Poznan International Fair
Encyclopedia
The Poznań International Fair (PIF) is the biggest industrial fair in Poland. It is held on the Poznań fairground in Poland. Poznań International Fair is located in the centre of the city opposite the main railway station - Poznań Główny, in the centre of Poland and in the centre of Europehttp.
Typically, there are about 13 200 exhibitors including about 3,000 foreign companies from 70 countries of the world participate in 80 trade fair events organized on the grounds of the Poznań fair.
The Poznań-based fair owns the largest exhibition and conference infrastructure in Poland, including 16 high standard air-conditioned halls with a large exhibition area (over 110,000 sq.m. in exhibition halls and almost 35,000 sq.m. on open grounds) and 81 modern conference rooms.
, which was then part of the German Empire
, was the site of the Great East-German Exhibition.
The Lower Silesian Tower was designed by the famous German architect, Hans Poelzig
, for this event. The foundation of this tower includes one of the modern symbols of the PIF - the Iglica (Spire, pavilion 11).
The idea of organising a modern fair by Polish manufacturers and merchants had its origins during the congress of the Union of Merchant Associations held in Poznań in 1917. The Union was an organisation of Polish merchants from Greater Poland
and Eastern Pomerania
. The fair was required to be of an international character and organised like the Leipzig Trade Fair
. The first Poznań Trade Fair (I Targ Poznański), as it was called, took place in 1921 (from 28 May till 5 June), and the first chairman was Mieczysław Krzyżankiewicz.
Before 1924, only Polish companies, companies from Free City of Gdańsk and foreign companies with branches in Poland which were represented by Polish citizens could participate. During 1924, agreements were signed with companies from Czechoslovakia
, France
, Yugoslavia
, Latvia
, Germany
, Romania
, Switzerland
, and Sweden
, so that the first really international fair took place in 1925.
In 1927 the PIF was accepted as a member of the UFI
.
The intensive developments of the 1920s were crowned by the huge General National Exhibition of 1929 that was visited by 4,5 mln people. This was the year that the Great Depression
began. Despite the difficult economic situation, the PIF survived and at the end of the interbellum it was one of largest companies of its kind in Europe. During World War II
, the company ceased to exist, its infrastructure was confiscated, and turned into a factory of Focke-Wulf, which made the PIF a military target for the Allied air forces. This led to great destruction of its infrastructure in 1945. During the war 85% of the PIF was destroyed, but despite this damage, the first postwar exhibition took place in 1946 and one year later, in 1947, the PIF had already regained its international character. In 1990 the Poznań International Fair transformed into a limited liability company with the State Treasure as one of its shareholders Since then the PIF is continuing to expand and enlarge its exhibition space.
(by over 50% of total exhibition area and over 60% of exhibitors). It is the 21st largest fair in the world, with about 50 trade events taking place on its area every year. Area of PIF is over 110,000 m² indoor and 35,000 m² outdoor exhibition space. PIF a is state-owned company - 60% of shares belong to Polish State Treasury, and 40% to the City of Poznań
. MTP organises expositions of Polish leaders at over 50 renowned trade shows and exhibitions abroad in such countries as: Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.
MTP has foreign representative offices all over the world. Its clients can obtain exhaustive information about the offers of the Poznań fair there.
MTP is also an organiser of over 1,600 congresses, conferences and workshops and hosts approx. 100,000 participants of these events per year. It has the most extensive experience in comprehensive organisation of congresses and conferences, sport and culture events attracting numerous participants and huge audiences in Poland
.
Typically, there are about 13 200 exhibitors including about 3,000 foreign companies from 70 countries of the world participate in 80 trade fair events organized on the grounds of the Poznań fair.
The Poznań-based fair owns the largest exhibition and conference infrastructure in Poland, including 16 high standard air-conditioned halls with a large exhibition area (over 110,000 sq.m. in exhibition halls and almost 35,000 sq.m. on open grounds) and 81 modern conference rooms.
History
In 1911, PoznańPoznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
, which was then part of the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
, was the site of the Great East-German Exhibition.
The Lower Silesian Tower was designed by the famous German architect, Hans Poelzig
Hans Poelzig
Hans Poelzig was a German architect, painter and set designer.-Life:Poelzig was born in Berlin in 1869 to the countess Clara Henrietta Maria Poelzig while she was married to George Acland Ames, an Englishman...
, for this event. The foundation of this tower includes one of the modern symbols of the PIF - the Iglica (Spire, pavilion 11).
The idea of organising a modern fair by Polish manufacturers and merchants had its origins during the congress of the Union of Merchant Associations held in Poznań in 1917. The Union was an organisation of Polish merchants from Greater Poland
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
and Eastern Pomerania
Eastern Pomerania
Eastern Pomerania can refer to distinct parts of Pomerania:*the historical region of Farther Pomerania, which was the eastern part of the Duchy, later Province of Pomerania...
. The fair was required to be of an international character and organised like the Leipzig Trade Fair
Leipzig Trade Fair
The Leipzig Trade Fair was a major fair for trade across Central Europe for nearly a millennium. After the Second World War, its location happened to lie within the borders of East Germany, whereupon it became one of the most important trade fairs of Comecon and was traditionally a meeting place...
. The first Poznań Trade Fair (I Targ Poznański), as it was called, took place in 1921 (from 28 May till 5 June), and the first chairman was Mieczysław Krzyżankiewicz.
Before 1924, only Polish companies, companies from Free City of Gdańsk and foreign companies with branches in Poland which were represented by Polish citizens could participate. During 1924, agreements were signed with companies from Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, so that the first really international fair took place in 1925.
In 1927 the PIF was accepted as a member of the UFI
UFI
UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, is the association of trade show organisers, fairground owners, national and international associations of the exhibition industry, and its partners.UFI was founded on April 15, 1925, in Milan, Italy, by 20 European international trade fairs...
.
The intensive developments of the 1920s were crowned by the huge General National Exhibition of 1929 that was visited by 4,5 mln people. This was the year that the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
began. Despite the difficult economic situation, the PIF survived and at the end of the interbellum it was one of largest companies of its kind in Europe. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the company ceased to exist, its infrastructure was confiscated, and turned into a factory of Focke-Wulf, which made the PIF a military target for the Allied air forces. This led to great destruction of its infrastructure in 1945. During the war 85% of the PIF was destroyed, but despite this damage, the first postwar exhibition took place in 1946 and one year later, in 1947, the PIF had already regained its international character. In 1990 the Poznań International Fair transformed into a limited liability company with the State Treasure as one of its shareholders Since then the PIF is continuing to expand and enlarge its exhibition space.
Poznań International Fair today
Today the PIF is the largest trade fair organizer in PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
(by over 50% of total exhibition area and over 60% of exhibitors). It is the 21st largest fair in the world, with about 50 trade events taking place on its area every year. Area of PIF is over 110,000 m² indoor and 35,000 m² outdoor exhibition space. PIF a is state-owned company - 60% of shares belong to Polish State Treasury, and 40% to the City of Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
. MTP organises expositions of Polish leaders at over 50 renowned trade shows and exhibitions abroad in such countries as: Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.
MTP has foreign representative offices all over the world. Its clients can obtain exhaustive information about the offers of the Poznań fair there.
MTP is also an organiser of over 1,600 congresses, conferences and workshops and hosts approx. 100,000 participants of these events per year. It has the most extensive experience in comprehensive organisation of congresses and conferences, sport and culture events attracting numerous participants and huge audiences in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
List of annual exhibitions organized by the PIF
- Polagra AGRO-PREMIERY - International Trade Fair of Agricultural Mechanization
- AQUA-SAN - Bathroom and Wellness Exhibition
- BAKEPOL - Trade Fair for the Bakery Industry in KielceKielceKielce ) is a city in central Poland with 204,891 inhabitants . It is also the capital city of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship since 1999, previously in Kielce Voivodeship...
- Bezpieczeństwo Pracy w Przemyśle - Work Safety in Industry Exhibition
- Biuro - Fair of Office Furniture and Furnishing
- Body Style - Exhibition of Lingerie and Beach Fashion
- Budma - International Construction Fair
- Bumasz - International Fair for Construction Machines, Tools and Equipment
- BuyPoland - workshop for the tourism industry
- Dodatki do żywności - International Food Ingredients Show
- Home Decor - Exhibition of textiles, table and kitchen, light, interior design
- Drema - International Trade Fair of Machines and Tools for the Wood and Furniture Industries
- Targi Edukacyjne - Education Fair
- Energia - Power Industry Exhibition
- Eurofoto - Trade Fair of Photographic Products and Services
- Expopower - Power Industry Fair
- Farma - International Trade Fair of Animal Breeding, Horticulture and Rural Development
- Poznańskie Dni Mody - Fair of Clothing and Fabrics
- Festiwal Przedmiotów Artystycznych - Festival of Artistic Objects
- FIT-EXPO - Fair of Fitness and Body & Fashion
- Furnica - Trade Fair of Components for Furniture Production
- FurniFab - Furniture Fabric Show - Supply Show for the Upholstered Furniture Industry
- Gardenia - Garden Trade Fair
- Wiosenna Giełda Turystyczna - Spring Tourist Market
- Euro-Reklama GIFT EXPO - International Trade Fair of Advertising Goods and Services
- HiPeCo - International Trade Fair for Hygiene and Pest Control
- HOBBY - Salon Modelarstwa - Show of modellers
- Infosystem - Fair of IT Solution for industry and administration
- Instalacje - International Trade Fair for Installations and Equipment
- Intermasz - International Trade Fair of Textile, Clothes and Shoemaking Machines
- Investfield - Property and Investment Salon
- Gastro-Invest-Hotel - Exhibition of Products and Services for the Hotel and Catering Industry
- Targi Książki - Poznań Fair for Books for Children and Young People
- KWO - National Horticultural Exhibition
- KWZH - National Animal Breeding Exhibition
- Look - Hairdressing and Cosmetics Forum
- Mach-Tool - Machine Tools Exhibition
- Meble - Fair of Furniture and Furnishing
- Metalforum - Exhibition of Metallugrical, Foundry Engineering and Metallurgy Industry
- Motoryzacja - TTM - Automotive Technology Fair
- NA RYBY - Angling Equipment Trade Fair
- Natura Sanat - International Health Resort and Tourism Trade Fair in Polanica ZdrójPolanica ZdrójPolanica-Zdrój is a town in Kłodzko County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland.It lies approximately south-west of Kłodzko, and south-west of the regional capital Wrocław...
- Nauka dla gospodarki - Exhibition Science for the Economy
- Next Season - Fair of long term contracts
- Poznański Salon Optyczny - Optical Salon
- Euro-Reklama OUTDOOR EXPO - International Trade Fair of Advertising Goods and Services
- Pakfood - Fair of Packaging for Food Industry
- PGA - Game Arena - Exhibition of video and computer games
- Polagra-Food - International Trade Fair for the Foodstuffs and Gastronomy
- Polagra-Tech - International Trade Fair of Food Processing Technologies Polagra-Tech
- Poleko - International Ecological Fair
- Poligrafia - International Fair of Printing Machines, Materials and Services
- Poznańskie Spotkanai Motoryyzacyjne - Automotive Industry Meetings
- Roltechnika - Exhibition of Agricultural Machines and Equipment - (takes place in BierkowiceBierkowiceBierkowice may refer to the following places in Poland:*Bierkowice in Gmina Kłodzko, Kłodzko County in Lower Silesian Voivodeship *Other places called Bierkowice ...
near OpoleOpoleOpole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...
) - Saldent - International Dentistry Fair
- SALMED - International Trade Fair of Medical Equipment
- Salus - Prevention and Health Care Forum and Exhibition
- Sawo - International Fair of Work Protection, Rescue and Fire-Fighting
- Securex - International Security Exhibition
- Targi Obuwia, Skóry i Wyrobów Skórzanych - Fair of Shoes, Leather and Leather goods
- Surfex - Exhibition of Surface Treatment Technologies
- Świat Dziecka - Trade Fair of Goods for Children
- Taropak - International Packaging Technology and Logistics Exhibition
- TECHNOGAZ - Petroleum and Gas Salon
- ITM - POLAND - Exhibition Innovations-Technologies-Machines
- Tour Salon - Fair of Regions and Tourist Products
- Translog - Fair of Logistic, Transport and Shipping
- LTS Transporta - Exhibition of Logistics, Transport and Shipping
- Targi Upominków i Dekoracji Światecznych - Gifts and Ornaments Trade Fair
- Welding - Exhibition of Welding Technologies
Notable architects of PIF buildings
- Hans PoelzigHans PoelzigHans Poelzig was a German architect, painter and set designer.-Life:Poelzig was born in Berlin in 1869 to the countess Clara Henrietta Maria Poelzig while she was married to George Acland Ames, an Englishman...
- Roger Sławski
- Stefan Cybichowski
See also
- 2008 United Nations Climate Change Conference2008 United Nations Climate Change ConferenceThe 2008 United Nations Climate Change Conference took place at PIF Congress Centre, Poznań International Fair , in Poznań, Poland, between December 1 and December 12, 2008...
- Katowice International FairKatowice International FairKatowice International Fair is an international trade fair in Katowice and one of the largest in Poland...
, another large trade fair in Poland - Targi WschodnieTargi WschodnieTargi Wschodnie was a major trade fair in interbellum Poland. It was established in 1921 and held in Lwów , and was designed to attract business people from Poland, Romania and the Soviet Union...
- Targi PolnocneTargi PólnocneTargi Północne was a trade fair in interbellum Poland. It was established in 1928 and was held in Wilno , and was designed to attract businesses from the area of northeastern Poland, as well as Lithuania, Latvia and the Soviet Union.First Northern Trade Fair took place between August 18 and...
External links
- Homepage (English version)