Tom Smith and Wayne Martin work for the largest glass fabricator in Northern America and are looking mostly for flat glass equipment for fabrication. They also looked at many booths with solar technology - out of personal interest. "America is still a bit behind in this area."

Facade engineering is the main interest for Amir Zebian. "We are looking for new technologies that we can bring down to the Gulf area", says the owner of an industrial company. He also had a look at solar glass technologies since he sees the potential in Dubai's ever shining sun. Since he has been coming to glasstec for the last years Zebian is certainly going to be back for glasstec 2010.

Angie, Tobias and Florian are students of the professional school for glass in Hadamar - an exhibitor at glasstec. However, they are not here to visit their school's booth - they are here on behalf of their teacher in order to research on special topics such as sealing compounds. "We collected brochures and now we are going to take a look at some of the creative stuff here."

"I produce glass devices, also for the laboratory, and I am searching for instruments and accessories here", Sabine Gottschhalk says. Additionaly the woman from Siegburg is looking for inspiration at glasstec 2008 since she uses glass for creative purposes, too. "I am especially interested in hollow glass processing." And she is certainly going to return in 2010.

Wind shields in car production and flat glass - these topics are of special interest for Gabriel Montemayor. He is at glasstec in order to get better deals on technologies and products. "It is very interesting here and we hope to schedule further meetings." He has time until Friday, then Montemayor returns to Mexico.

He arrived on Tuesday for glasstec 2008. Bijan Mohajerani is looking for glass blocks and is interested in finding distributors for his products in Europe. In 2006, he visited the trade fair for the first time - this time he is staying in Düsseldorf for another ten days - out of holiday reasons.

Peter Lu is a professional manufacturer in decoration glasses and needs new technology and instruments for glass processing. "I have been here for two days and it has been great", he says. "glasstec is the no. 1 fair for glass."

The director of a very large glass producing company from India already owns many European machines. "We keep looking for new machines and that is why I am here", he explains. "We want be be up-to-date." That is the reason why he has been visiting glasstec every two years since 1988.

"I am a glass man and am looking for machines that do hollow glass manufacturing especially glass molds", says Engr Wole Adeleye. He especially liked that there is plenty to see in terms of technology at glasstec.

Bertrand Garnier is working for a French company that produces glass and table wear. He comes to glasstec for one day to find out more about mould manufacturers and to look for suppliers that can make moulds for his company. "The contacts were rich and we had a lot of time to discuss everything", he says.

Engineer Dieter Winkler is impressed by the variety at glasstec. He is especially pleased with the special show, glass technology live, on the solar topic. "In my opinion, solar is currently still a niche, but a very important one, and I welcome the focus on it here."

Markus Gehring of Schott Advanced Materials appreciates the exceedingly high quality of visitors at glasstec. "We have already had the pleasure of greeting numerous international visitors at our booth." In addition, the fact that various renowned companies are found among the exhibitors "substantially enriches the fair."

"We perceived glasstec 2008 as being a totally positive experience," says Dirk Schröder of Schollglas. "Our booth was constantly frequented, especially by experts." Which is a good thing since the sales manager sees public relations with clients as being of priority at an event like the glass trade fair.

The diversity of exhibiting companies is a pleasant surprise for Jürgen Wallbach of PPG Industries: "Here you find machine manufacturers and glass producers, as well as decorators and craftsmen." He doesn't have much time to explore them, however. "We are so busy that I have already handed out all of my business cards, and I haven't really found any time to see anything at the fair."

Bystronic is a co-exhibitor at the special show, glass technology live. Not only the solar topic is important to the company, but also glass and energy in general. "For the first time, we are showing an eco-lounge and are considering ways of saving energy with our machines," explains PR manager Iris Minten, "and visitors respond very positively to this."

“For us glasstec this year was more successful than ever. It has fully lived up to its reputation of being the glass sector’s foremost trade fair throughout the world and proved to be a meeting point for visitors from around the globe. Many first-time customers signed important contracts on site where we installed a fully networked, automatic manufacturing unit at the stand,” says Manfred Lesiak, Manager Marketing & Event at Lisec.

The conclusion after the first days of the trade fair: "We had a large number of international visitors," says Rainer W. Schmidt, Marketing Manager at Interpane from Lauenförde. The special shows are his personal favourite, because "here we can also show things that do not have to be ready to sell immediately."

"As a manufacturer of float glass and laminated glass, maintaining good relationships with existing customers is especially important to me," states Italian Marco Antonelli of Bottero. Good, then, that he is very pleased with the number of visits to his booth.

"It is very, very important for us to be at glasstec," explains Lilian Geurthens of Scheuten. She also finds it "great" that glass and solar are connecting in the exhibition halls: "This is good for our company."

Judith Schäfer works for Wirsam + Albat and finds the trade fair to be very lively. She sees the solar topic as a special highlight: "This is the current trend, and a trade fair such as glasstec simply has to pick up on that."

Hans Wudy, School Director at the glass trade college in Zwiesel, states, "We find glasstec very interesting. Here we learn more about the glass industry in just a few days than in two years at Zwiesel." For visitors, the trade college booth is primarily an information source on various trades and services.

The company Vitrododi has exhibited at glasstec several times now. "We are extremely happy again this year," Maurizio Dodi and Toshiki Hashimoto, who travelled here from Japan for the fair, agree. "It is our goal to make contact with customers and acquire new customers."

Opening of glasstec 2008 and the special show glass technology live. Professor Stefan Behling from the University Stuttgart, Germany and Foster & Partner, London speaks at the opening of glasstec 2008 and the special show. The show takes place from 21 to 25 October 2008 and is the international platform for the glass industry.

Professor Stefan Behling from the University Stuttgart, Germany and Foster & Partner, London speaks at the opening of glasstec 2008 and the special show. The show takes place from 21 to 25 October 2008 and is the international platform for the glass industry.

Opening of glasstec 2008 and the special show glass technology live. A musical leadup: "Girl from Ipanema" by Kristalleon.

Glas is important for energy efficiency in architecture: This includes not only light guiding or highly insulating glasses as fundamental elements - also photovoltaics and solar heat systems for gaining energy.

World premiere and most important highlight of glasstec 2008: a cristal clear bended bridge, 7 meters long, produced by exhibitor seele with cold-bended glass. The innovative technique makes it possible for the first time to create glass objects in great dimensions without the use of heat.

World premiere and most important highlight of glasstec 2008: a cristal clear bended bridge, 7 meters long, produced by exhibitor seele with cold-bended glass. The innovative technique makes it possible for the first time to create glass objects in great dimensions without the use of heat.

Even large machines are in need of saving space. The product Compact Loader of Hegla features an especially slender design and enables the realisation of a very space-saving rough glass storage. Hegla GmbH & Co. KG, Halle 15/D19.

A glassy shoe created by the artist Elena Graure-Manta. Her fashion is not truly wearable - at least not in the common sense - but her artwork is too special to disappear inside the wardrobe anyway. Her whole collection is made of glass. Special show glass art, Elena Graure-Manta, hall 9/B68.

A handbag by the artist Elena Graure-Manta. Her fashion is not truly wearable - at least not in the common sense - but her artwork is too special to disappear inside the wardrobe anyway. Her whole collection is made of glass. Special show glass art, Elena Graure-Manta, hall 9/B68.

Centre piece of the special show of Meilenwerk Düsseldorf is a Bentley MK VI from 1948, that was manufactured for the Belgian king - also in the 40s of the last century, glass was very important for automotive engineering. Hans Werner Reinhard, Executive Director Messe Düsseldorf (left) Mika Hahn, Press Officer Meilenwerk Düsseldorf, (right).

Professional School for Glass Manufacturing Zwiesel was founded in 1904. At the beginning the school needed to be supported by regional glass industry, during following decades the school developed into a modern training centre for scholars from all over Germany.

In 2008 the Special Show 'glass technology live' in Hall 11 is dedicated primarily to the focal themes climate protection and energy efficiency. The latest products, technologies and research results on topics like thermal insulation, solar protection, photovoltaics and solar thermal systems are showcased here.

In 2008 the Special Show 'glass technology live' in Hall 11 is dedicated primarily to the focal themes climate protection and energy efficiency. The latest products, technologies and research results on topics like thermal insulation, solar protection, photovoltaics and solar thermal systems are showcased here.

This year the Special Show will be dedicated primarily to the focal themes climate protection and energy efficiency. The latest products, technologies and research results on topics like thermal insulation, solar protection, photovoltaics and solar thermal systems will be showcased here.

This year the Special Show will be dedicated primarily to the focal themes climate protection and energy efficiency. The latest products, technologies and research results on topics like thermal insulation, solar protection, photovoltaics and solar thermal systems will be showcased here.

In 2008 the Special Show 'glass technology live' in Hall 11 is dedicated primarily to the focal themes climate protection and energy efficiency. The latest products, technologies and research results on topics like thermal insulation, solar protection, photovoltaics and solar thermal systems are showcased here.

The photo shows a solution for photovoltaics integrated into buildingy by the company Solarwatt from Dresden.

In 2008 the Special Show 'glass technology live' in Hall 11 is dedicated primarily to the focal themes climate protection and energy efficiency. The latest products, technologies and research results on topics like thermal insulation, solar protection, photovoltaics and solar thermal systems are showcased here.

In 2008 the Special Show 'glass technology live' in Hall 11 is dedicated primarily to the focal themes climate protection and energy efficiency. The latest products, technologies and research results on topics like thermal insulation, solar protection, photovoltaics and solar thermal systems are showcased here.

The Altstadt is the historical, political und cultural center of Düsseldorf. In this ancient part of the city the town hall, the art collection NRW and the art akademy can be found.

"The longest bar of the world" - that's who the inhabitants and tourists call the"Altstadt" with its more than 300 pubs, discotheques and restaurants.

Where the Burgplatz is today there used to be the Düsseldorf castle, wich burned down in the 19th century except from the Schlossturm - the tower of the former castle.

It is a central meeting point for tourists and locals. The Burgplatz is the ideal place if you want to relax, have a dark beer and look over the Rhine. The area round the castle tower received an award as one of the most beautiful squares in germany.

The Gehry-buildings in the Medienhafen (media harbour) of Düsseldorf.

Frank Owen Gehry studied architecture at University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. The warped forms of Frank Gehry's structures are classified sometimes as being of the deconstructivist, or "DeCon" school of postmodernist architecture, whether or not he consciously holds such inclinations.

The statue of Jan Wellems in front of the town hall.

In his residence at Düsseldorf, the Jan-Wellem Platz is named after him. He died in Düsseldorf and was buried in the St. Andreas Church.

In the north-western corner of the Nordparks you will find the "Japanischen Garten am Rhein" (japanese garden at the rhine).

Düsseldorf often is called „Klein-Tokyo am Rhein" which means Little-Tokyo at the Rhine. The first Japanese in Düsseldorf was registered in 1905. Today Düsseldorf is home and place of employment for the largest Japanese community in Germany.

The Lambertus church with its leaning tower (in the background of the picture).

The theater was officially opened in 1970. It has four different stages in various sizes.

Plays from Greaco-Roman times to the present.
Checking the classics for the topicality of their message, using premieres to raise awareness for contemporary problems, grappling with social issues or just having an entertaining evening - theatre can mean all this and much more.Young actors, producers and authors show a new approach to well-known plays.

Tonhalle, home to the 'Düsseldorfer Symphoniker', also hosts many international guest performances. The city's orchestra consists of 130 musicians, and with its many tours in this country and abroad has made an excellent name for itself far beyond the city borders.

The Triton-fountain at Königsallee.

Düsseldorf's internationally best known trademark is the Königsallee ('Kö'). Germany's most sophisticated mile is considered one of the world's grand luxurious boulevards.