GaLaBau 2018: Trade fair of confidence
The gardening and landscaping industry is looking forward to this year’s “GaLaBau” with optimism. The event, which takes place every two years in Nuremberg, sees itself as the leading international trade fair for urban green and open spaces and is an important meeting place for an industry that is flourishing in both senses. The Bundesverband Garten-, Landschafts- und Sportplatzbau e. V. (BGL), which is also the conceptual sponsor of the trade fair, reported in its latest annual report a further increase in industry sales compared with the “successful years” 2014 and 2015.
The trade show organizers are correspondingly confident. From September 12 to 15, 2018, they expect over 65,000 visitors and more than 1,400 national and international companies, which will present products and services for the design, construction and maintenance of gardens, parks and green spaces in the 14 exhibition halls on more than 66,000 m² of exhibition space for four days. GaLaBau companies, interested parties from the private and public sectors, architects and professional planners can find out about the latest trends, innovations and developments – from construction machinery to maintenance equipment, transport, plants, building materials, to the design of urban spaces, playgrounds, leisure and sports facilities.
You can find the WSM booth in hall 1. We are looking forward to your visit!
Colorful supporting program
Also for this year the BGL has chosen an informative and entertaining supporting program. In addition to numerous technical presentations at the Expert Forum in Hall 3 A, a number of award ceremonies will attract visitors to the newly designed BGL stand.
The ninth edition of the Landscapers Cup, a popular professional competition that showcases “the diverse demands placed on garden and landscape professionals,” according to organizers, will be held outdoors. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on September 14 in the action area.
During the four-day event, the GALABAU Camp in Hall 3 will be the meeting place for young professionals and those young at heart. The Association of Young Gardeners (ADJ) is one of the participants. For the latest information, visit www.galabaucamp.de and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/galabaucamp.
Climate change and shortage of skilled workers
Business is currently good in the landscaping sector. In addition, the federal government has for the first time launched a new “Future Urban Green” program as part of urban development funding. A total of 2.5 million euros will be allocated to the new program this year and as much as 47.5 million euros in 2018. The expertise of horticulturists and landscapers will help counteract the effects of global climate change in major cities. A mammoth task whose solution has only just begun.
As an employers’ association, however, the BGL is concerned about the effects of demographic change. “The issue of demographics,” says BGL President August Forster in the 2016/17 annual report, “is of central importance to us. Many an order is already being lost today because individual companies do not have enough skilled workers.”
The new edition of the BG’s image campaign, which also includes activities in the social media, active advertising for junior staff and attractive trade fairs such as “GaLaBau” in Nuremberg will contribute to the positive perception of the industry. Whether they will be able to solve or at least reduce their long-term staffing problems remains to be seen.