World's largest dental show is on again in Germany in March

Preparations for the 33rd IDS - the International Dental Show - are now in full swing in Cologne, Germany.

The world's largest dental show, to be staged from 24-28 March 2009, is expected to attract more than 1,750 exhibitors from the entire world of dentistry and occupy some 130,000 square metres of floor space.

IDS is the one place every dental product and innovation from the four corners of the globe can be found with exhibitors drawn from more than 50 countries. In excess of 100,000 visitors trawl the aisles looking for the latest and greatest from their favourite manufacturer or something brand new that will revolutionise the way they work. The entire spectrum of dentistry is on display from clinical to laboratory and beyond.

Whilst established exhibitors are keen to showcase their wares to clinicians and technicians first hand, IDS is also an ideal time to meet with their distributors from around the world. Trade amongst the trade is always a key outcome of the event with manufacturers looking to establish or expand their sales networks globally.

Whilst the speed of innovation in the dental world has accelerated significantly and major new product releases now occur regularly, many manufacturers still place a moratorium on new releases in the months leading up to the show so they create maximum impact for their considerable investment in participating at the show.

Exhibiting at IDS for the major dental brands is a game of one-upmanship and for anyone who has never visited an international dental show, IDS should be on your "bucket list" as there is nothing else like it in the world. It is not uncommon to see rock bands performing on exhibition stands, together with bars, restaurants, coffee shops, body painting and more… one year a company even had a Michael Schumacher lookalike manning their Formula 1 simulator.

While IDS is a party by day, it is even more so by night. There are a slew of regular events from well-known manufacturers with reputations as established as IDS itself and every morning the halls are filled with red eyes and sorry heads.

Capping off the IDS experience is the picturesque surroundings of the old Roman city of Cologne with its signature 800-year-old gothic cathedral, the home of German Catholicism. Straddling the Rhein River, the city is home to numerous fine hotels, restaurants, bars and for 5 days every other year, the greatest dental show on earth.

IDS 2007 featured 1,742 exhibitors from 55 countries with 100,522 visitors from 149 countries attending.