glasstec Preview 2024: successful networking event

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19 exhibitors from various glass sectors and 24 media representatives from 11 countries accepted the invitation to Düsseldorf. Photo: glasstec

Date: 24 June 2024

13 / 14 June saw the holding of the exclusive networking event glasstec Preview.

19 exhibitors and 24 journalists from around the world attended to make contacts, exchange news and discuss the future of the glass industry.

Making contacts with relevant trade journalists and boosting media exposure in the run-up to the glass industry’s world-leading trade fair was the objective of the exclusive networking event glasstec Preview at Messe Düsseldorf on 13 and 14 June 2024. The 2-day event forms part of the glasstec press services and enables exhibitors to already introduce their innovations, new products and services to trade journalists prior to the trade fair. “By organising glasstec Preview we want to create extra added value as the world-leading trade fair,” says glasstec Director Lars Wismer. “Here class rather than mass counts for us. We deemed it important to create a setting where real, face-to-face conversations are possible, because there is mostly very little time for this in this fast-paced world. And we wanted to give exhibitors and journalists this valuable time with the glasstec Preview – even before the trade fair starts on 22 October.”

Two days for topics & talks revolving around glass

19 exhibitors from different sectors of the glass industry and 24 media representatives from 11 countries accepted the invitation to Düsseldorf. For two days they had the opportunity to exchange in depth. As a warm-up and first meet and greet glasstec Preview kicked off with an evening get-together at the legendary “Otto’s Skybar” roof-top bar in the Düsseldorf’s Lindner Hotel on 13 June. Over culinary delights and cool drinks exhibitors, journalists and the glasstec Team came together and got into the mood for the intense exchange on the following Friday. On 14 June 2024 the glasstec Preview participants convened at the new, modern conference rooms of Messe Düsseldorf for a networking programme broken down into two sessions: in Talk-Session #1 journalists were invited to visit the companies they wanted to talk to at tables. In Talk-Session #2 it was exactly the other way round. The journalists present sat at the tables and company representatives were invited to select the media reps they wanted to reach out to. “We deliberately designed glasstec Preview with a view to giving all participants – exhibitors and journalists alike – the chance to get as much out of the event in a short time span,” said glasstec Director Lars Wismer explaining the concept.

Image gallery: Impressions of the glasstec Preview 2024

The two-day event is part of the glasstec press service and offers exhibitors the opportunity to present their innovations, new products and services to trade journalists in advance of the trade fair.

The glasstec Preview offered journalists the opportunity to engage in intensive dialogue with relevant players in the industry.

In Talk Session #1, journalists were able to visit the companies they wanted to talk to at their tables.

In talk session #2, it was the other way round: the journalists in attendance took their seats and company representatives were allowed to choose the media.

"We were able to hold many discussions with important trade media," said Markus Gruber, Senior Vice President Business Unit Glass at Grenzebach.

For two days, exhibitors and media representatives had the opportunity to engage in intensive dialogue.

Both the participating exhibitors and the journalists were enthusiastic during the event and had words of praise for the glasstec Preview.

"The glasstec Preview was a complete success and confirms that we are constantly designing new formats and services for exhibitors and trade visitors," summarises Lars Wismer from the Messe Düsseldorf team.

Positive response on all three sides

The glasstec Preview offered journalists the opportunity to engage in an intensive exchange with relevant players in the industry - both in person and in one place. Both the participating exhibitors and journalists were excited by the event and came up with commending words for glasstec Preview. "We were able to talk to many important trade media journalists," said Markus Gruber, Senior Vice President Business Unit Glass at Grenzebach. "For us, glasstec Preview is a very good platform for exchanging ideas with journalists and it's also very entertaining." Isaac Hamza from Asian Glass Magazine summed up glasstec Preview: "It was a pleasure to be at glasstec Preview 2024. I liked the mix of exhibitors and media. All aspects of the event were perfectly organized. I am looking forward to the next glasstec Preview." Another asset was mentioned by Matthias Rehberger of the Glaswelt journal: “At glasstec Preview we are the first select few to learn about innovations and novelties. This gives us a heads-up. A great opportunity and event we loved to take part in.” The glasstec Team at Messe Düsseldorf also voiced its satisfaction. “glasstec Preview proved a resounding success and confirms our endeavours to conceive of new formats and services for the exhibitors and trade visitors time and again,” Lars Wismer sums up and adds: “Digitalisation is important and necessary but cannot replace personal contacts.”