Since last September, the director of the A+A safety trade fair has been Daniel Feische, a manager with extensive international experience who has been with Messe Düsseldorf for many years. He takes over from Lars Wismer, who has become Regional Manager Asia for the trade fair based in Singapore. The new director Feische agreed to answer a few questions.
A+A 2025 promises to be the biggest ever. Can you give us some details about the number of exhibitors and the floor space occupied?
“Absolutely. A+A 2025 is set to be the largest edition in the trade fair’s history. We are expecting more than 2,200 exhibitors from over 69 countries and around 87,000 square meters of exhibition space have been sold. This makes the 2025 edition the largest A+A we have ever organized. We are also seeing a continuously growing number of international registrations, particularly from Europe, Asia, and North America. The trade fair will bring together a strong mix of established global market leaders and many first-time exhibitors, who will enrich the event with fresh ideas and innovations. What we can already confirm is that large parts of the fairgrounds will be dedicated to future-oriented topics such as wearable technologies, robotics, smart PPE and digital solutions. This clearly reflects the growing importance of innovation and future orientated technologies within our industry.”
Could you provide us with some data on the presence of exhibitors from the specific footwear sector?
“Safety footwear is an essential segment within A+A and we have more than 340 exhibitors related to footwear The dedicated Corporate Wear and Fashion Show formats highlight this trend, underscoring how important the combination of safety, ergonomics, and style has become. This increased focus also suggests that protective footwear will have a stronger presence compared to previous years.”
How many visitors do you expect and from which countries?
“Workplace safety, health, and wellbeing are gaining global importance as companies face demographic change, digital transformation and new work models. Rising ESG requirements and employee expectations make safe and future-oriented workplaces decisive factors for competitiveness and employer attractiveness. In 2023, A+A welcomed around 62,300 visitors from more than 140 countries. For 2025, we expect growing visitor numbers, underlining the truly global scope of the event. Pre-registration trends already show a strong increase in participation from outside Europe – especially from Asia and North America – alongside consistently strong attendance from European neighbor countries.
Looking at exhibitors, we already see significant representation from countries such as Italy, the USA, India, Korea, Spain, the UK and China. This illustrates the broad and highly international spectrum of A+A 2025.”
During the fair there will be many side events. Which ones are not to be missed?
“The supporting program is a core element of A+A and one of its major strengths. A particular highlight is the A+A Congress, one of the world’s leading international conferences on occupational safety and health, which this year will feature new interactive formats. Key topics include sustainability, climate change, mental well-being at work, prevention strategies for SMEs, as well as digitalization and artificial intelligence. In addition, WearRAcon Europe will take place at A+A for the second time, providing in-depth insights into wearable robotics and exoskeletons, and showcasing how these technologies can be applied in professional contexts. At the Trend Forum, leading experts will discuss the latest research and developments – from sustainability and innovative materials to corporate wear. Another highlight will be the Corporate Wear/Fashion Show, once again a visitor magnet, presenting workwear and PPE in a modern, stylish format that combines safety with design and fashion.”
In recent years, the safety sector has experienced steady growth. However, the international economic context is now dominated by uncertainty…
“It is true that the current economic climate – with supply chain challenges, inflation, and geopolitical tensions – creates uncertainty across many industries. However, the safety and health sector has proven to be particularly resilient. Occupational safety is not optional: it is a regulatory and ethical obligation in many countries, which ensures a stable demand for reliable solutions. At the same time, the industry is undergoing significant transformation. Trends such as digitalization, wearable technologies, AI, and sustainability are driving investment because they provide efficiency, compliance, cost savings and improved employee protection. These factors make us confident that A+A 2025 will once again showcase the sector’s innovative strength and underline its essential role in creating safe and future-ready workplaces worldwide.”