Press Release

INTERZUM 2025: A COMPASS FOR THE INDUSTRY IN CHALLENGING TIMES

Over 93 per cent of the exhibition space already booked – Participation of top brands confirms interzum’s relevance as the global industry gathering

The world’s leading trade fair for furniture production and interior design is seeing strong international demand around seven months before the event opens. With over 93 per cent of the exhibition space already booked and confirmed participations by numerous major industry players and returning exhibitors, interzum 2025 is once again set to be a must-attend gathering focused on innovations and trends. The trade fair, which will take place in Cologne from 20 to 23 May 2025, is a strong anchor for the industry, particularly in times of economic change. The showcases of new products, solutions and ideas at the event equip the sector to jointly find answers to future challenges.

Cologne, 21 October 2024 – Across the globe, suppliers to the furniture industry are facing different economic and social challenges in the individual regions and countries in which they operate. Uncertain forecasts and the mounting pressure to improve sustainability are making long-term planning difficult.

Against the backdrop of this dynamic outlook, interzum will once again serve as the world’s most important business and networking platform for the sector. Companies see the leading international trade fair as a unique opportunity to develop solutions and innovations to tackle the challenges that will define the coming years.

“We’re delighted with the consistently strong demand for interzum,” says Maik Fischer, the event’s director. “The return of renowned exhibitors, the presence of numerous market-leading companies and the participation of many small and medium-sized businesses show how relevant the world’s leading trade fair is to the industry, especially in economically challenging times.”

Focus on sustainability and innovation

Under the banner of its new central theme, Rethinking Resources: Circular and Biobased Solutions, interzum will send a strong signal in support of sustainable furniture production next year. The exhibition will present the industry-relevant theme in all its facets and create a wide variety of hands-on experiences for participants, ranging from a diverse event programme to showcases of the exhibitors’ biocircular innovations.

The speakers on the interzum Trend Stage and the interzum Product Stage and in the three interzum Trend Forums will present and discuss innovative ideas, studies and market-ready solutions. Many companies use interzum to reveal their new product launches and technologies to a global audience for the first time. The Rethinking Resources Boulevard will give exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their products and visionary concepts that harness biobased materials and the potential of the circular economy. The interzum award 2025, presented by a jury of international experts, will once again honour outstanding products developed by suppliers to the furniture industry.

Press Release

INTERZUM 2025 ADOPTS “RETHINKING RESOURCES: CIRCULAR AND BIOBASED SOLUTIONS” AS ITS NEW CENTRAL THEME

The circular economy and biobased solutions as sustainable sources of resources for furniture production and interior design are set to be the focus of interzum 2025. With this new central theme, the sector’s leading international trade fair will continue to provide clear momentum for the sustainable stewardship of raw materials at next year’s event. Many different aspects of the industry-relevant central theme will be presented on the Koelnmesse exhibition grounds from 20 to 23 May 2025 and brought to life in showcases for participants to experience. The theme will be discussed as part of the diverse event programme and addressed by numerous innovative products and concepts presented by exhibitors.

Cologne, 29 June 2024 – In 2025, the organisers plan to expand on and develop the concept of “Neo-Ecology”, which was the central theme for the 2023 edition of interzum. “With ‘Rethinking Resources: Circular and Biobased Solutions’ as its central theme, interzum will address one of neo-ecology’s key pillars,” explains Maik Fischer, the Director of interzum. “By bringing together the two approaches – the circular economy and biobased materials – the world’s leading trade fair for furniture production and interior design will advance the development of product innovations that are both long-lasting and produced from sustainable sources.”

Focus on the sustainable use of resources

With its new central theme, the trade fair will highlight two fundamental concepts in the stewardship of resources. Transitioning to a circular economy means keeping materials and products in the economic cycle for as long as possible by extending the duration of their use through reuse, repair, refurbishment and recycling. By contrast, biobased solutions use materials produced from regrowing sources, making them environmentally friendly alternatives to petroleum-based products. Both approaches aim to minimise a product’s ecological footprint and promote sustainability.

Large sections of the interzum event programme will pick up on the new central theme. Both speakers on the interzum Trend Stage and the discussions in the three interzum forums will discuss and present ideas, studies and market-ready solutions. The exhibiting companies will also showcase a large number of products and pioneering ideas that work with biobased materials and promote the circular economy. To further underscore the central theme, the organisers are once again giving interested exhibitors a second opportunity to present their concepts: The Boulevard North will be transformed into the Rethinking Resources Boulevard and filled with inspiring solutions for sustainable furniture production.

The interzum exhibition segments

For the 2025 edition of interzum, the exhibition will once again be divided into three proven segments:

Function & Components: In this segment, the industry will present technologies that meet customers’ rising requirements, in particular in terms of energy efficiency, comfort and convenience. It will include fittings, lighting systems and semi-finished products for furniture and built-in parts.

Materials & Nature: This segment will showcase sustainable materials, with a special focus on environmentally sound raw materials. It will feature woods, veneers, parquet flooring, decorative surfaces, decor papers, wood-based materials, laminates, edging products and surface treatments, among other products.

Textile & Machinery: In this segment, quality leaders and drivers of innovation from various stages of the value chain will present innovative ideas and high-quality materials. The showcase will cover machinery for upholstery and mattress production, upholstery and cover fabrics, leathers and adhesives.

With these three segments, the trade fair is staying true to its established structure. The three-part division fosters exchanges of ideas between players at all stages along the sector’s value chains. The structure also provides clear orientation for both the event’s exhibitors and its audience of trade visitors.

Even at this early stage, the level of registrations is impressive, with many notable names among the exhibitors. This is yet another indication of interzum’s importance as a global sector gathering and source of fresh impetus for the industry.

Press Release

A RESOUNDING SUCCESS:

EXCELLENT REGISTRATION FIGURES FOR INTERZUM 2025

interzum will be the most important global meeting point for the furniture industry’s supplier sector once again in 2025. The excellent registration figures at the end of the early-bird discount period are further proof of the trade fair’s position as a vital marketplace for all those wanting to play a role in the development of future-focused solutions for living and working environments.

Cologne, April 2024 – The early-booking phase for exhibitors at interzum 2025 concluded at the end of February with superb results. With more than 80,000 m² already allocated, the final stand space occupied by exhibitors in 2023 has nearly been reached 13 months before the 2025 event. Internal forecasts have been considerably exceeded, and the global industry is looking forward to the event of the year, scheduled to take place at the Cologne trade fair grounds from 20 to 23 May 2025.

“The impressive results of the early-bird offer confirm interzum’s undisputed status as the leading international trade fair for furniture production and interior design,” comments interzum Director Maik Fischer. “The supplier sector will gather here in Cologne to present, discuss and experience the solutions of tomorrow at first hand. In 2025, interzum is set to be an unmissable event once again.”

World-class exhibitors
The sheer number of companies that will be appearing at interzum 2025 isn’t the only thing that’s impressive. The quality of the registered exhibitors also remains at the usual high level.
Next year’s edition of interzum is sure to confirm the event’s standing as the most important global hub for furniture production and interior design. The team at interzum is already looking forward to the industry highlight of 2025 – registrations are still possible.

Koelnmesse – Global Inspiration for Living, Contract and Public Spaces
Koelnmesse is the world’s top trade fair organiser for the areas of Living, Contract and Public Spaces.

At the trade fair hub of Cologne, in addition to imm cologne and interzum, other trade fair formats such as ORGATEC, spoga+gafa, FSB and aquanale are among the internationally renowned and established industry meeting places. These fairs comprehensively represent the interior and design segment, the furniture and interior construction industries’ supplying sections, the kitchen world, all topics for the modern working world, garden lifestyle as well as public space, sports and leisure facilities and also sauna, pool and ambiente.

In addition to the events in Cologne, Koelnmesse is strategically expanding its portfolio in key growth markets around the globe like with the successful shows ORGATEC TOKYO in Japan, interzum bogota in Colombia and interzum guangzhou in China and interzum forum italy.

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