France to host biggest pavilion at InnoTrans 2012

With more companies than ever before attending InnoTrans, France will once again host the national pavilion with the largest number of exhibitors. Approximately 90 companies will showcase their innovative products and services on the French Pavilion at InnoTrans, the leading rail and urban-transport trade show. Occupying 1,100m² across three halls (3.2, 11.2 and 21B) dedicated to rail technology and infrastructure, the Pavilion will be organised by UBIFRANCE, the French export-support agency.

InnoTrans, a biennial event taking place in Berlin, consists of indoor and outdoor exhibitions, together with conferences. The only trade fair of its kind, each InnoTrans event attracts more visitors than the last: in 2010, 2,250 exhibitors from 45 countries welcomed more than 103,000 visitors. In 2012, exhibitor numbers on the France Pavilion will be up by 13% on 2010. The trade show will be held from 18 to 21 September in the German capital.

UBIFRANCE will also take advantage of the exhibition’s international standing to organise the second set of International Rail and Urban-Transport Meetings — as was done in 2010 — on 19 and 20 September 2012. The meetings will be sponsored by Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer français (SNCF, the French railways operator).

These meetings are designed to help French companies meet global decision-makers from the sector and identify opportunities across international markets. Additionally, UBIFRANCE will provide multi-country information workshops, along with B2B meetings with rail experts from 17 UBIFRANCE offices worldwide.

There will also be a business reception attended by players from the French and German rail sectors, which will take place at the French Embassy in Berlin over the period that the trade fair is taking place.

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as hi-tech clusters of excellence from six French regions will be present on the Pavilion, with industry players from Auvergne, Burgundy, Centre, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire and Picardy. Most of the machinery on display will come from the electronics, smelting, metallurgy, machining, paint, pneumatics, and cables sectors.

As well as SNCF, two other French companies will again heighten the French presence at InnoTrans by sponsoring the trade show — SCOMA, France’s leading designer and manufacturer of stabiliser rods for rolling stock, and Leroy Automation, a specialist in automation products for railways.

In 2010, the French rail industry generated a turnover of €4.82 billion, including €1.65 billion in exports — a result that was up on 2009. The French rail sector is internationally recognised for its excellence across all sub-sectors, from rolling stock and tracks to engineering.

About UBIFRANCE

UBIFRANCE is the French export-support agency. As the partner of reference for French companies wishing to export, UBIFRANCE offers a complete range of services based on the provision of information on export markets, legal issues and regulations, as well as international finance and tenders, while also supplying sectorial data.

In addition, UBIFRANCE offers export advice and targeted support to companies’ commercial activities, such as exploratory visits, partnership meetings, foreign exhibitions and international press communication. Finally, UBIFRANCE runs the International Postgraduate Programme (VIE) for employing qualified personnel and young graduates outside France.

UBIFRANCE is showcasing French companies at InnoTrans 2012, which will take place in Berlin (Germany) from 18 to 21 September 2012. The companies will be in Halls 3.2, 11.2 and 21B.

For further information about InnoTrans 2012, please go to: http://www.innotrans.de/en/

For further information about the French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in the UK, please go to: www.ubifrance.com/uk/

For further information, please contact :
Quote ref. : FTPB3742
Ms Katherine WOODS – Press Officer
UBIFRANCE Press Office in London
Tel: +44 (0) 207 024 3640
katherine.woods@ubifrance.fr