Did you hear? …Technogym Cardiowave wins FIBO innovation award, show grows

Finishing its 27th annual edition, the FIBO trade show for fitness and wellness in Germany drew slightly more attendees this year after several years of decline.

In addition, the Innovation Award was expanded to three categories — training equipment, wellness product and sports nutrition — with all nominated products displayed in an innovations forum area. Technogym’s Cardiowave won in the training equipment area. The other two finalists were MFT’s body balance and training system from Austria and carried in North America by Fitter First (click here to see the basic product line or go to the home website at www.mft.at), and Sponino’s Skigym, a ski-trainer also from a German company (www.ski-gym.com). There were nearly 40 nominees in the three categories for the award, FIBO reported.

The show, which closed the last weekend in April in Essen, Germany, had a total of 44,480 attendees, up from last year’s 43,700 over four days, including a public day on the weekend. There were 385 exhibitors, including the likes of Technogym, Star Trac, Hoist, Paramount, Matrix, MYE Entertainment and others, representing 35 countries, also up a few countries over last year. Nearly two of three attendees told organizer Reed Exhibitions in a survey that they were there for the training equipment.

Several U.S.-based exhibitors and Europe-based reps reported to SNEWS® that the show seemed more lively this year.

Next year’s FIBO show (www.fibo.de) will be April 19-22 in Essen. In addition, the body-building segment of the show will move to its own area and be called FIBO Power to separate it from the fitness and wellness categories that make up much of the show.