Success Stories

2024

[MEDICA 2024] Guide to Exhibiting at and Traveling to the International Medical Trade Fair in Düsseldorf, Germany

The world’s largest medical exhibition, MEDICA 2024, will open with great fanfare in Düsseldorf, Germany, from November 11 to 14.

Author:

2024

Düsseldorf, Germany

International Hospital and Medical Equipment Expo

MEDICAL

Germany - Düsseldorf

— November 11–14, 2024 —

Preface

The world’s largest medical exhibition, MEDICA 2024, will open with great fanfare in Düsseldorf, Germany, from November 11 to 14. This exhibition has long been hailed as a barometer of the healthcare industry’s development, drawing enthusiastic participation from companies across numerous countries each year. This exhibition will welcome over 6,000 companies from around the world, with more than 1,200 Chinese enterprises already registered. For businesses, this represents a valuable opportunity to tap into overseas markets. In the context of global economic integration, companies must adopt a global mindset and cultivate international competitiveness. By participating in international medical trade shows, they can not only expand their global footprint, gain insights into customer needs and market trends, and refine their strategic direction, but also engage with industry peers to exchange knowledge, enhance their technical expertise, and foster innovation.

To ensure the smooth running of your exhibition participation and travel, we have compiled below some relevant information for your reference and preparation.

Exhibition Hall Details

Exhibition Name

MEDICA 2024

Exhibition Hall Address

Stockumer Kirchstraße 61, D-40474 Düsseldorf, Germany (P.O. Box 101006, D-40001 Düsseldorf)

Exhibition Guide

Exhibition setup time

November 5–10, 7:30 AM–10:00 PM

Exhibition Duration

November 11–14, 08:30–19:00 (for exhibitors)

10:00–18:00 (for visitors)

Exhibition closing time

From 18:00 on November 14 to 16:00 on November 18

Work is permitted 24 hours a day during the exhibition dismantling period, and no venue access pass is required. 。

Special Note: During the exhibition and on the final day, exhibitors are prohibited from leaving the venue ahead of schedule; any violation may affect their eligibility to apply for future participation.

How do I obtain an exhibitor badge?

Starting in August, the German trade fair organizers have been sending, via the email address Voucher@messe-duesseldorf.de, a series of emails outlining the procedure for redeeming electronic exhibitor passes for Medica 2024 and COMPAMED 2024. Upon receiving these emails, your company is required to use the 12-digit exhibitor redemption code provided in the attachment to redeem your electronic exhibitor pass online through the event’s official ticket shop. The redemption link is as follows:

MEDICA: www.medica.de/exh-codes-en

COMPAMED : www.compamed.de/exh-co of -en

The electronic exhibitor badge must be registered under your real name and cannot be altered or transferred. When redeeming and collecting your badge, please carefully complete and verify all information pertaining to the actual user. After completing the redemption process, please download an electronic copy of the badge to your mobile device or print a physical copy to carry with you.

▶ Public Transportation Advisory:

Starting in 2022, exhibitor passes will no longer entitle holders to free rides on urban public transportation. For exhibitors and visitors, they may… www.rheinbahn.com Alternatively, you can check and purchase public transport tickets at ticket machines within the city.

Exhibition Guidelines and Important Notes

Special Instructions for Booth Setup

🔹 In accordance with the latest TÜV regulations for the exhibition, sockets with two standard Chinese‑style pins are prohibited on site. Please ensure that your booth is equipped with European‑standard sockets or three‑pin sockets compliant with European safety standards.

On-site rental

🔹 If your company has any additional needs for water, electricity, gas, or furniture rental, please contact the Technical Service Department at Messe Center, or call the on-site service hotline located at the entrance of your pavilion. All on‑site add‑on services will incur a surcharge of 35%–50%.

Cargo transportation and empty container storage

🔹 If you need to arrange for the return shipment of your exhibits or require on-site storage of empty containers, please visit the Logistics Center (located behind Hall 3, next to Gate 1) for assistance.

If you wish to arrange international courier shipping yourself, please visit MBE (MAIL BOXES ETC.), the international courier service located on the north side of the first floor of the Messe Center.

Service Counter Inquiry:

Opening Hours: November 11–14, 2:00 PM–6:00 PM

Email: mbe0197@mbe.de

Phone: +49 (0)211 86320817

Exhibition Booth Removal Guidelines

🔹 All fixtures within the booth are rented items and must not be damaged under any circumstances. Any self‑provided wall graphics, such as printed banners or posters, must be affixed by the exhibitor. Please ensure that you use either hanging fabric with S‑shaped hooks or seamless cloth‑backed double‑sided tape (which must be brought by the exhibitor or purchased at the Messe Shop on site; see the attached diagram for location). Do not use ordinary clear adhesive tape or other types of tape that could stain or damage the wall panels, exhibition equipment, or the booth structure. Should adhesive marks prove impossible to remove, or should other booth furnishings or facilities be soiled or damaged, substantial compensation will be required.

🔹 No damage, soiling, or any alterations—such as drilling, nailing, screwing, using adhesives, or welding—shall be permitted to the exhibition hall’s components or technical installations. Painting, affixing paper, or applying adhesives to the walls or columns of the exhibition hall is strictly prohibited. Advertising and the distribution of printed materials are limited to the interior of each booth, except for items pre‑booked in advance with the event‑designated service provider.

Security Prevention

🔹 During both the dismantling and the exhibition period, please take care to safeguard your valuables, such as exhibits, computers, mobile phones, and gifts. Thieves often operate—either individually or in organized groups—during the setup phase and in the early, busy days of the show. Therefore, even when your booth is bustling with visitors, be vigilant about strangers, and never leave your exhibit unattended.

After the daily closing of the exhibition, please secure your valuable exhibits, product catalogs, and any loose items to prevent theft; keep valuables with you at all times. The organizers assume no responsibility for booth security; if needed, please arrange booth security services in advance.

Waste disposal

🔹 During the exhibition setup period, Please dispose of exhibit and packaging waste in the designated bins. Do not leave any items on your booth or in the aisles under any circumstances, as this may result in substantial fines.

a) Special waste

A large number of collection points for special waste have been set up at the exhibition site (please consult on-site for details), accepting dyes, batteries, latex, fats, and waste oils. Small quantities of these wastes may be deposited at these collection points at no disposal fee.

b) Recycling Material Collection Point

A paper collection point will be available on site. Waste materials must be sorted before disposal. Please place all general waste in the booth’s trash bin before leaving each day.

Intellectual property

🔹 Exhibitors are requested not to display any counterfeit or infringing exhibits at the fair; otherwise, the organizer reserves the right to require exhibitors to remove any exhibits alleged to infringe intellectual property rights. Should an exhibitor be found guilty of infringing intellectual property rights, they will be barred from participating in future Düsseldorf International Trade Fairs.

🔹 If you hold intellectual property rights, we recommend bringing the relevant documents and certificates—originals or notarized copies of patents, trademarks, registered designs, or design‑patent certificates—when you exhibit. If you have already obtained legally enforceable proof of your rights that give you an advantage over competitors, please also bring the corresponding documentation. This is the only way to ensure, swiftly and comprehensively, that your intellectual property is duly protected under the law.

🔹 If you require intellectual property legal assistance at the trade show, please contact Attorney Zhu at Schilling, Zhu & Associates LLP: +49(0) 69 976 9601 351 Meiting.Zhu@sza.de.

Music and Audiovisual Performance

🔹 All types of musical and audiovisual performances must comply with the relevant provisions of the Copyright Act and require authorization from the German Society for the Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (GEMA). Any music used at trade fairs, including background music in audio and video content, even if already licensed in other countries, must be licensed through GEMA for commercial use in Germany: www.gema.de +49 30 2124500.

GEMA will assert claims against unauthorized musical performances, with the amount of compensation being twice the fee that would have been payable under normal reporting procedures (Section 97 of the Copyright Act).

CE certification

🔹 In the European Union, manufacturers are required to affix the “CE” marking to designated special products; otherwise, such products may not be placed on the market or exhibited. The scope of CE certification covers products including machinery, interchangeable equipment, toys, personal protective equipment, and recreational craft.

In the absence of “CE” certification, please print the following text and affix it in a conspicuous location.

"This device, in the version exhibited here, does not comply with applicable legal requirements in the European Union and cannot be purchased in the European Economic Area until it complies accordingly."

Entry Requirements

Effective February 22, 2023, travelers from China, including the Macao Special Administrative Region, are no longer required to undergo pre‑entry testing or post‑arrival strain‑specific testing upon entry into Germany.

Please be advised: Under the current circumstances, the decision on whether a traveler may enter Germany—regardless of whether they hold a valid Schengen visa—is made solely by the Federal Border Police. We strongly urge you to prepare all supporting documents accurately and comprehensively; it is also recommended that you carry paper copies of your return ticket and other relevant documentation.

Travel Advisory

1. Please bring photocopies of the passport’s information page and visa page, your insurance policy, your museum admission pass, and your round-trip flight itinerary.

2. Bring an ample supply of brochures, posters, and other materials.

3. Mobile phone (with international roaming enabled), charger, power bank, and travel adapter.

4. Bring your toiletries and necessary clothing, and pack some of your regular medications—such as gastrointestinal remedies, allergy pills, fever reducers, and pain relievers—for emergencies.

5. Please do not place computers, batteries, or power banks in your checked baggage.

6. Germany is 7 hours behind China; the time in Germany is Beijing Time minus 7 hours.

7. Regarding currency, the country you are visiting is part of the Eurozone, where 1 euro is approximately equivalent to 7.73 Chinese yuan. Please avoid carrying large amounts of cash; the amount of Chinese yuan in cash should not exceed 20,000 yuan, and the equivalent in foreign currency should not exceed 4,000 euros. You can use chip-enabled credit cards such as VISA or MASTER CARD while abroad. Exhibitors may bring in goods valued at no more than €430; any amount exceeding this threshold must be declared to customs.

8. In Germany, November temperatures typically range from 2°C to 7°C, with average daytime highs around 7°C. It’s advisable to wear warm clothing such as overcoats, down jackets, coats, sweaters, wool suits, and winter outerwear. For business events or more formal meetings and receptions, be sure to bring formal attire.

9. Europe uses the same 220V, 50Hz power supply as China. Our company has carefully prepared one adapter for you.

10. When drinking soup, Germans use a spoon rather than lifting the bowl to their lips. At the table, making noise is considered impolite. Germans place great emphasis on rules and discipline, as well as cleanliness and orderliness. They are extremely punctual, and being late is seen as disrespectful. Germans regard the number “13” and “Friday” as unlucky. In public, they prefer not to be overly loud or excessively enthusiastic. As for attire, Germans tend to be conservative, avoiding clothing that is too revealing or casual.