With the outbreak of the Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and Covid-19, as well as the uncertainty of the current global situation regarding the containment of the pandemic, Bohle’s participation in three Spring-time trade shows have been impacted and have as a result either cancelled or postponed indefinitely. These events are the International Hardware Fair in Cologne, ChinaGlass in Shanghai, and FensterBau Frontale in Nuremberg. Due to the current levels of uncertainty, Bohle’s major exhibition planning for all other international glass tradeshows for 2020 have been placed on hold until further notice. The company is however continuing its preparation to participate to limited areas of the Glasstec trade show, namely with the “Handwerk Live” demonstration and a reduced presentation focusing on their international Industrial Glass Processing visitors.
“We feel a particular responsibility towards the glazier trade and we will live up to this commitment as far as possible”, emphasizes Arne Klöfkorn, COO of Bohle AG, and explains the decision to postpone all further exhibition planning: “Right now, nobody is able to predict the future development of the Coronavirus pandemic. Trade shows are prepared over the long period of months and expenses are triggered at an early stage. It is therefore all the more disappointing for everybody involved, both employees and business partners, if a trade fair has to be cancelled at short notice, as we have seen during these past weeks.”
Internal discussions at the company’s corporate headquarters in Haan Germany have centred around whether or not to start with the preparations for the glass industry´s most important trade show, Glasstec. “Every two years, this extraordinary event in Düsseldorf is the highlight of our trade fair calendar. We invest a high six-figure amount in order to present our latest innovations to our business partners and customers. Once again in 2020, we have many different new products in the pipeline, however, we have decided after careful consideration to substantially reduce our trade fair commitments for this year,” Klöfkorn continues. “This decision affects not only our large-scale presence at the Glasstec trade show in Düsseldorf but also the revised dates for the Fensterbau Frontale exhibition, the potentially postponed dates for ChinaGlass, and also the GlassBuild America event in Las Vegas.
“This was certainly not an easy decision to make as we consider the interaction between our customers and our products at trade shows to be an important part of the Bohle experience. Unfortunately, we have to have some level of security when making investments which is simply not the case right now. Bohle is a family owned business and the concern for our employees and customers alike is of our highest concerns and therefore we are obligated to take every precaution possible”, says Klöfkorn. “From our point of view, this is a necessary and responsible action”. Bohle will continue to monitor the coronavirus pandemic and look to adjust as the situation changes. In the meantime, we will focus on keeping our business partners and customers informed and up to date with all of the latest product developments by other means, especially through digital media channels.
From today´s perspective, the next firmly scheduled trade show dates for Bohle AG will be our reduced participation at Glasstec 2020 and BAU 2021 in Munich.