Messe München preps for its Transportation & Logistics America’s (TLA) show with MODEX

Munich, Germany-based Messe München recently announced it is expanding into the United States market next spring, when it hosts its Transportation & Logistics America’s (TLA) show from April 9-12, 2018 in conjunction with MODEX, a trade show for the supply chain, manufacturing and distribution industries hosted by MHI every other year in Atlanta, Ga.

Messe München said that these two cornerstone events will complement each other “by bringing together under one roof all aspects of the transportation, logistics, and supply chain markets.”

In an interview, Dr. Robert Schoenberger, Exhibition Group Director Messe München GmbH., explained that the organization’s decision to expand into the United States is based on three factors.

“Firstly, the U.S. and European logistics systems have been perceived as having too many different characteristics to be compliable for a long time,” he said. “But we recognized that this is changing, in a way, which offers both U.S. and European logistics companies a widening window of opportunity. Secondly, the current political development in the U.S. with its strong regional focus more than ever requires a permanent representation for international companies in order to participate in the growth of the U.S. market in the long-term.

As for the third point, he said Messe München observed a development towards conferences accompanied by a small exhibition.

“Our concept seems to buck this trend, but the growing numbers of exhibitors and visitors of our partner MODEX show us that there is definitely a demand for a transportation and logistics exhibition, which we want to accommodate with the TLA.”

Messe München has had a U.S. presence going back several years, with Schoenberger noting that TLA is actually the first show, where it is actively engaged, adding that it is pleased it comes in the form of a show like TLA, where it can leverage its global logistics experience.

The collaboration with MODEX represents Messe München’s first time doing so in the U.S. market. 

“We are thankful to have found such a competent and reliable partner in MODEX,” he said. “Furthermore, we are not only cooperating with MODEX but also with the ITE Group as well as with the Georgia Logistics Summit (GLS), which will take place at the same time. This second cooperation includes that the exhibition of GLS will join us, too.”

When asked how specifically Messe München will collaborate with MODEX and what the main components of TLA are, Schoenberger said that with MODEX serving as a leading logistics trade show in the U.S. market, Messe München is adding its expertise in the remaining links of the logistics chain.

“That will add a lot of value to the already established show, because visitors will be able to find everything from intralogistics to global logistics solutions at one location,” he said. “Atlanta, Georgia and the entire region represent an important logistics hub for the U.S. as well as for international trade, with the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and major seaports in close proximity.”

TLA will feature 200 exhibitors and around 5,500 attendees and will include a full educational seminar program, too.