...their premier in Leipzig. The exhibitors occupy a total area of 40,000 square metres. With this a 30 percent larger exhibition area is available to the visitors from around the world than at the previous event. 

"The fact that the world leading trade show and the 13. ISPO World Congress will take place in parallel for the first time in their history has a positive effect on the registration status for the exhibition and congress", explains Buhl-Wagner. "Many companies are substantially increasing their exhibition area. Others are exhibiting for the first time in Leipzig." German manufacturers like for example Bauerfeind, Diers or Perpedesröck are massively increasing their exhibition surface areas. Also for example Guy CAPRON, Proteor and Rodin 4D from France and Dorset Orthopaedic, ENDOLITE and RSLSTEEPER from Great Britain are presenting on substantially extended stand areas.

In the area of orthopaedic technology and orthopaedic shoe technology, the ORTHOPÄDIE + REHA-TECHNIK trade fair imparts a complete sector overview that is unique throughout the world. Amongst the companies that are presenting themselves for the first time in Leipzig are Ortho Europe from Great Britain, Pacific Supply from Japan and Distribuidora KJ SA DE CV from Mexico, as well as the US American companies Spinal Technology und STS Company. New participants are also orthopaedic shoe technology companies like the Dutch Fisher Group and the German companies Delcam and Orthopädie Kall.

The segment for compression therapy also shows itself substantially strengthened in 2010. Here, next to Bauerfeind, Ofa Bamberg and Thuasne new exhibitors such as medi and compressana from Germany, the Polish company Pani Teresa Medica, the Swiss Salzmann MEDICO/VENOSAN, as well as Sigvaris will be presenting themselves. In addition, the main areas of focus at the exhibition are the themes Technical Rehabilitation, Research and Development, Medical & Healthcare Supply Shops and Medical Technology, as well as Workshop and Shop Fitting. Amongst the new exhibitors in this segment are the German companies Mobilis, RUSSKA Ludwig Bertram and Sorg Rollstuhltechnik (wheelchair technology). Also the new exhibition segment "Podology/Medical Foot Care" draws attention with numerous exhibitors such as Gustav Baehr, Gharieni and SÜDA.

Large joint stands from France, Spain and USA are in 2010 again guests in Leipzig. In addition there are cooperations from China. For the first time manufacturers and service providers from Japan and Taiwan are presenting themselves at cooperative shared stands from their countries. This year the largest exhibitor participations are from USA, France and Spain. Equally international are the visitors: China, Japan and Russia have already announced large delegations. The speakers at the exhibitor workshops will also be arriving from all over the world. Within the scope of the trade show there will be 20 expert forums and 100 exhibitor workshops.

1,000 experts from 50 countries will be speaking at the congress and training program of the 13. World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) and the world leading trade show ORTHOPÄDIE + REHA-TECHNIK. The program unifies ten Keynote Speakers, 25 Instructional Courses, 40 Symposiums, 200 Free Papers, 50 reports in Open Forum and 200 poster presentations at the Congress Center Leipzig (CCL). The congress language is English with German translation. For the 12. ISPO World Congress 2007, more than 2,000 participants travelled to Vancouver from roughly 65 countries.

The Leipzig Trade Fair facilities host the ORTHOPÄDIE + REHA-TECHNIK since the year 2000. Whereas in the year 2000 roughly 10,000 visitors from 30 countries and 318 exhibitors from 24 countries participated, in 2008 already 448 exhibitors from 37 countries and 18,100 visitors from 85 countries came to Leipzig. The Leipzig Trade Fair is the official and economic supporting organisation of the trade fair ORTHOPÄDIE + REHA-TECHNIK, the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) is the organiser of the ISPO World Congress. The ideological supporting organisation for the overall event is the Federal Trade Guild Association for Orthopaedic Technology; a further partner is the Central Association for Health Handcraft and Orthopaedic Shoe Technology (Zentralverband Gesundheitshandwerk Orthopädieschuhtechnik, ZVOS).

(7/4/2010)