Organiser of ISH, Messe Frankfurt has urged manufacturers to “stand shoulder to shoulder” at its event as the bathroom and HVAC trade “relies on ISH as its professional meeting place.”

Its plea follows Grohe’s announcement that the company will not appear at ISH in 2021.

In an open letter to the bathroom and HVAC sector, president and CEO of Messe Frankfurt Wolfgang Marzin stated the organisation’s belief in the economic relevance of trade fairs.

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He said the organisation is “doing everything everything in our power to support the process of economic recovery.”

Wolfgang Marzin stated: “Trade fairs are unique, complex formats, the value-added of which comes from encounters between people.

“Supplementary digital formats enrich these events. And this applies all the more under the restrictive conditions, the duration of which cannot be seriously estimated at present.

“ISH is the driving force of the sector and an economic locomotive for the sanitary and HVAC industries and the whole building services field.

“In view of this, we at Messe Frankfurt have joined forced with the ISH patrons to shoulder our responsibility towards the sector.”

Marzin pointed to the contribution of HVAC and bathroom industry in the fight against the pandemic, improving hygiene standards with the likes of ventilation systems and touch-free fittings.

He continued stating: “The installation trade has not withdrawn from the scene but, having learned to cope with the situation, continues to provide customers with all the necessary services.

“Parallel to this, the whole building industry is in full swing. The trade stands for the entire sector and relies on ISH as its professional meeting place.”

Marzin said its commitment to the sector was solid and ISH would be the first “internationally significant event for the sanitary and HVAC sector since the beginning of the pandemic.”

“Naturally, the focus will be on the safety and health of all participants and, although there will be restrictions, they will not affect the topicality of the themes and products at the fair, as confirmed by the number of registrations we receive every day.”

He concluded: “Let us stand should to shoulder and look ahead together . The national and international sanitary and HVAC sector needs a reliable platform that accepts all challenges and takes advantage of the opportunities that arise – and this is ISH in Frankfurt am Main.”

ISH will take place at the Messe in Frankfurt from March 22-26, 2021.