The IFAT Entsorga conference is held in Munich, Germany and hosted by Messe München GmbH. This is the largest gathering of water and waste-handling experts in the world as the 2008 event drew over 2,600 exhibitors and around 120,000 visitors from all around the globe. The event had been held once every three years but the sponsors found that the show had grown so much in popularity and the global demand for water was so great that they have increased the frequency to every other year. The next meeting will be held Sept. 13-17, 2010 (during Oktoberfest) at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre in Munich.

It would appear that while the world economy has slowed, the importance of environmental improvement and the topics of water and waste in particular are as important as ever. Registrations are currently above 2008 levels for a comparable point in time. That means that all relevant key companies can be expected to be in attendance and technological comparison opportunities will be unparalleled. There will be comprehensive coverage on drinking and wastewater treatment, sewerage systems, waste and raw materials management, waste recycling, and waste-to-energy technology.

Getting there

Munich is home to Germany's second largest airport. Aircraft connect from every major airport around the world in relatively short time. Shuttle buses are available from the airport to the Trade Fair Centre. The subway train system is easy to navigate with well-designed route maps, and signs are strategically placed to guide visitors to their destinations. Taxis, buses and rental cars are also available.

While it should not be a problem, make sure to ask if a rental vehicle has the proper low-emission sticker attached. There are certain areas that cars without the proper stickers are not allowed to travel as of Oct. 1, 2008 and there is a hefty penalty for violations; foreigners are not exempt.

Anecdotally, when PE visited in 2008, we found the people to be of great help, extremely friendly and welcoming. Most people spoke English so communication was quite comfortable.

Visit www.ifat.de/en for the English version of the website. From there, you can explore and find transportation schedules, discount offers, maps and more. There is a comprehensive list of hotels available as well. It might be a good idea to sign up for their newsletter to stay abreast of activities of interest, or a list of presentations that will be available.

The exhibit hall

The trade fair will take place in one of largest, most modern facilities in the world. There are 17 exhibition halls. At the entrance to each one is an electronic map for navigation. Snack shops are available at the ends of each hall. Go up the stairs and there is a series of moving sidewalks to help move foot traffic efficiently. There are also four excellent restaurants ready to serve high-quality fair. The atmosphere in the dinning areas is most amenable to business discussions or just taking a break from the bustle of the exhibit floor.

Be sure to take some time to stroll in between and behind the exhibit halls as well. There are great practical demonstrations of some of the technologies set up and the technicians are there to answer questions. All told, this is an unparalleled opportunity to see what the world market has to offer. PE