PaintExpo, the world’s leading trade fair for industrial coating technologies, which was scheduled to be held at the Karlsruhe Exhibition Centre in Karlsruhe, Germany, from October 12 to 15, 2020, has been cancelled.

“Due to the still fragile corona situation, stricter hygiene and distancing regulations for trade fairs in Baden-Württemberg and restrictions on international travel, PaintExpo 2020 will be cancelled after all,” FairFair, the trade fair organiser said in a statement.

The event will now take place in 2022 from April 26 to 29 at the Karlsruhe Exhibition Centre in Germany.

“Together with our exhibitors and partners, we had hoped to hold PaintExpo 2020 in October with corresponding health and safety measures for all participants. However, the circumstances have changed in the meantime, amongst other things due to new regulations for holding trade fairs in Baden-Württemberg, so that we now have to cancel the event after all,” Jürgen Haußmann, managing director of event promoters FairFair GmbH, said.

This decision was taken on the basis of a survey of all PaintExpo 2020 exhibitors, a large number of whom were also against postponing the trade fair once again.

Many companies are currently struggling with the economic impact of the corona pandemic and trade fair participation is thus not at the top of their priority list. Beyond this, health protection and preventing the spread of infection continue to play a central role as well. As a result, face-to-face contact and travel are being restricted. What’s more, companies prohibit trade fair visits in some cases and international travel is still subject to strict limits. The requirements stipulated in the planned “Corona Regulation for Trade Fairs” issued by Baden-Württemberg’s state government are a further reason for deciding against holding PaintExpo 2020.