A retrospect on the event OTWorld 2018

OTWorld 2018 sets new milestones.

For four days Leipzig was entirely devoted to technical orthopaedics. More than 570 exhibitors from 43 countries - from market leaders to start-ups - presented world premieres and innovations at OTWorld 2018. At its world meeting, the industry was in an excellent position for the future: Digitisation and 3D printing were everywhere, whether in orthotics and prosthetics, rehabilitation technology, compression therapy or orthopaedic footwear technology. International experts - from physicians to prosthetists and orthotists to engineers - discussed advanced treatment methods and presented groundbreaking technologies. The focus was on the interprofessional transfer of knowledge for the benefit of the patient. With a total of 21,400 visitors from over 90 countries, the international trade show and world congress once again set new benchmarks.

SUCCESS IN FIGURES
OTWorld Retrospect 2018
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Closing report

OTWORLD 2018 SETS NEW MILESTONES

Trailblazing world premieres and an inter-professional world c

ongress highlight our leading international role

For four days Leipzig was entirely devoted to technical orthopaedics. More than 570 exhibitors from 43 countries - from market leaders to start-ups - presented world premieres and innovations at OTWorld. At its world meeting, the industry was in an excellent position for the future: Digitisation and 3D printing were everywhere, whether in orthotics and prosthetics, rehabilitation technology, compression therapy or orthopaedic footwear technology. International experts - from physicians to prosthetists and orthotists to engineers - discussed advanced treatment methods and presented groundbreaking technologies. The focus was on the interprofessional transfer of knowledge for the benefit of the patient. With a total of 21,400 visitors from over 90 countries, the international trade show and world congress once again set new benchmarks.

"As the world's leading event this year, OTWorld has once again shown that the entire industry meets in Leipzig. Groundbreaking world premieres, digitalisation and modern technologies inspired the visitors. With OTWorld as a flagship trade show Leipziger Messe highlights its expertise in the field of medical fairs and congresses", explains Martin Buhl-Wagner, Chief Executive Officer of Leipziger Messe. One of the secret recipes is the close cooperation between Leipziger Messe, Confairmed GmbH as the organiser of the world congress and the German Association of Orthopaedic Technology (BIV-OT) as the conceptual partner.

"OTWorld is an overall work of art. Experts from all over the world gather here for four days to improve the global supply of medical aids," sums up Klaus-Jürgen Lotz, President of BIV-OT. "I am particularly pleased that at this OTWorld it became clear what is at the heart of our work: people. This is why we learn our trade, train ourselves and exchange ideas with colleagues of all professions. All the innovations, world premieres and advances in production and processes are important and must be seen, evaluated and tested. New supply concepts need to be presented and analysed. All this once more took place this year at OTWorld. Here again, many new approaches emerged with which we can solve the problems that demographic change, for example, is causing."

Congress President Prof. Dr. Volker Bühren adds: "OTWorld is an excellent platform for a collegial exchange of ideas. The integration of the congress centre into the trade exhibition not only ensures short distances - this exemplary concept creates a relaxed atmosphere for meeting experts on a professional level in order to work together in a concentrated and friendly manner. As President of the Congress I am particularly pleased that we were once again able to strengthen what we offer to physicians at OTWorld. The constant participation of the leading professional associations, the successful 'Students' Day' as a new format for medical students, the fully booked guided tours of the event especially for physicians, and the advanced training events arranged for general practitioners by the German Statutory Accident Insurance (DGUV) organisation underline the importance of the world congress. In addition to Berlin and Baden-Baden, Leipzig is now one of the major congress locations for non-surgical technical orthopaedics."

Bühren hands over the baton for OTWorld 2020 to Prof. Dr. Christoph Josten from Leipzig University Hospital and orthopaedic technician expert Michael Schäfer. The future dual chairmanship of the congress presidency underlines the interprofessionality of the event.

INTERPROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE IN AN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

The term interprofessionality was used again and again at OTWorld. The use of innovative technologies, such as those offered by the trade show, requires expert team care among all the professions involved in rehabilitation - this was the unanimous view of all the technicians, surgeons and rehabilitation physicians at the opening event. Right from the start of OTWorld BIV-OT President Klaus-Jürgen Lotz, Congress President Prof. Dr. Volker Bühren and Prof. Dr. Friedbert Kohler, President of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) emphasised the team spirit of the industry.

In terms of content, in line with the motto "By the profession for the profession" the concept of the congress once again proved to be successful, which was evident not only in the courses that were quickly booked up. The various formats - from the keynote speeches to the forums and "How are people cared for?" to the satellite symposia - offered a wide range of individual training opportunities.

For the first time, lectures at the world congress were not only simultaneously presented in German and English, but also in a further world language, Spanish. The very well attended congress was able to repeatedly confirm its international significance with 320 speakers from more than 30 countries.

FOCUS ON DIGITALISATION

In addition to the appeal for cooperation, the topic of digitalisation was a key issue at OTWorld 2018, where both the international trade show and the world congress dealt with the new manufacturing engineering. The influence of modern technologies such as 3D printing on supplies was discussed at the exhibition stands as well as in the well-filled congress halls. The "Digital Manufacture Forum", which was initiated for the first time this year, was both popular and controversial.

TAILOR-MADE PROGRAMME

The new generation of the industry met at the heart of the international trade show and the world congress. Once again the Youth.Academy TO took place within the framework of OTWorld over two days. More than 500 trainees and students from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Poland exchanged their experiences, got together with the leading experts from medicine and technical orthopaedics, and were able to test and experience the innovations of OTWorld.

Overall, OTWorld provided numerous tailor-made programmes for exhibition visitors. For the first time in 2018, guided tours of the fair were offered to pedorthists, medical supply retailers and physicians, which were met with great approval. Numerous participants took advantage of the opportunity to learn about topics such as the digital influence on orthopaedic footwear technology, modern shop design or care for special medical conditions.

In the "Retail Forum", well-known marketing experts such as Wolfgang Gruschwitz and Gada von Bohr investigated the question of how medical supply retailers can hold their own in times of online trade and growing customer demands. Among other things, they showed how customer loyalty can be promoted through e-commerce or modern shop design. Visitors to OTWorld were able to see the latter live in the Pavillion of Shop Design. The installations shown in the special exhibition emphasised both the feel-good factor and digital elements as decisive criteria and offered examples for implementation. This year OTWorld also attracted numerous prominent brand ambassadors to Leipzig. Barbara Schöneberger's visit was a highlight for the medical supply store.

The provision of medical aids in the Technical Forum for Rehabilitation was standardised and at the same time extremely individual. The live demonstrations ranged from special electric wheelchairs and the care of geriatric patients to the production of special sizes. The stage programme was moderated by David Lebuser, an extreme athlete in wheelchair skating.

EXHIBITORS WERE HIGHLY SATISFIED

"We were at OTWorld for the first time and were thrilled. An absolute success! The customer numbers were great, we were not prepared for the massive international response. Around 50 per cent of the visitors to the stand came from abroad, above all from the Middle East, North Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. The entire event is of an extremely high standard - the highest we have ever experienced", explained Sascha Becker, Sales and Marketing Manager of Alu Rehab ApS. OTWorld was just as successful for the Blatchford Group. CEO Adrian Stenson summed up: "OTWorld 2018 was an absolute success, for us the most productive event in the industry worldwide. Extremely well organised, fantastic tradeshow grounds and high stand quality and quantity. We were able to make a great number of new contacts and cultivated business relations." Guido Laub, National Sales Manager for Germany at NESKRID 4AllFeet B.V., described the international trade show as a "boost for the business". "We participated for the first time and were incredibly successful. We were able to make many more contacts than we had previously suspected. “

According to Christoph Lindner, Sales Manager 3D Printing, this was also HP Deutschland GmbH's first visit to the fair, enabling the company to reach a completely new, international target group. Antonius Köster GmbH & Co. KG is also active in the field of 3D printing. The CEO of the same name explained: "The level of knowledge of the trade public about 3D printing has increased considerably. In Leipzig it became clear that the industry is on its way out of the trial stage and towards the comprehensive professional use of additive production. The subject of digitalisation was omnipresent in the halls."

Exhibitors and overview of the exhibition halls

Exhibitors‘ comments

SASCHA BECKER - Alu Rehab ApS

"We were at OTWorld for the first time and were thrilled. An absolute success! The customer numbers were great, we were not prepared for the massive international response. Around 50 per cent of the visitors to the stand came from abroad, above all from the Middle East, North Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. The entire event had an extremely high standard - the highest we have ever experienced. Our digital seat pressure measurement was one of our products that attracted particular interest. In addition, we held lectures at the Technical Forum for Rehabilitation on mobility solutions for wheelchair users with movement disorders and on geriatrics. It was very good that the rehabilitation area was promoted. We'll be back, we intend to exhibit at OTWorld in 2020."

ANTONIUS KÖSTER - Antonius Köster GmbH & Co. KG

"My verdict on OTWorld 2018: A complete success. We've never had such a response, things went really well at our stand. The specialised public's level of knowledge about 3D printing has increased considerably. In Leipzig it became clear that the industry is on its way out of the trial stage and towards the comprehensive professional use of additive production. The subject of digitisation was omnipresent in the halls. The demonstrations and workshops on the various areas of digital production processes were particularly popular at our stand. That's what the visitors wanted to see. Because the market is changing, OTWorld will become increasingly important in the coming years. We'll be back in 2020."

ADRIAN STENSON - Blatchford Group

"OTWorld 2018 was an absolute success, for us the most productive event in the industry worldwide. Extremely well organised, fantastic tradeshow grounds and high stand quality and quantity. We were able to make many new contacts and cultivated business relations. One of the highlights was our new Linx leg prosthesis system. It was also inspiring to see the innovations of the other companies. The audience came from Scandinavia, the Middle East, Japan and the USA, among others. It was exciting to hear from users and experience the effects the products have. We'll definitely be back."

EIK STEINWEG - BSN-JOBST/BSN medical GmbH

"We had many very intensive discussions at OTWorld 2018, with both national and international audiences. The visitor frequency was very high, as was the standard. The main topics were how digitised processes can simplify the ERP of the medical supply store and how we enable the patient to receive the best possible care via various channels. For example, we presented a new digital patient platform for lymph care and our digital measuring system LEXpert, which can be connected to common ERP systems. Orthopaedic bandages and wound care also met with a great response. OTWorld once again proved to be the ideal forum for the industry."

CHRISTOPH LINDNER - HP Deutschland GmbH

"Our first presentation at OTWorld was a complete success. This has opened up a completely new, international target group for our 3D printers. Our information material was in great demand. We see great business potential in the industry. That's why we'll definitely be back in 2020."

GUIDO LAUB - NESKRID 4AllFeet B.V.

"The OTWorld was a booster for our business. We participated for the first time and experienced an incredible success. We were able to make many more contacts than we had expected. The absolute highlight was our new toe protection cap for work shoes, which was a hit with the audience. The new online ordering system, which we presented for the first time, also met with a great response. We'll definitely be back."

RENÉ SCHILLER - Össur Deutschland GmbH

"OTWorld was like a big 'family reunion' again this year. For us, it is the most important event - as a showcase for our industry in Europe and Germany, where orthopedic technology is based. In 2018 OTWorld has once again shown that it is possible for trade and industry to join forces. The trade show and congress offered a variety of highlights, the scientific programme was again very demanding and the exchange with the partners was target-oriented. We had inspiring discussions with experts from all over the world. I was particularly pleased with the extremely positive reactions to our new Form Fit Knee Pro OA for conservative treatment of knee arthrosis and the new Pro-Flex Align prosthetic foot. Of course we'll be back."

NORBERT AUMANN - Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA

"OTWorld ran excellently again and was very well attended. There was a wonderful crowd at our stand. As always, the product demonstrations by users caused a buzz. The interest of the visitors was enormous, the professional level of the discussions very high. Our world première, the new generation of the C-Brace 2 orthosis system, caused a sensation. Just like pattern recognition for myoelectric arm prostheses or our digital orthopaedic workshop of the future. Digital transformation and 3D printing were among the main topics of the event - OTWorld 2018 was the farewell party for plaster in orthopaedic technology. No question, the OTWorld 2020 is firmly booked with us! A must-attend event. Showcase, discussion forum, exhibition and information platform all in one. A worldwide unique event and a family reunion of the industry."

SEVERIN LEYERER - paromed GmbH & Co. KG

"OTWorld was a success again this year. We were able to welcome a very diverse, international audience. Our stand was more international than ever before. The interested parties came from all over the world, remarkably often from the Middle East. A special highlight was our own workshop room, which was very well attended. The computer-assisted insole production, 3D printing in last production for orthopaedic made-to-measure shoes and our iPad scanner for the full foot were particularly well received. OTWorld comprehensively reflected industry trends such as digitisation and mobile applications, and visitors have become significantly more technology-oriented. OTWorld is our main platform and leading trade fair, the most important event at which we can present ourselves to the international market. 2020 is set."

STEFAN FRITZSCHE - THUASNE DEUTSCHLAND GmbH

"We have once again experienced a very successful OTWorld, with a very large international audience - including from the Middle East and Turkey. Everything went extremely well for us, with extremely well-founded technical discussions, and we also concluded some contracts. One of the much-discussed topics was gonarthrosis, we have strongly promoted our new orthosis Genu OA. The fact that there was a corresponding symposium at the congress attracted even more visitors. The second highlight was the BUFA-WALK on compression, in which we participated. The people that visited us really wanted to learn something. We also used OTWorld to test newly developed digital products prior to market launch - like an app for easy ordering of compression products. The feedback was very positive. It was exciting that many start-ups also exhibited this year. OTWorld 2020 is firmly planned; it is the most important overall show for the industry and supports market positioning."

Speakers‘ comments

INGO PFEFFERKORN

President of the Advanced Training Association for Orthopaedic Technology (Fortbildungsvereinigung für Orthopädietechnik e.V. – FOT) / Head of Orthopaedic Technology OTB, GHD GesundHeits GmbH Germany

„Technical orthopaedics is comprehensive. It should not be reduced to orthopaedic technology and aids. OTWorld is a reflection of this and is therefore very important to me in interprofessional cooperation. The holistic approach, a person with a medical, therapeutic background, that is what plays a role in Leipzig. Scientific topics are combined with those of the skilled trades and give congress participants from various professional groups the proverbial view beyond their own nose. Experience, understand and discuss orthopaedic technology 4.0 directly at OTWorld - that's what makes it so special.

As a member of the seminar committee, I was able to experience the structured and goal-oriented work of the organisers several times in the run-up to the event. Implementing the congress area in the industrial trade show has proven to be the best approach. Streamlined lecture planning gave us the opportunity to get many speakers to speak and the timing and equipment worked well in the sessions in which I took part.

Much has also been done for young professionals. Together with my FOT board colleague Mona Seifert we attended events of the Youth.Academy Technical Orthopaedics and could directly feel the enthusiasm of the young generation for the profession and OTWorld.

Last but not least, it should be noted that Leipzig is always worth a visit. The OTWorld was noticeable everywhere in the city centre. I'm thrilled with the way the city is developing and I'll be back in 2020."

TINO SPREKELMEYER

Sprekelmeyer GmbH Orthopädie-Schuhtechnik

"As the leading trade show in the field of orthopaedic technology, the OTWorld is probably the most important event. Not only at the trade show event, but also at the congress, the latest developments in prosthetics and orthotics can be seen. In addition, adjacent disciplines are extensively educated and updated to the current state of the art technology.

The exchange of the various disciplines also contributes to interprofessional cooperation. This becomes clear when you look at the wide range of the congress and the trade show event. The scientific training offered at this world congress was impressive. Especially the number of international lectures in scientific and medical fields was very extensive. Here one could inform the adjacent disciplines even more focused to reach an even broader audience.

The organisers of the World Congress did a very good job both before and during the event, providing both speakers and visitors with the necessary information and providing advice and support. This contributed to my plans for the trade show and congress."

RETROSPECT 2020
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