The leading world trade fair for roller shutters, doors/gates and sun protection systems is once again expecting a full house.

The Stuttgart-based R+T is expanding its network: with immediate effect the Industrial Association for Technical Textiles, Roller Shutters and Sun Protection (ITRS) is a new professional and technical sponsor of the event and, together with the Federal Association for Manufacturers of Roller Shutters and Sun Protection (BVRS) and the National Federation of Door and Gate Manufacturers (BVT), forms a trio of sponsors who provide professional and technical support to the trade fair.

R+T 2012, which is taking place from 28 February-3 March, is already – a year before the event – looking forward to record-breaking interest and is almost booked up; there are waiting lists for some halls.

The formal support by the ITRS, which with almost 200 member companies is the largest German organisation in the areas of technical textiles, digital printing, sun protection and sun shading equipment, is “further evidence of the growing significance of R+T and its dominant market position”, according to the managing director of Messe Stuttgart, Ulrich Kromer von Baerle. The ITRS president Bernd Seybold also speaks of “an important step for our association”. He added that R+T is the world’s most important trade fair not only for companies in the areas of roller shutters, sun protection and automation, but also for technical manufacturers as many of them manufacture and/or sell awnings, marquees and so on. The same also applies to digital printers, which have been part of ITRS for three years. He says: “They gladly come to R+T as printed sun protection is establishing itself increasingly in inner and outer areas.” 

With specific and regular public relations, the ITRS is increasing the level of awareness of the ITRS industries and has good contacts with MEPs (members of the European Parliament), national and state ministers, as well as umbrella organisations and specialist associations. In 2004 the ITRS founded the European umbrella organisation European Solar-Shading Organisation (ES-SO) with six countries. Targeted lobbying in Brussels and also on a national level shows the huge savings potential of CO2 in buildings through sun protection, sun shading equipment and roller shutters, as well as their intelligent control systems.

In addition to the excellent booking status and the extremely high demand from abroad for R+T 2012, the further expansion of the international network is taking place: in the area of doors and gates there is a new cooperative venture with the International Door Association (IDA) from the USA, who is planning a joint stand at R+T 2012 in Stuttgart.