5^th IUT in Sargans/CH: The authentic Tunnel Fair

The 2008 IUT which attracted more than 3,000 visitors was able to extend its importance among tunnelling fairs and is more authentic than any other. This is the conclusion arrived at by the poll among visitors carried out for the first time. The around 110 exhibitors were also extremely pleased with the ideal size of exhibition, an optimal set-up and the new topics (as e.g. the seminar dealing with geothermics and visitors from the guest country Russia), which the JV IUT offered from Sept. 17th to 18th, 2008. During these days at the fair both visitors and exhibitors experienced the IUT ’08 as a chance for the industry to meet up with a varied events platform and 2 extremely well attended seminars. As a result the 5th event bearing the title "Innovation Underground" at the Hagerbach Test Gallery (VSH) in Switzerland was able to draw a successful balance.

At the stands in the gallery and out in the open tunnellers from Russia to Iran, from Central Europe to the USA held lively discussions, conversations and exchanged views. The 2 seminars were especially well attended. The tunnelling seminar relating to "Modern Tunnel Equipment for Road and Rail" chaired by Prof. Alfred Haack was fully booked out with 160 participants held during 2 half days. The seminar organised in conjunction with the Swiss Federation for Geothermics chaired by Dr.-Ing. Roland Wyss on "Tunnel Geothermics: Application Possibilities and Potentials" with 50 participants was fully booked out.

The events stage featuring lectures from companies taking part was also very popular. Seats were coveted here in order to obtain first hand information about the latest products and projects.

The VSH is also a popular venue for both exhibitors and visitors in order to come together - for an underground fair particularly provides the proper framework for the branch. In this connection the first ever linking of 2 sections of the exhibition with the gallery shuttle – a means of communication especially appropriate for the tunnelling industry – was a further factor. Improved guidance for the visitors and the assessable size of the fair left very positive impressions behind for those taking part at the IUT ’08.

Sixty tunnelling experts from Russia visited the IUT at the invitation of the organisers. Apart from visiting the fair and taking part in the seminar and the IUT Evening the guests were especially impressed by a journey taking in the construction sites for the Gotthard Base Tunnel and a lecture providing an overview in the Visitors’ Centre South. A cultural programme involving a trip by rail along the Albula Line – a world cultural treasure – and a return journey through the Vereina Tunnel involving a bus excursion and a visit to the Suvorov Monument rounded off the visit.

Many qualified visitors, the events stage as a new element, this year’s partner country Russia that was present with a large delegation and the introduction of the new seminar on "Geothermics" all contributed to the extremely good atmosphere among the exhibitors. As a result most of them intend turning up for the next fair – the 6th IUT from Sept. 14th to 15th, 2011. Impressions of the fair, the gala evening and the seminars are to be found by accessing www.iut.ch

Contact Addresses::

deltacom projektmanagement GmbH
Sandra Rudolph
Stormarnstraße 47
D-22844 Norderstedt
Tel.: +49 (0)40 - 35 72 32-80
Fax: +49 (0)40 - 35 72 32-90
E-Mail: rudolph@deltacom-hamburg.de
Internet: www.deltacom-hamburg.de

Presse
Roland Herr
Tel.: +49 (0)52 41 – 80 – 88 730
Fax: +49 (0)52 41 – 80 – 96 50
E-Mail: Roland.Herr@Bauverlag.de