5/24/2009
HEADLINES

For decades the National Industrial Fastener Show has proclaimed itself the “World’s Largest Fastener Show.”  The cover for the 2009 NIFS Show Directory  featured the “World’s Largest” title.

But just a month earlier Fastener Fair Stuttgart had outgrown NIFS/West in multiple major measurements.

• In October a total of 5,993 people entered the doors at the 2009 Fastener Fair Stuttgart.  There were 3,943 registrations for the November NIFS/West.

FFS even topped NIFS’ record total registration of 5,620 set in 2007.

NIFS provides registration numbers including advance and onsite rather than actual attendance figures so the gap in the number of people participating at the shows is likely to be larger than the 2,050 difference between FFS attendance and NIFS registration.

• There were 625 exhibiting companies at the show in Germany vs. 497 in Las Vegas.

• Stuttgart exhibit space totaled at least 107,600 net sq ft. (226,044 gross sq ft) vs. 60,200 net sq ft for the 2009 NIFS/West.

NIFS’ largest booth total was 829 in 2007 – or 82,900 net sq ft.

In the U.S. another measurement is total number of “booths.” However, since “stands” in Europe vary in dimensions rather than being based on the 10×10 foot spaces of the U.S. the easiest comparison is calculating total square feet of exhibit space.

• Exhibit staff entering Fastener Fair Stuttgart totaled 2,210 vs. 1,885 registering for NIFS/West.

•  NIFS reported registrations from 36 countries vs. 70 for Fastener Fair Stuttgart.  However, Europe totals many more countries than North America’s U.S., Canada and Mexico.

FFS reported 83% came from 27 European countries. Adding Russia and CIS countries the total is 89% from “Europe.” ©2009 GlobalFastenerNews.com

Related Stories:

• 2009 NIFS/West: Numbers Drop But Exhibitors Still Report Business

• 2009 NIFS/West: Numbers Drop But Exhibitors Still Report Business Activity

• SHOW NEWS: NIFS/West Moving to Sands for 2011

• SHOW NEWS: 2nd Fastener Fair Budapest Set for 2010