Messe Stuttgart and the Deutscher Schaustellerbund (DSB), organisers of the well-established Interschau in Germany, and Fiera di Genova from Italy, promoter of newer Technofolies event, have agreed to combine their events so that they present a show on an annual basis rotating between Stuttgart and Genoa.

The combined exhibition, which will eventually be re-branded, will take place each autumn, beginning with this October’s planned Technofolies event in Genoa. The 2008 event in Stuttgart will mark a departure from the traditional Interschau dates in January, and indeed replaces the event originally planned for the Nürburg at the start of 2008.

The 2007 edition of Technofolies, from October 25 to 27, will be held in Hall C of Fiera di Genova exhibition centre, where visitors will be able examine many working rides and attractions first hand. By the time of the 2009 show in Genoa, a new pavilion will be ready. In Stuttgart, a new venue will be used directly across from the airport for the 2008 event from October 29 to 31.

"This co-operative effort creates a truly integrated European trade show serving the needs of both the travelling showmen as well as the leisure park industry,” believes Albert Ritter, president of the European Showmen's Union (ESU).

Interschau has always been well attended by showmen from Germany and beyond and the combined event is backed by the DSB, ESU and also the Italian showmen's union ANESV-AGIS. Also lending their support are the Italian manufacturer’s association ANCASVI and the Amusement Industry Council of Europe (AiCE), which represents supplier’s associations from Italy, Spain and the UK.

"We're impressed with this co-operative effort and how the organisers of Technofolies and Interschau truly listened to their customers and did not hesitate to make the necessary changes serving the interests of the industry,” says ANCASVI president Michele Bertazzon.

The new alliance of course is also intended to present a strong alternative to the Euro Attractions Show (EAS), organised by IAAPA and EAASI. Some Italians are still frustrated at IAAPA’s involvement in EAS, a show which the manufacturers helped establish. Until the recent announcement of a September 2008 event in Munich, EAS has always taken place in January/February, too late in the closed season for certain suppliers to get new orders.

In 2008, however, we will be faced with potential situation of a September/October event (EAS) in one German city followed by a late October event (Interschau or its successor) in another. The exhibition landscape has not got that much clearer yet!

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