Industry

IFAT Munich 2024 on track to gather biggest international audience

In less than 90 days, the IFAT Munich 2024 trade conference will welcome over 3,000 exhibitors to its event space between 13 and 17 March. Over 50 per cent of exhibitors are expected to be from outside Germany – its highest ever level of international participation.

This exhibition, which is held every two years, brands itself as a ‘solutions platform, networking event and knowledge hub’.

Great Britain and Ireland are among the top countries expected to be represented at the event, with 67 UK companies currently committed to attend. IFAT Munich 2022 saw a combined 1,900 visitors from both countries.

This year’s key topics will include climate change and the circular economy – with a spotlight on creating a circular economy for the plastics industry.

Notably, on the final day of IFAT (17 May) prominent architect Daniel Libeskind and Oxford professor of globalisation and development Ian Goldin will take part in a panel discussion focusing on the ‘Future of Living – Adapting to the results of climate change’. This discussion will seek to look at the role of cities in adjusting to the effects of climate change.

Tickets can be purchased on the IFAT Munich 2024 website.

Visitors to one of the outdoor areas at IFATLayout of IFAT Munich 2024

The event takes place at the Munich Trade Fair Centre and will have three stages labelled Blue, Orange and Green.

The Blue Stage highlights the challenges to overcome in achieving sustainable water use. The Orange Stage revolves around the circular economy and resource efficiency, material flow management, and logistics and mobility of municipal waste flow management. At Green Stage, exhibitors will present tangible products, solutions and innovations.

There will also be three physical ‘spotlight areas’ that will expand on subjects relevant to IFAT Munich 2024. Amongst others, these will include chemical recycling for plastic, the use of hydrogen in the circular economy and circularity in e-mobility.

Visitors can also sign up for guided walking tours on specific topics which will take them around the event space, highlighting four to five exhibitors which illustrate innovations in that specific focal point. This will include time in the Start-Up Area which features exhibitions from over 50 up-and-coming companies looking for solutions to some of the industry’s biggest concerns.

The outdoor exhibition area will feature a series of live demonstrations, including demolitions in the ‘crushing zone’, car recycling, a ‘Truck in Action’ show and an emission-free sewer construction site.

What is IFAT?

Attendees at a presentation at the IFAT exhibitionInternationale Fachmesse für Abwasser-Technik (IFAT) – which in English means International Trade Fair for Wastewater Technology – was started in 1966 as an event aimed at the wastewater industry. In 1970 solid waste was added as a focus area with a new topic being added every decade.

In 2010, waste show Entsorga and IFAT joined forces and was known as IFAT Entsorga until the name was shortened back to IFAT.

There are now IFAT shows in five countries and eight cities. Munich remains the main and largest one.