

Feische names sustainability, AI and smart PPE as some prominent trends, such as garments with heat control that can help prevent heatstroke among workers who must toil outdoors in high temperatures. Exoskeletons were also prominent at A+A, which featured a well-attended EXO Park. Attendees got to see – and in some cases, try – devices designed to reduce the strain on arms and shoulders for people doing work above their heads, and others that supported the back for those who have to lift heavy items from the ground.

In addition to exhibitions and demonstrations, A+A featured a Live Expert Talk with panelists from science, business and society on the topic: The Future of Work: Between Reality and Metaverse – Safe, Sustainable and Borderless? There was also a BMWE YOUNG INNOVATORS stand with eleven start-ups from Germany and a START UP ZONE for young, innovative companies. A+A is held concurrently with the International Congress for Occupational Safety and Occupational Medicine, which provides in-depth insights into current topics from science, research and practice.

While Messe Dusseldorf stages other OSH trade shows – in Dubai, Singapore and Shanghai, among other locations – A+A is the largest, and takes place in the company’s home base.

Feische laughs: “Next year I have a lot of traveling in my calendar.”

CIOSH, the Chinese International Occupational Safety and Health Goods Expo is China’s largest personal protective equipment (PPE) show. CIOSH has expanded to Thailand in recent years, and is primarily for sourcing PPE materials and suppliers. OSH Asia in Singapore showcases technology-focused products like smart PPE, AI solutions and drones. TOSH is in Istanbul, Turkey. “It’s interesting because it kind of connects Europe, Asia, the Middle East,” said Wismer.

The next A+A will take place from October 19 to 22, 2027 in Düsseldorf. A+A 2027 is already in the planning stages. For information about exhibiting or attending, visit www.aplusa.de/de/Besuchen.

About A+A

A+A is the world-leading trade fair for safety, security and health at work. Every two years it brings together international decision-makers, trade visitors as well as visionaries from industry, the skilled crafts, services, science and the political sphere in Düsseldorf. With its holistic approach A+A fuses innovations related to safety, health, ergonomics, digitalization and sustainability to project a comprehensive image of tomorrow’s world of work.

Images are courtesy of ©Messe Düsseldorf.