N&M is the New Service Partner of Hamburg Messe
In its new role of service partner for wire suspensions systems and rigging, Neumann & Müller Veranstaltungstechnik will be responsible for the exhibition and conference halls at Hamburg Messe und Congress as of the beginning of next year. Trade fair organisers, exhibitors and service providers will be able to benefit from N&M's in-depth know-how gathered at the company's German and international trade fair offices – and the company's long-standing branch office in Hamburg can provide valuable information on how to stage successful corporate events.
Hamburg Messe und Congress has been firmly established in the middle of downtown Hamburg, between the Binnenalster lake and urban parks, for over 50 years now: every year over 40 trade fairs and exhibitions are held in the eleven halls and the 10,000 m² outdoor area – event organisers and their customers have a total of around 87,000 m² of exhibition space and 37 conference rooms at their disposal. The metropolis on the River Elbe is closely associated with leading fairs such as SMM (Shipbuilding, Machinery and Marine Technology), "WindEnergy Hamburg" and "Internorga", Europe's leading fair for hotels, restaurants and communal catering. There are also major visiting events, for example premium gatherings in the aviation sector, or large purchasing fairs that play a very significant role in the retail business. Hamburg Messe und Congress's portfolio also includes consumer fairs, broad-reach marketing events, TV galas, award ceremonies and political summits.
Just a few minutes' walk away, CCH – Congress Center Hamburg – has 50 conference halls for a wide range of congresses and events. The CCH reopened in April 2022 following a four-year modernisation and rebuilding phase. It now has over 12,000 m² of exhibition space and a further 12,000 m² of foyer space – thus providing ideal conditions for staging top-notch events, congresses and conferences with associated exhibitions. Featuring modern architecture, accessibility and first-class equipment, the CCH has already won an award for its architecture, and its increased 12,000-seat capacity make it one of Europe's largest congress centres.
From 1st January 2024, Neumann & Müller Veranstaltungstechnik (N&M) will be providing an extensive portfolio of services for wire suspension systems and rigging. In response to a request for quotations, the company made a commercial offer to Hamburg Messe und Congress that was so convincing that the two parties last week entered into a collaboration agreement set to run for four years.
However, it was not only the commercial terms that helped the company to land the contract. The client also demanded a sustainability concept, and N&M was able to demonstrate how deeply sustainability criteria are ingrained throughout the entire company. A while ago, N&M committed itself to the 3-pillar principle, according to which sustainable development can only be achieved by placing equal emphasis on the simultaneous pursuit of environmental, economic and societal goals. With regard to environmental aspects, the concept sets out how energy audits contribute to the planning of more efficient energy usage and savings, how N&M's logistics and storage concept enables the company to protect resources and how the material used – from certified workwear and cleaning materials through to the equipment deployed – is systematically integrated into a circular economy.
The sustainability concept sets out the social and economic aspects with respect to fair payment, equality, ongoing in-service training and first-class vocational training, the various working hours models and a written code of conduct. The concept also covers long-term partnerships with suppliers and local crews. With particular regard to trade fairs, N&M has been focusing on ongoing digitalisation for over ten years now. Rigging at trade fairs provides an ideal opportunity for automation and optimisation based on clear, uniform processes. For example, a software module for suspension points provides information on current incoming orders, confirmed orders, downstream process stages and ultimate execution. Status monitors in the storage facility, in assembly and in the office at the trade fair site keep everyone informed and help to avoid shortages of resources.
N&M uses web-based tools that, for example, allow clients to view the current sales and assembly status at any time in real-time. The company also thoroughly documents the various work stages with the aid of special scanners that register all the coded material and enable monitoring of the digital load measurement performed by "Loadwatch", a tool co-developed by N&M. Specially designed digital construction tables and a digital material rack enable fast, accurate assembly of the required materials.
Last but not least, N&M has had a presence in the region with its own branch office since 1995, and this was also a factor in choosing the company as a service provider for this safety-related area of the trade fair business. And it is not only the sustainability aspect – short distances for equipment and the on-site crews – that makes this a tangible benefit for fair organisers: in its role of service provider for conference, media and event technology, N&M can provide exhibitors and their service partners with premium equipment and top quality to help them realise their booth and congress concepts. They benefit from fast response times and short distances between the Hamburg Messe und Congress site and the N&M branch office – which is also located in downtown Hamburg.
Fotos: Hamburg Messe / Michael Zapf; Piet Neumann