IDS 2005 expands with new Hall

Preparations are well under way for the world's largest dental exhibition, IDS - International Dental Show - 2005 in Cologne, Germany. The event, which regularly attracts in excess of 60,000 visitors, is being held from April 12-16, 2005.

For the first time, the exhibition space is being expanded from the well-known Halls 13 and 14 of the Cologne Fair Grounds to incorporate Hall 10. Gross exhibition space will now total some 107,000 square metres.

The additional space will enable the organisers to add an entrance area equipped with service facilities for visitors to enhance the IDS experience. In addition, many new exhibitors are expected and many existing exhibitors are expected to grow the size of their displays which often include bars, coffee shops, rock bands, body painting and an array of other attention grabbers.

The new entrance for Hall 10 is also expected to greatly accelerated visitor registration and admission and the opening hours for the final Saturday of the show have been extended to 6.00pm.

IDS 2003 saw 1400 exhibitors displaying their wares to 63,000 visitors from 134 countries and increased numbers are expected for the next event.

The critical mass of visitors and the following IDS has developed, particularly since making Cologne its permanent venue since 1992, means that competition for the extracurricular hours of visitors is intense. There are dozens of events each night, ranging from the incredible parties organised by EMS, KaVo and others, to intimate dinners on boats moored on the Rhine, to rowdy gatherings in one of the quintessential German beer halls sampling the local Kolsch and savouring traditional fare.

A half dozen Australian companies, most notably Melbourne-based SDI Limited which has an office in Cologne, exhibit at the show and some 200-300 people make the trip to see the latest and greatest and the best of the best at what many consider to be the one show that cannot be missed.