Interview with Mr. Falk Senger, Messe München

After the lockdown comes the easing of restrictions - Falk Senger, Managing Director of Messe München, is optimistic that electronica in November will send a positive signal to the electronics industry.

Mr. Senger, the strict constraints of the curfew and contact restrictions due to the coronavirus are now gradually being eased again. When do you expect Messe München to be able to hold events again?

“Also under debate in this easing of restrictions was the assessment of trade fairs and congresses. In the meantime, these are no longer classified as “large events”, unlike rock concerts and folk festivals. We are therefore optimistic at Messe München that events can be held again on our exhibition grounds from September without any restrictions – still, of course, observing the appropriate protection and hygiene measures.”

electronica (November 10-13, 2020) is naturally of special importance for the electronics sector. What’s the current status of the planning for that?

“Obviously, the coronavirus issue doesn’t leave the preparations for electronica untouched. Protection and hygiene concepts are being drawn up and their implementation prepared together with the respective authorities. The exchange with our exhibitors and service providers is also even more intensive than usual. Nevertheless, we currently expect electronica to be held safely and successfully in the fall, which is why the trade fair preparations are completely on schedule.”

In mid-May, there was a meeting of the electronica Advisory Board, which also includes representatives of Infineon, NXP, Rutronik and TDK. What feedback have you had from the members?

“Even before the Advisory Board meeting we were already in close communication with its members and other core exhibitors and have regularly asked the individual companies for their assessment of the situation. The basic tenor was and is positive. It was stressed once again at the Advisory Board meeting how important it is for the industry to hold electronica. The companies expect it to send a positive signal to the market and for it to be an opportunity to catch up on painfully neglected customer contacts. We are therefore pulling together with the Advisory Board to implement electronica 2020.”

How do you perceive the mood in the electronics sector overall? Are there different assessments, for example, from American or Asian companies?
What does the current number of advance registrations by exhibitors look like compared with the same period in 2018?

“Around 1,700 companies have currently registered for this year’s electronica. The figure was only marginally higher at the same point two years ago. We therefore hope that we will come as close as possible to the 2018 figure, given that we expect numerous last-minute registrations. The ZVEI figures show that the mood in the industry is currently subdued. That’s why it’s all the more important for electronica to take place in November. These days, we are seeing that the situation in Asia, especially in China, is easing again significantly. We are therefore optimistic that this positive trend will also spread to other parts of the world in the next few months.”

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