Stuttgart, Germany – Day two at LASYS 2010 showed more promise, as the crowds milling around the hall entrance were large and enthusiastic, giving support to the German trade fair culture of large attendance second days. In all honesty, my contact in the Messe show office told me that opening day attendance was up 27% over 2008; it just goes to show you that my impression was wrong.
The reason for this attendance is that this year the show is in Hall 1, the largest of the halls here. It was planned two years ago before the recession hit when the show sales department had indications of increased exhibitor participation. With a 50%+ decrease in laser sales in 2009, it is easy to understand the cancellations that the show organizers experienced.
When the doors opened today, traffic in the aisles quickly picked up to a more normal level. As I toured some exhibits, I found general satisfaction with volume and approval of the quality of the visitors. At the close of the day, an air of satisfaction permeated the hall and the sales guys were smiling, a sure sign that it had been a good day.
A word about the adjoining Congresses: SLT (Stuttgart Laser Days) had an estimated 200 attendees, and LMP (Laser Microprocesing) equaled this. I spoke at a Plenary session that included attendees of both these technical sessions and the large room was essentially full. The packed room was not so much a tribute to my star power but to the subject, the 50th anniversary of the laser and the attraction of my fellow speakers, Professor Tony Siegmund (Stamford University) and Dr. Paul Seiler (retired, Haas Laser).
The Messe management I spoke with at the show's close today were enthusiastic about the day and the responses they received from exhibitors. As I left today, I noted a banner inviting attendees to LASYS 2012 on June 19. Now that is optimistic.
– David. A. Belforte