Security Essen 2012Security Essen 2012: 39,000 attendees, 1,086 exhibitors

Security Essen is the international meeting place for solutions relating to everything having to do with civil security: At the twentieth global fair for security and fire protection technology, held 25-28 September in Essen, Germany, more than 39,000 trade visitors from 115 countries were offered information from 1,086 exhibitors from forty nations. The organizers note that during the 4-day event, companies and institutions presented their innovations at Messe Essen.

Frank Thorwirth, chairman and CEO of Messe Essen, said: “Over 35 percent of the trade visitors came to us from abroad. Therefore, Security Essen is by far the most international fair worldwide in the field of civil security. The internationality amongst our exhibitors was 46 percent - thus, the trade visitors were able to profit from a comprehensive range on offer with solutions from all over the world. Therefore, our trade fair has once again provided impressive proof of its position as the number one in the sector.”

The organizers note that strong interest in security solutions was reflected in the positive economic situation of the sector: The worldwide turnover is estimated at €100 billion and the Germany-wide turnover of the segments represented at Security Essen alone at €11 billion, with an upward tendency. This development characterized the course of the trade fair: 26 percent of the visitors stated that their companies will spend over €250,000 on security next year; 13 percent want to invest more than €1 million. The decision makers came to Security Essen in order to prepare these purchases: 82 percent of the trade visitors are involved in procurement measures in their companies. A quarter of the trade visitors placed orders directly at the fair. The exhibitors said they were very satisfied with how the fair has gone: more than 95 percent of the companies are expecting good post-fair business.

Innovations relating to all aspects of civil security
Obtaining information about new products and services and about trends in the sector, maintaining business contacts, and preparing investments were at the top of the agenda of the trade visitors. Guaranteeing the security of public spaces, transport security, monitoring areas, and security for buildings and installations were important subjects for them. There, system solutions are in ever greater demand.

The exhibitors showed numerous innovations from individual product to complete solution equipment. One notable feature was the strong presence of smartphone-capable developments: Cameras and alarm installations can be controlled with mobile phones on which the owner can have displayed who is standing in front of his door. A system for monitoring tilted windows using a smartphone was shown as well. Mobile phones are also suitable as contactless keys for opening doors. Moreover, camera technology has been refined extremely. It was possible to see systems which, only after an incident relevant to security, make previously pixelled people recognizable. Messe Essen honored pioneering innovations with the Security Innovation Award. The prize winners included a security door closer from Assa Abloy Sicherheitstechnik which is equipped with an escape door opener for simple retrofitting on fire and smoke protection doors in conformity with the standards as well as a 360-degree camera from Syperion GmbH which creates precise panoramic images.

International supporting program with the EU Commission participation
International institutions also used Security Essen as an information platform. For example, the European Commission staged its Security Conference at the trade fair. With the title of “Security Research Meets Industry: Growth. Technology Markets,” experts provided information, amongst other subjects, about strategies for the security industry as well as about possibilities of safeguarding borders or alerting the population, and sought the dialogue with partners from industry. The organizers say that the strong presence of the EU Commission highlighted the status of the fair: The fair was opened by Antonio Tajani, vice-president of the EU Commission and Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship. Gilles de Kerchove, Anti-Terror Coordinator of the European Union, was at the fair as well. For the first time, the European Commission was also represented at the trade fair with a booth on which research-oriented companies and institutes presented themselves.

An independent theme park was dedicated to the subject of “IT Security” which is becoming ever more important. There and in free lectures, experts provided information about hacker attacks, cyber crime, and protective measures. For the first time, exhibitors from the Fire Protection section were represented in two halls. In Halls 1 and 9, more than 140 companies showed products and services for everything to do with installation technology, operational and constructional fire protection as well as fire alarm and smoke and gas warning equipment.

The next Security Essen will be held 23-26 September 2014.