This year’s motto ‘Where modern spaces come to life: digital – individual – networked’ puts the focus on digitalisation
The world’s leading trade fair with innovative products, developments in the sector and political celebrities
Light + Building in Frankfurt am Main opens its doors to trade visitors on Sunday, 13 March 2016. The combined spectrum of products and services for the fields of lighting and building-services technology makes Light + Building the world’s leading trade for the sector with a spectrum of exhibits unrivalled in terms of depth and breadth. All market leaders are taking part and, with 2,589 exhibitors (2014: 2.495 exhibitors ) presenting their latest products and innovations on an area of 248,500 square metres (2014: 245.000 square meters*) in 22 hall levels, Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre is fully booked up for the six-day fair.
The dominant theme at Light + Building 2016 is digitalisation. Hence, the motto of this year’s fair is ‘Where modern spaces come to life: digital – individual – networked’. The industry is showing intelligent solutions and future-oriented technologies for digitalisation and networking, as well as the latest design trends whereby the focus is no less on trends in the luminaire market and the influence of light on people than on networked safety and security, intelligent home and building automation and efficient energy management. These themes will also be covered by the multi-faceted complementary programme of events, which includes expert lectures, and is the perfect opportunity for trade visitors to gain in-depth knowledge on a variety of subjects.
Events with political celebrities and future-oriented subjects
Light + Building reflects issues of topical relevance to the sector, which also play an important role on the political plane – especially when it comes to sustainability and energy efficiency. Therefore, the world’s leading trade fair is both a stage for product innovations and a discussion platform spotlighting future-oriented developments and trends. The ‘Futurecourse 2016’ discussions will bring together two or three representatives of the worlds of politics and business for chaired debates on topics of current interest in Hall 8.0 from 12.00 to 13.00 hrs on four different days. On Monday, for example, Mr Günther Hoffmann, Director General Building, Construction Industry and Federal Buildings of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, will discuss ‘(Climate) objectives: between comfort and pain?’ with representatives of the scientific and business fields. On the Wednesday, Garrelt Duin, Minister for Economics, Energy, Industry and Commerce of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, will ask whether it is possible to describe ‘Buildings as the Saviour of the Energy Revolution?’ On the Thursday, ‘Modernisation for the future – building for eternity’ is the subject to be debated in a round-table discussion with former German Minister of the Environment Klaus Töpfer.
A special highlight on the complementary programme of events at Light + Building is the ‘Digital Building’ special show. Initiated with the cooperation of 16 exhibitors, it uses future-oriented technologies to illustrate digitalisation in buildings. The focus of the show is on networking the various components and their systematic interaction. In live operation, Digital Building shows the flexibility offered by networking on the basis of several different scenarios. The special show can be seen in the outdoor area between Halls 8, 9 and 11.
Ways in which digitalisation and networking can be implemented in the smart home and the latest developments for private households are to be seen at the ‘E-House’ of the Central Association of the German Electrical and Information Technology Trades (Zentralverband der Deutschen Elektro- und Informationstechnischen Handwerke – ZVEH) and its regional Hesse / Rhineland Palatinate and Saarland associations in Hall 8.0 (Stand J60).
The future-oriented subject of human centric lighting will also be brought to life within the framework of the complementary programme of events – at the ‘Through the day with smart lighting’ special show, which offers an overview of the possibilities opened up by smart lighting. A collaboration between members of the trade associations in the German Central Association of Electrical and Information Technology Contractors (Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie e.V. – ZVEI), this presentation shows scenarios in the private, public and working spheres in which the lighting can be adjusted in accordance with the individual human needs and the requirements of the user. This future-oriented lighting technology can be seen in Hall 3.0 (Stand C80).
‘Building Future Award 2016’ goes to journalist and television compère Stefan Schulze-Hausmann
On 14 March 2016, Stefan Schulze-Hausmann will be presented with the Building Future Award during the Light + Building press conference in Frankfurt am Main. With the biennial Building Future Award, Messe Frankfurt honours a personality for pioneering research or development work or outstanding achievements in relation to the sustainable development of society. The reasons for the jury’s choice include the commitment of Stefan Schulze-Hausmann to the ‘German Sustainability Award’, which he initiated, his work as the presenter of the ‘Presentation of the German Environmental Award’ from 2000 to 2009 and his role as television compère of, inter alia, the nationwide ‘nano’ popular-science programme. Messe Frankfurt gives the award in cooperation with the ZVEI and the Central Association of the German Electrical and Information Technology Trades (Zentralverband der Deutschen Elektro- und Informationstechnischen Handwerke – ZVEH) under the patronage of the Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie – BMWi).
* FKM-certified figures
