Ready for the future: imm cologne 2006 set to open the new exhibition centre
The International Furniture Fair sets trends and standards 　（bilingual version）

• From 16th to 22nd January 2006, imm cologne - the International Furniture Fair - will once again set standards and not only in terms of its range of new trends and international design. It will also be the superlative trade fair in relation to exhibition space. "imm cologne is the first trade fair to occupy our new halls. This means that the event will be held at one of Europe's state-of-the-art and most attractive exhibition centres and will once again set key highlights above and beyond its borders," said Udo Traeger , Vice President Furniture, Interior Design＆Textiles and Wolfgang Kranz, Executive Director, Koelnmesse. "The entire fair arena presents itself to our exhibitors and visitors with a noticeably improved quality of visit; the four new, same construction-design halls provide the centre with a clear structure", Kranz went on to say.

• The new Northern Halls (Nordhallen) replace the Rhineside Halls which will no longer be available from 2006: The RTL Group (Europe's largest TV broadcasting corporation) will take over the historic halls in order to use them as a media centre. Together with the former Halls 4 - 14 (the previous Eastern Halls), the arena will then form a compact unit with clear structures providing fast and easy orientation around the exhibition centre. A light-flooded boulevard, as a central North-South axis, links the halls with each other and forms the access point for the new central conference and press centre. The "Koelnmesse/Deutz" ICE rail terminal will in future offer direct connections to the DB (German Railways) high-speed network and with it very good connections to four international airports.

• The architecture of the Northern Halls consistentｌy fulfils the requirements in terms of flexibility and efficiency:large gates and logistics areas between the one-storey halls offer space for investment goods and large exhibits, the support-free construction design and the height of 11 or 15 metres ensure continuous, unrestricted accessibility for stand construction and dismantling. The floors have been designed to withstand the highest loads, while the halls
  have been fitted with a continually adjustable lighting system - from pure daylight up to complete darkness - and a large number of strong, stable suspension points on the hallceiling.

• Comprehensive, informative, clear overview
  
  Once again in January 2006 imm cologne will present its range in the usual breadth and depth. A new feature is the even more compact structuring, which is based on the purposeful proximity of the exhibitors to each other corresponding to the sales channels. With this consistent structure imm cologne is once again responding to the requirements of exhibitors and visitors.
  
  In addition, a new signposting system will ensure a fast orientation and facilitate concentration on fair business. With short distances, the best overview, service at a high level, the infra-structure of a modern trade fair city
  with its location and top travel and transport connections and not least a worldwide-unique product range diversity, imm cologne will once again be the world's leading fair for the whole furniture sector in 2006.