Major exhibitors pull out of PL+S 2020
- Details
The moves will put pressure on the organisers of the tradeshow, due to take place at Messe Frankfurt on 31 March - 3 April, to clarify whether the event will go ahead. The virus has recently spread to more European countries, causing disruptions to trade events on the continent, including the postponement of Messe Frankfurt's architecture and lighting show Light+Building until September.
“Although we were looking forward to meeting our customers and presenting our newest innovations at the fair, we must do our part to help to contain the issue,” explains Sameer Sodhi, business leader at Vari-Lite and Strand at Signify. “The health, safety and well-being of our employees, customers and partners is and remains our number one priority.”
Vari-Lite and Strand will continue to inform its stakeholders about its new products through other means, which will be communicated in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Adam Hall will present numerous innovations from its extensive event technology range in a livestream on 31 March on the company website.
Alexander Pietschmann, CEO of the Adam Hall Group, comments: “We have been an integral part of the music trade show Prolight+Sound for 38 years. Every year, we look forward to meeting our partners and customers in Frankfurt am Main and being able to present our latest innovations.
“But an entertainment tradeshow needs a certain sense of fun that is so essential to our industry as a whole. Ongoing concerns and precautionary measures associated with the Covid-19 virus mean that this light-heartedness isn’t possible in light of the latest developments. We have made this difficult decision because we attach great importance to the safety and well-being of our employees, business partners and end user as well as media partners.”
Despite these developments, Messe Frankfurt has maintained it has no plans to postpone the show. In a tweet issued this morning, the organiser said: "For the #PLS2020 there is no postponement. The health of our exhibitors, visitors and employees is still our top priority, which is why we continue to work closely with the authorities and implement appropriate recommendations and instructions."
The latest safety advice concerning Coronavirus and Prolight+Sound can be found here.
