In October 2007, the Leipzig Fair will be launching a trade show devoted to analytical, biological and laboratory equipment known as Lab UK
The exhibition will be held every two years in London - and will hence focus on the British and European market.
Turnover on the European market for analytical, biological and laboratory equipment currently amounts to about 15 billion euros, some 50 per cent of which is realised by German and British manufacturers.
In 2005, sales of analytical, biological and laboratory equipment in Europe amounted to 15 billion euros.
In 2004, the UK market accounted for 3.9 billion euros, while turnover in Germany reached 4.7 billion euros.
In the same year, Anglo-German trade in analytical, biological and laboratory equipment totalled about 380 million euros- an increase of 371 per cent since 1995.
Furthermore, almost all the European market-leaders come from Germany and the UK - being responsible for approximately 50% of the total turnover in Europe.
From 2-4 October 2007, the analytical, biological and laboratory equipment sector will be meeting up for the very first time at Lab UK, an international trade show and congress to be hosted in London.
Lab UK is above all aimed at the manufacturers and users of analysis instrumentation in industry, research and development as well as public institutions.
Analytical, biological and laboratory equipment are used by the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, the food and drink sector, commercial companies and public authorities working in medicine and environmental technology.
The patron of Lab UK is Spectaris, the Berlin-based German industrial association for optical, medical technologies and mechatronics.
"Britain acts as a hub for the entire English-speaking world," explains Sven Behrens, chairman of Spectaris.
"The UK doesn't yet have a suitable platform where manufacturers can come directly into contact with customers and suppliers.
"Our members asked us to try and rectify this situation.
"And thanks to the hard work of the Leipzig Fair and the close collaboration with Gambica, the association for instrumentation, control, automation and laboratory technology in the UK, Lab UK will be able to fill this gap in Europe's trade show landscape".
Wolfgang Marzin, president and CEO of Leipziger Messe, explains: "Our aim is to establish Lab UK as the leading event comprising both a trade show and congress devoted to analytical, biological and laboratory equipment in the UK.
"At present a significant part of the British market is not involved in key international exhibitions in Germany, despite Germany being one of its main trading partners in this field.
"That's why we're going straight to the heart of the market in London.
"The combination of a trade fair and congress with top-class representatives of the industry will provide specialists with an excellent opportunity to find out about the state of the art straight from the manufacturers and to identify the most innovative solutions".
Tim Collins, director of the laboratory technology sector, Gambica, also thinks Lab UK is a great idea.
"British manufacturers and purchasers have an essential interest in this event since there is no platform in the UK which is so directly geared to their needs through the combination of a top-class international congress and a trade show featuring international manufacturers".
Gambica is therefore supporting advertising activities among exhibitors and also helping to compile the congress programme.
According to Spectaris, in 2003 there were an estimated 210 UK manufacturers with some 18,000 employees.
In 2004, their turnover equalled 3.9 billion euros.
In Germany there are 324 manufacturers of analytical, biological and laboratory equipment, employing 30,500 people.
In total, they notched up turnover of 4.07 billion euros in Germany and abroad; domestic sales accounted for 2.06 billion euros, while equipment sold elsewhere in Europe totalled 2.01 billion euros.
Outside the European Union, British companies' main trading partners in this field are the USA and Japan.
