The high expectations were more than satisfied: With 1,600 exhibitors from 16 countries and an exhibition space of 70,000 square metres, the China International Hardware Show Powered by PRACTICAL WORLD closed on September 29th 2006 in Shanghai after three successful days.

And this year's results mean that the event is no longer simply ranked among the world's top three hardware fairs — with its 35 per cent increase in the number of international trade visitors, it is now on its way to becoming the second-ranked fair in the world for this sector, behind the INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR / PRACTICAL WORLD, Cologne, which continues to be the top fair, and ahead of the National Hardware Show in the U.S. Of the 30,500 visitors in attendance, almost 3,500 decision makers from abroad travelled to China for the event, which had been fully booked out for months.

"We are proud to have realised this event, which is the most successful of our international trade fair projects, in cooperation with the China National Hardware Association," summed up Koelnmesse Executive Vice President Oliver P. Kuhrt. "When it comes to hardware and home improvement in Asia," said Kuhrt, "the China International Hardware Show Powered by PRACTICAL WORLD is an indispensable event.“ The premiere of the sector forum “Presidents Council Buying Day", which accompanied the fair, also was a complete success. At the forum, sellers, retailers and wholesalers from the U.S. and Europe met producers from China, primarily in order to negotiate on joint production facilities in the Far East. The fair's organisers succeeded in attracting the Home Improvement Presidents Council, a global umbrella organisation, to serve as a partner for the matchmaking platform, which is customtailored to meet the needs of the relevant sectors.