Twenty-Eighth Aqua-Fish Lands a Big Catch

2019 Aqua-Fisch in Friedrichshafen was a mecca for fishers, aquarium keepers and fly fishers. Over the last three days, 21,230 fans of fish, fly fishing rods and fishing equipment (2018: 21,100) got everything they expected and more. “As an international shopping and experience platform, Aqua-Fisch once again achieved a top result and was a meeting place for an industry audience with purchasing power,” sums up Klaus Wellmann, Managing Director of Messe Friedrichshafen. From fishing equipment, clothing and travel to aquarium equipment such as pumps, aquatic plants and lights, 175 exhibitors from 14 countries offered a wide range of products for aquarium keeping and fishing.

In two exhibition halls and the Foyer East, the public was able to find out about the latest products and trends from leading exhibitors. “Fascination with fish has stayed strong, and once again it was evident that not only the supporting program from industry experts but also the enthusiastic public contributed to the success of the trade fair,” explains Show Director Petra Rathgeber. In more than 100 lectures, workshops and demonstrations, experts shared their knowledge in the Angel Forum in the Foyer East and in the Aquarium-Keeping Forum in Hall B5.

There was a lot to try out in the Foyer East, where casting techniques could be practiced at the fly-fishing pool, including long-distance and targeted casting. The show aquariums at the stand of the State Fisheries Association of Baden-Württemberg allowed visitors to take a deeper look. The aquariums contained several specimens of the Atlantic salmon, which currently carries the title “Fish of the Year.” Participants in the Big Fish competition had managed to land a big catch, and their snapshots could be admired in the Foyer East.

Hall A7 was of interest to fishers and fly fishers: Here, the agenda included a wide range of items needed for fishing. Professional fisher and book author Jörg Strehlow catered to the taste buds of the fish enthusiasts during daily live demonstrations in his show kitchen. He made it clear that there are many more fish species that can be prepared than trout and salmon. In workshops on the subject of fly tying, professionals introduced the delicate art of bait making. Those who wanted to prove their skills against other hobby fly tyers could enter the fly-tying competition of the European Fly Fishing Association (EFFA), submitting handmade dry flies, nymphs and streamers as part of the preparations. Philipp Feist, co-owner of Zanderkant, summed things up: “The visitors showed a great deal of interest and Aqua-Fisch offers a good opportunity to reach customers from southern Germany.”

Hall B5 was firmly in the hands of aquarium keepers and terrarium keepers: Professionals such as the aquascaper Manuel Krauss demonstrated how aquariums can be designed aesthetically and with a great deal of variety. The stand of the Swiss association Betta Helvetia provided information on the breeding and keeping of fighting fish, also offering a site where the small, colorful fish could be auctioned off. Bettina Feiler, Marketing Communications Specialist at Hanna Instruments, was also satisfied with the show: “For our company, aquaristics is only a small market – all the more reason for us to be pleased that the fair is going so well and that we did well with our large stand. Many customers visit us who show great interest and are also eager to make purchases. We didn’t come to Aqua-Fisch for a few years and I can only say in conclusion that this year’s Aqua-Fisch went better than expected and even exceeded our expectations.” Lovers of snakes, lizards and the like could get information at the stand of the organization Friends of Reptiles of Upper Swabia, as well as from exhibitors from the terrarium industry.

Events over the last three days were also geared toward youngsters: From the painting competition to the children’s rally and movie theater for kids, the Aqua-Fisch offered a colorful program.

The next Aqua-Fish from March 6 to 8, 2020 will offer everything connected to fish and scales. More information and images can be found at https://www.aqua-fisch.info and https://www.facebook.com/aquafischfriedrichshafen/

Whatever the date, Eurobike is still key to many US brands

This year’s Eurobike show is set to open Sunday, a day after the Tour de France begins. That unusually early date offers both challenges and opportunities, exhibitors told BRAIN, and the challenges probably played into this week’s announcement that next year Eurobike will move back to August.

This year’s early July dates mean many European retailers are either on vacation or too busy selling bikes to find time to come to the show. Being in prime tourism season means flights and other costs are higher than Eurobike’s traditional early fall timing. And some brands who plan product introductions at the Tour, or have to support teams there, may find it difficult for staff to be two places at once.

“It’s a little bit challenging, but we’ve known these dates for a while,” said Eric Richter, Giro’s global brand development manager. Giro typically launches new helmets at the Tour and supports several teams there, standing by, for example, to provide custom-colored helmets if a team or one of its riders takes the lead in a race category.

“It will be an opportunity to spotlight new introductions at both the Tour de France and a trade show. So we can tie our sports marketing to things that might be previewed at the show,” Richter said.

Like other major trade shows, Eurobike has had many major bike brands pull out in recent years, in favor of private dealer shows and other events. This year, Campagnolo is a significant no-show, for example.

But the 2018 show is sold out, with about 1,400 exhibitors signed up and a waiting list of companies looking to get into the Messe Friedrichshafen. New exhibitors this year include Kona, for example, which is coming back after several years of sitting out the event. The company plans to show off its new e-bike offerings to European retailers. Eurobike will also feature some new brands, like Rubber Kinetics, the U.S.-based company that is introducing Goodyear tires to the bike shop market.

U.S. brands say, regardless of timing, Eurobike remains the best place to meet with their global distributors — especially European distributors, of course. (The Taipei Cycle Show remains the show to conveniently meet with Southern Hemisphere and Asian distributors.)

“It saves us a lot of 14-hour flights,” said Jake Pantone, Enve’s vice president of product and consumer experience. “Whether we are shopping for a new distributor or doing maintenance with a current one, there is that kind of efficiency there.”

Pantone said Eurobike also remains a place to see new products and trends in person.

“For my part on a product development and strategy side, to be able to see trends in one place and in person is valuable. You see a product then find yourself talking to a product manager or an engineer and having a conversation you would otherwise never have, if you just saw the product launch online.”

Besides the road products launched at the Tour, July might be an unusual time to introduce new products. But Eurobike remains enough of a stage, with hundreds of attending journalists, that many companies have planned launches there, if only judged by the hush-hush invitations filling up BRAIN staffers’ inboxes in the weeks and days before the show.

Many companies profess to introduce new products only when they are ready, not on a model year cycle, and Eurobike’s new date offers one more spot on the calendar to align with the development cycle, along with earlier-season events like Sea Otter as well as the fall shows.

Besides the date shift, Eurobike this year eliminated its consumer day and its outdoor demo. The combination returned the show’s focus to manufacturers and distributors, the show’s Klaus Wellmann said soon after the new dates were announced last year.

“We are giving the original function of Eurobike back to the manufacturers and importers: namely the first publication of the new collection and the associated exchange with trading partners for seasonal planning,” he said.

The show also is increasingly focusing on e-bikes and e-mobility products and services, said Eurobike’s Stefan Reisinger.

“The bicycle market is changing very dynamically,” Reisinger said. “On the one hand, the e-bike boom is generating record revenues for many market players, but also considerable shifts in market structures. With the changed concept for the show and a clear focus on trade visitors and e-mobility topics, we are addressing these changes in the bike and e-bike market. The strong positive reception from established as well as new market players shows us that we are on the right track with this concept.”

 

Source: Bicycle Retailer

Summer in the outdoor city: international outdoor industry sets solid, new trends in Outdoor Friedrichshafen 2017

24th OutDoor ends with 21 412 trade visitors – New dates and new themes prove popular – 1,019 media representatives strengthen networking platform

More exhibitors, more themes, and more than 21,000 trade visitors from 90 countries again. The outdoor trend continues. “The Outdoor is an important marketplace and compass for the global outdoor industry, the 24th edition of the show confirmed its role as Europe’s leading trade show, with plentiful sunshine and a unique atmosphere,” concluded Klaus Wellmann, CEO Messe Friedrichshafen, at the end of the four-day industry showcase on Wednesday. The new show dates in June – one month earlier – met with widespread approval and provide an optimal basis for the coming business year.

The show’s partner, the European Outdoor Group (EOG) industry association, also drew a positive conclusion. General Secretary, Mark Held said, “Once again, OutDoor was a very good show and delivered a lot of great content for our industry. The earlier date has proved to be a successful move, with a healthy number of visitors through the doors. OutDoor was very well organised and run by our excellent partner Messe Friedrichshafen, and we really liked the creative addition of new events and attractions during the show, which are adding to the value of a trade fair in a fast-changing world. Exhibitors and visitors also benefited from some modernisations to the Messe made since the last show, such as the optimized air cooling system, and these proved to be very welcome.”

At the end of the show, Stefan Reisinger, Head of OutDoor, commented with satisfaction, “The earlier dates and schedule days have made the OutDoor show even more relevant. The opening day on Sunday started somewhat slower as it coincided with Germany’s Pentecost/ Whitsun holidays and the long bank-holiday weekend. However, the new schedule was vindicated with visitor attendance distributed differently over the days compared to previous years. The following days saw stronger attendance. This demonstrates the importance of the outdoor summit at Lake Constance. We are looking forward to the 25th anniversary edition of the show next year, which also benefits from more favourable calendar dates.” This year’s OutDoor saw 965 exhibitors and 21 412 trade visitors (2016: 21,507) from 90 countries.

In Friedrichshafen, the international outdoor industry demonstrated its innovation power across all product sectors, creating ideal conditions for further business decisions. “The energy from it all – the organizers and also the visitors – has been higher than normal. That is really positive. We have had lots of interesting meetings, comparable to the years before. OutDoor is valid for us. I think the timing is a lot better. Also timing-wise, for purchasing, it’s an improvement, even though we don’t do a lot of orders here. It’s important to get people inspired and thinking about the new gear. OutDoor 2017 was energizing and very positive,” said a satisfied Andreas Holm, Sales Director Thule Group. Andreas Schechinger, Tatonka commented, “For Tatonka, the OutDoor show continues to be the most important event in our calendar. It’s where we present our brand and products to retailers and media. We welcome the widely-debated earlier dates. Bringing the show forward has turned it back into a common kick off for the ordering process. We’re aware that not everyone sees it like this, however, change never leaves everyone happy.”

Both core topics and industry-related segments were very well received by visitors and offered a clear guide to future trends. With our four new OutDoor Plus areas: Lifestyle Collection, HangOut, Water Sports and Running, we were able to deliver a more comprehensive overview of the market and reach new target groups,” explained Dirk Heidrich, OutDoor Show Director, Messe Friedrichshafen. Runner’s World editor-in-chief, Urs Weber, concurred, “By including running as a new core theme, OutDoor has demonstrated its good instincts for choosing the right trail. The way it was presented at the show, the wide-ranging offer from exhibitors and the positive response from trade visitors demonstrate just how much dynamism there is in the running industry. The freshly-launched Run&Trail Summit had over 100 visitors, including some of the most important running retailers in the sector – a great result for the show.”

In addition, the large number of highlights in this year’s programme: widely-respective innovative designs honoured by the OutDoor Industry Award, well-attended OutDoor Conferences with top international speakers, training events such as the trainee tours and walk&meet tours for bloggers, the Lake Constance microadventure experience provided a wide range of opportunities for visitors to acquaint themselves with upcoming industry trends.

On the media front, Europe’s pre-eminent trade show at Lake Constance also reached a wide audience. 1,019 accredited media representatives from 30 countries, including more than 160 bloggers, reported from Friedrichshafen on all channels.

Next year, the 25th anniversary edition of the show will take place from 17 to 20 June 2018. For more information visit: www.outdoor-show.com.

[Eurobike 2017] The e-bike of the future is a bicycle

High speed of innovation in the e-bike sector – Bicycles with electric drives and traditional bicycles converging in appearance

What will the e-bike look like in the future? The answer from many manufacturers of e-bike drive systems is “like a bicycle.” What sounds easy is a challenge for the players in the e-bike market, as will also be demonstrated at the Eurobike in Friedrichshafen (August 30 to September 2, 2017).

Five years is a long time in innovation-driven industries. This becomes clear when one looks back at the history of e-bikes: Although the first e-bikes rolled into bicycle dealerships before the turn of the millennium, the biggest thrust in innovation and thus also what was required for an e-bike boom at the bike shop counter has only been able to be observed in the years after 2010. The pace of innovation will not be slowing down in the coming years either. An important development goal is to bring e-bikes and bicycles closer together again. “An e-bike will increasingly approach a normal bicycle in terms of its appearance. For example, while the luggage rack rechargeable battery was standard in the past, this solution will be seen less and less in the coming years in favor of semi-integrated or fully integrated batteries,” says Michael Wild, Marketing and Press Manager at Shimano distributor Paul Lange.

At Bosch, Europe’s market leader among drive manufacturers, the development is estimated to be similar, as Claus Fleischer, Head of Bosch’s E-Bike division, reports: “From our point of view, in 2022 there will be pedelecs which can hardly be distinguished from the traditional bike in form language and design. Drives as well as batteries are more compact and lighter, and so well integrated into the frame design that the e-bike can hardly be distinguished from a bike without an electric drive at first glance. On the other hand, in five years there will still be a large number of pedelec models which are clearly identifiable as such: Because while some people prefer to be on the go with a bike that is puristic and straightforward, others consciously want to be perceived as an e-biker – and thus make a clear statement.”

What sounds easy – packing lighter and more powerful batteries into e-bikes – is a real challenge for bicycle manufacturers. “With the increasing integration of e-bike components, development tasks for bicycle manufacturers are becoming more demanding. The product management of an e-bike supplier is becoming more and more a matter of project management, in which the interaction of quite different partners and actors has to be coordinated,” explains Jens Steinhäuser, who is responsible for the development of the sporting brand Conway at bicycle manufacturer Hartje.

What will a typical e-bike look like in 2022? “The typical e-bike of 2022 cannot be explicitly outlined, because the typical e-bike of 2022 will not exist. Even today, we are seeing that electric drives are becoming accessible to more and more bicycle types and categories – and this trend will continue. In 2022 e-bikes will exist in so many facets that any attempt to comprehensively describe them would go beyond the constraints of the question,” says Michael Wild of Shimano distributor Paul Lange.

These market dynamics are also reflected at the Eurobike, which is one of the most important platforms for the e-bike market as the leading trade fair for the bicycle industry. “With more than 1350 exhibitors from some 50 countries in 2017, the Eurobike is again breaking all records. The Eurobike trend documents how the structure of the bicycle industry is currently changing. Visitors to the Eurobike will again see many new names among the exhibitors. Some of the companies which today rank among the market-defining companies in the bicycle scene were still rather unknown in the industry just a few years ago. In turn, some names that were quite prominent in recent decades are no longer present on the trade fair floor,” observes Stefan Reisinger, Eurobike Director at Messe Friedrichshafen.

Eurobike 2017 is open from August 30 to September 2 from 9 AM to 6 PM daily. On the Business Days from Wednesday to Friday, the fair will only be open to trade visitors and accredited journalists. For more information, visit: www.eurobike-show.com.

Eurobike 2016

From August 31 to September 4 2016, the 25th Eurobike will present the newest trends in bikewear and accessories for the coming season

The bike industry takes great pleasure in developing new bike models that make cycling lighter, faster and more comfortable year after year. But even a tour with the best bike is only half as fun without the right equipment. This is especially the case when the weather is less than bike-friendly. Now, with the newest bikewear and accessories trends that will be on show at the Eurobike from August 31 to September 4, 2016, every day is a bike day, even when temperatures drop well below freezing.

The Giro turns 30

Until about 30 years ago, racing and mountain bike enthusiasts had to make a lot of compromises if they wanted to pursue their passion in inclement weather. Raincoats for cyclists were either waterproof or breathable. The combination of both qualities in a single membrane is today considered a pioneering achievement by the American technology company Gore, which presented its Gore-Tex jacket Giro, its first product made especially for cyclists, in 1985. Of course, technically a lot has happened since then. At the upcoming Eurobike, the bikewear supplier will present a new edition of the classic jacket that includes new fabric functions, such as the shake dry effect: after a single quick shake the jacket that was soaked just a few minutes ago is now completely dry in just seconds. At 100 grams, the weight of the jacket is also fascinating.

Cold, colder, Minneapolis

Nowhere in the United States is the winter as cold as it is in Minneapolis. In winter, cold polar air blows across the plains north of the metropolis on the Mississippi. Temperatures of -30° C (-22° F) are not uncommon. Thus, it’s no surprise that this is where 45Nrth, one of the leading brands of winter equipment for cyclists, is based.

The Americans are bringing their new Wølfgar bike shoe to the Eurobike, where it can be seen at the Eurobike stand of distribution partner Cosmic Sports. But bike shoe almost sounds like a trivialization: the comfort zone of the fiercely impressive bike boot is -31° to -12° C. That is to say, you can hardly stand wearing the boot in warmer temperatures. Anyone looking for footwear more suited to foul weather in central Europe will also find plenty to choose from in the product range of 45Nrth.

Everything in view

When considering safety, many cyclists not only think about clothing, but especially about their bicycle helmet. The question of whether to wear a helmet or not is especially easy to answer if your own pedal power is effectively doped up by 250 watts of support from an electric motor. That’s even more true if the helmet is made as cleverly as the new Haptic HUD Helmet from the Dutch e-bike specialists Diavelo. The highlight of the new bike helmet, which by the way also blazes a daring new visual trail, is the heads-up display integrated into its visor. Drivers of luxury limousines are already familiar with this technology: important parameters, such as speed or navigation instructions, are projected onto the windshield. The technology in the helmet was developed jointly with the German e-bike equipment supplier Brose.

No performance without comfort

Without a doubt, function and weight are important in bikewear, but if the item doesn’t fit, even the best technology is uncomfortable and thus useless. Professional cyclists agree that comfort makes a significant contribution to performance. One bikewear supplier that has always embodied this philosophy is the German company Gonso. The company based in Albstadt, Baden-Württemberg is considered by industry circles to be the developer of functional Lycra shorts for cyclists and is also bringing a new innovation in comfort for the 2017 season to the Eurobike. The new Relax Gel Comfort seat padding from Gonso uses different gel inserts that are stitchless and trilastically integrated into the clothing.

During the Eurobike’s Festival Days, that is on Saturday and Sunday (September 3 and 4), bike fitting guru Dr. Kim Tofaute will be at the Gonso stand offering free measurements and advice about the perfect bike setup (prior registration required).

Taiwan Exhibitors:

Exhibitor	Hall/Stand No.	Main Products
Alligator Cables Ent. Co., Ltd.	A5-312	Hydraulic hoses, Brake pads, Inner Cables, Brake Shoes, Parts
Ashima Ltd.	A6-418
BEV International Corp.	A5-307	carbon fiber bicycle parts
Maxway Cycles Co., Ltd.	A1-111	custom bicycle frames
Castello Cycle Co., Ltd.	A6-506	bicycle accessories
Cycle Lucha Co., Ltd.	A5-508	Frame, Fork
Fran Wheel Enterprise Co., Ltd.	A5-215	Trailer
Asia Bicycle Trading Company	A6-420	Complete Bicycle, Bicycle Parts, Racing Bike, Frame, Chainwheel & Crank
The Legion Enigneering Corporation	B4-104	brake components, brake systems, cables
Yeu Chueh Industry Co., Ltd.	A6-412	Handlebar, Seat post, Hydroforming frame tube, Suspension tube
Youn Live Industry Co., Ltd.	A6-413	OEM bicycle assembling
Karbona Parts Inc.	B1-108	Bicycle Parts & Accessories
Heng Feng Bicycle Co., Ltd.	A6-411	Complete Bicycle
Tern Bicycles and Bickerton Portables	B4-406	E-bikes, city bicycles, folding bicycles, bicycle frames, bicycles accessories
Sunrise Bicycle Co., Ltd.	A1-506	Frame, Fork
King Kong Machinery Co., Ltd.	A3-811	bicycle hubs, bicycle parts and bicycle tools
MAXXIS Cheng Shin Rubber IND. Co., Ltd.	A5-402	Rubber Tyres for Bikes
Venzo Cycle Co., Ltd.	A4-416	Complete Bikes and Components
Trigon Co. Ltd.	B3-106	Carbon Frames, Forks, Handlebars, Stems, Seat Posts, Complete Bikes
Zeit Bicycle Industrial Co. Ltd	B1-507	BRAKE SHOES, DISK PADS

More information is available at www.eurobike-show.de