With the 18th annual glasstec International Trade Fair for Machinery, Equipment, Applications and Products approaching in November, more than 800 exhibitors from 39 countries have already registered to take part in the event. This year, organizers expect 54,000 visitors from around the world to come view the latest products and technologies for the glass industry. The event will be held at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany, November 9-13.

According to show organizers, the current number of exhibitors is already higher than the number of registered in May 2002, for the show's last staging. The largest foreign exhibitor contingents will come from Italy, the United States, Belgium and France. Significant increase in exhibit space from Turkey, Switzerland and Asia was also recorded, while companies from Australia and New Zealand will participate for the first time as well.

Also for the first time, companies from laser technology and thin special glass sectors will exhibit at glasstec. In addition to new processes for separating, marking, cutting and melting glass, new laser products offer fresh potentials, especially for the sheet and hollow glass industry.