Swissbau 2020: All about digitalisation

With its three sections - the trade fair, Swissbau Focus and Swissbau Innovation Lab - Swissbau covers the entire life cycle of a property. With the interdisciplinary event and networking platform Swissbau Focus, Swissbau, together with around 30 industry associations, federal offices, institutions and universities, offers a relevant industry platform where over 7,000 decision-makers from business and politics can exchange views on the latest challenges.

Digitisation will be given a platform in the form of the Swissbau Innovation Lab. There, Swissbau, also in collaboration with the industry - above all Bauen digital Schweiz and SIA - is designing a special show on the subject of BIM (Building Information Modelling) and digital solutions for the second time. The 70 or so partners include companies such as Amstein + Walthert, Gruner, Itten + Brechbühl, Selmoni and Siemens.

Werner Fehlmann, Head Solution and Service Portfolio Building Technologies, Siemens, emphasizes: "The expansion of Swissbau with energy in buildings, building automation and building security is future-oriented and meets the growing need for interdisciplinary networking."

Cancellation of Ineltec and security
At the beginning of the year, some relevant representatives of the construction and facility management industry were surprised by the cancellation of the Ineltec and Sicherheit trade fairs. In the meantime, previous Ineltec participants have decided to take part in Swissbau. For some time now, there have been overlaps between the three trade fairs in sectors such as building planning, automation, energy and security.

Now these sectors are being expanded at Swissbau. The MCH Group's decision to strengthen Swissbau with the themes mentioned makes sense to industry experts. Swissbau Exhibition Director Rudolf Pfander emphasises the high relevance of Swissbau and the growth potential of intelligent building technology: "Digitalisation is changing the industry, and the various sectors of the construction and real-estate industry are growing together.

Around 100,000 visitors (80 per cent trade visitors and 20 per cent builders and users) come to Swissbau in Basel every two years, 57,000 of them decision-makers. Increasingly, Swissbau is also being attended by owners and investors, real estate service providers, facility managers, building information modelling (BIM) managers and building technology specialists.

Walo Dalhäuser, Head of MCH Mes-se Switzerland's trade and public exhibitions: "For the exhibitors at Ineltec and Sicherheit, this means that, in addition to the previous target groups of planners and fitters, there is now the potential of over 21 000 architects, interior architects and other specialist planners and engineers."

To the Swissbau Innovation Lab 2020
The next Swissbau from 14 to 18 January 2020 will therefore remain the meeting place for the Swiss construction and real estate industry. The Swissbau Innovation Lab 2020 in particular is attracting great interest from decision-makers and planners in the sector. Over 100 experts from the construction industry have already attended the exclusive preview event for the special show on digital transformation.

They were given an insight into the highlights of Swissbau 2020, the expanded concept of the Swissbau Innovation Lab and possible forms of participation and partner packages. "With Innosuisse and Bauen digi-tal Schweiz, we were able to bring our main partners back on board. The SIA is also a new Main Partner Transformation. All of them will play a key role in the further development and design of the concept. The planned extensions will make our offer even more attractive to the partners of the Swissbau Innovation Lab 2020," said Swissbau Exhibition Director Rudolf Pfander at the press conference in Zurich.

Experience digitization in the iRoom
In 2020, the iRoom will again ensure that visitors can experience digital planning, construction, use and operation. It is the central element of the Swissbau Innovation Lab and an important meeting place for partners and visitors. Next year, for the first time, a concrete project will be at the centre of the iRoom; the task for this project will be set by a real client. Even before the trade fair, several project drafts will be developed in partner workshops.

These will be presented interactively in the iRoom at Swissbau. Visitors to the iRoom will act as the jury to decide which project design will ultimately win the race. A total of ten show blocks will take place each day, for which visitors can register in advance of their visit.

Linking of trade fair and special show
In the Swissbau Innovation Lab 2020, the products and solutions of leading brands will once again be presented in a vivid and interactive way in the Innovation Village. In its new edition, the Village will also be expanded to include a Start-up Hub, which offers an ideal platform for imaginative young companies. In addition, exhibitors can now apply as Satellite Partners with their innovations or R&D projects.

The selected exhibitors will be present as partners of the Swissbau Innovation Lab with an information point directly at their own exhibition stand. With the Speaker's Corner in the middle of the Innovation Village, partners can present their digital use case live. During the week of the fair, daily networking events will be held for the partners - a tried-and-tested instrument for customer care.

From person to person
Swissbau 2020 has its finger on the pulse of the times and is once again taking a big step towards digitalisation. As the leading trade fair for the construction and real estate industry in Switzerland, it is facing up to the current challenges together with leading organisations and companies. The aim is to promote the networking of all market participants and to bring together all those involved in the construction process.

This facilitates dialogue and strengthens both innovative power and competitiveness. The Swissbau Innovation Lab is developed and implemented together with around 70 manufacturers and partners from research, planning, construction and operation.