Furnifab: bigger than ever

With 110 international exhibitors from 14 countries, a good 3,000 trade visitors, and approx. 5,400 square meters of exhibition space, the sixth Furnifab – Furniture Fabric Show in Poland continued to build on its previous successes. This key gathering of the seating and upholstery industry in Poland, Eastern and Central Europe took place on April 1-4 in halls 6 and 6A at Poznań International Fair.
Organizer Survey Marketing + Consulting in Poznań rated this year’s increase in show space at 25 percent, indicating that a large number of individual exhibitors (2008: 110, 2007: 102) significantly extended their Furnifab exhibition stands, proof of the growing attraction of the event. With 44 companies taking part, Poland represented the largest national cohort at the show, followed by Italy with 21, Spain with 14, and Germany with 11 participants. One company even traveled to Poland from Indonesia. Overall, the number of Western European exhibitors moved slightly ahead of those from Central and Eastern Europe.
Particular highlights at the sixth Furnifab were a special display and presentation on “Natural fiber rediscovered – New applications for the furniture industry” and the “Trend Forum 2008/2009”, offering exhibitors and visitors clear and concise information about the top innovations and exciting developments in the industry.
Material Connexion Cologne, the Cologne branch of the world famous Material Connexion materials library in New York, presented new developments and product solutions relating to natural fiber injection molding in the furniture industry in a special exhibition on display throughout the show. Natural fiber reinforced plastics and wood plastic composites are currently experiencing a real boom, and not just in the furniture industry.
In collaboration with Germany’s Nova Institute based in Hürth, a special presentation was given in English on April 2 on the subject of “Innovative biomaterials in furniture design”, which met with an impressively high level of interest among trade visitors.
Show organizer Survey collaborated for the third time with Polish design studio, D.A.B. Borowinski of Lodz, in presenting the “Trend Forum 2008/2009” at this year’s Furnifab. The 2008/2009 color and textile trends were developed by exhibitors ahead of Furnifab according to professional designer Dr. Marek Borowinski’s latest palette of trends and colors. The three themes which Borowinski expects to dominate trends in 2008 and 2009 are “Natural”, “Magical Colour”, and “Structural Design”.
The next Furnifab takes place on March 3-5, 2009, at Poznań International Fair in Poland.