InnoTrans 2012: A Market Overview

InnoTrans starts Tuesday, September 18, but Monday was an opening press conference and tour to get some highlights of what is in store for this week. (You can view photos in our Photo Gallery HERE.) Over the next four days, 2,515 exhibitors from 49 countries will present their rail technology innovations and services. On the outdoor display of 3,500 meters of track, 115 vehicles will be on display. 

Messe Berlin GmbH Chief Operating Officer Dr. Christian Göke

Messe Berlin GmbH Chief Operating Officer Dr. Christian Göke said InnoTrans is the final highlight of a series of events in Berlin and its objective is to provide the best market overview of rail transport in the world. He said the main key figure in trade fairs is surface area and this year it is up to 94,608 square meters, up 17 percent from 2010. For the first time, the whole area has been rented out to accommodate the event. This exhibitor participation, he said, equates to the trust exhibitors have in this event.

Most exhibitors have increased the amount of space rented. And, when looking by region, China has grown the most, up 90 percent, followed closely by Japan with an 84 percent increase in square meters.

A key feature of InnoTrans is the amount of premiers at the trade fair. There are 147 premiers, up from just 52 two years ago. Exhibitors plan their unveilings to coincide with this event, which he said also illustrates the significance of InnoTrans to the industry.

He stated, "The success story of InnoTrabns is without parallel. Since its launch in 1996 this fair has gone from strength to strength. Despite a stagnating global economy, InnoTrans 2012 has expanded and set new records, thus underlining its undisputed standing as the world's leading trade fair for transport technology." 

Association of the European Rail Industry (UNIFE) Director General Phillipe Citroën

Phillipe Citroën, director general of the Association of the European Rail Industry (UNIFE) talked about The UNIFE World Rail Market Study, conducted by Roland Berger Consultants and published by DVV Media Group , which provides data on the current world market for rail and gives an outlook out to 2017. 

UNIFE represents European companies responsible for the design, manufacture, maintenance and refurbishment of rail transport systems, subsystems and related equipment.

Citroën stated since the last UNIFE World Rail Market Study was published two years ago, the global rail supply market has grown steadily. The total annual market volume averaged around 146 billion Euro for the years 2009-2011, equivalent to a compound annual growth rate of 3.4 percent compared to teh average annual market volumes for 2007-2009. 

Since publication of the 2010 UNIFE World Rail Market Study, the infrastructure and rolling stock segments experienced the strongest growth in absolute terms.

Despite the recent economic crisis, countries have added rolling stock and infrastructure kilometers to their installed base, both about 4 percent. Alongside significant growth in very high speed trains, urban units have experienced considerable growth, too.

The rail supply industry has significantly outgrown the world economy, seeing its share of global GDP rise from .31 percent in 2004 to .38 percent in 2010. 

Anticipated growth is 2 to 2.5 percent for infrastructure, 2 to 2.5 percent for rolling stock, 3 to 3.5 percent for rail control systems, being driven by the rollout of ERTMS in Europe and PTC in the U.S., and 2.5 to 3 percent for services.

German Railway Industry Association (VDB) Managing Director Prof. Dr. Ronald Pörner

From the German Railway Industry Association (VDB), Managing Director Prof. Dr. Ronald Pörner spoke about the dire need of rolling stock. VDB brings the manufacturers of railway vehicles, control and safety technology, and infrastructure, plus the suppliers and service providers associated with those, together and combines the interests of the sector.