Logistics Real Estate Fair BUILDINX Celebrates Successful Premiere

The BUILDINX – Innovations for Logistics Properties – successfully held its premiere from November 19 to 21, 2024, at the Messe Dortmund. With a clear focus on the entire value chain of logistics and industrial real estate, the trade fair proved to be a forward-looking business platform for industry, logistics, trade, and investment. Over the three days of the fair, the event achieved broad industry resonance and great satisfaction among exhibitors and visitors.

(Dortmund) The BUILDINX 2024 offered a comprehensive portfolio ranging from leading industry giants to innovative start-ups. As a meeting point for the “who’s who” of the logistics and industrial real estate sector, the trade fair brought together the most significant exhibitors and decision-makers under one roof. The combination of Conference Area, Network Area, and Innovation Arena created an environment for professional exchange, knowledge transfer, and the development of forward-looking ideas.

Sabine Loos, CEO of the Westfalenhallen Unternehmensgruppe and fair director, draws a positive conclusion: “With BUILDINX, we have created a platform that serves as a driver for the future of logistics and industrial real estate. The successful premiere underscores the need for a holistic approach to connect all relevant stakeholders in the industry. Our goal is not just to establish a trade fair but a strategic hub for the exchange and development of technologically advanced solutions. BUILDINX is further proof of the innovative strength of Messe Dortmund, and we look forward to building on this success.”

With a clear focus on Real Estate & Financing, New Construction & Renovation, as well as Building Equipment, Technology, and Building Elements, BUILDINX set targeted priorities. Complemented by the area of Industry, Logistics & Trade, it covered the entire spectrum of the industry. Kuno Neumeier, spokesperson for the logistics real estate theme group of the Federal Association of Logistics (BVL), which is the conceptual sponsor behind the trade fair and designed the accompanying conference program, confirms: “In-depth professional discussions, varied discussion rounds, and innovative formats – the first edition of BUILDINX has been a complete success and has evolved into a genuine industry meeting with exciting new players. BUILDINX sets a clear signal for quality and substantive depth.”

Exhibitors and Trade Visitors Equally Enthusiastic

Accordingly, BUILDINX was able to impress with impressive numbers at its premiere. The overwhelming majority of trade visitors expressed high satisfaction with the fair, particularly praising the strong presence of leading market participants. About 80 percent of respondents are directly involved in their companies’ purchasing and procurement decisions, highlighting the high relevance of the fair for decision-makers within the industry. Particularly noteworthy is the willingness for a return visit: even during the fair, a large portion of participants signaled in an independent survey their intention to visit BUILDINX again in the future.

Exhibitors were impressed by the quality of the trade visitors, which included project developers, logistics service providers, representatives from trade and industry, investors, scientists, and politicians. The more than 80 exhibitors – including numerous major players from the logistics and industrial real estate world – particularly highlighted the successful networking of stakeholders along the entire value chain.

Innovative Conference Concept

Already at its premiere, BUILDINX set standards with its conference and seminar program. The BUILDINX Focus Group, under the leadership of Kuno Neumeier and the dual leadership of Dagmar Wolf and Richard Schneider, designed a high-profile accompanying program. Together with leading experts in the logistics real estate sector – including Logivest, JLL, CBRE Group, Colliers International Germany, and wdp – a program was developed that deepened the fair’s focal points. Dagmar Wolf, Head of Corporate Communications at WAGNER Group GmbH, explains: “We were able to establish a high-profile conference program with forward-looking topics and great speakers at the heart of BUILDINX, which further promotes this exchange. The exhibitors with their pioneering technologies and solutions, combined with the high quality of the visitors, provide the perfect basis for the successful further development of the fair.” Thus, it has been possible to cover a variety of topics in the congress program that align with the entire lifecycle of a logistics property. Kuno Neumeier adds: “Never before has there been a comparable fair in Germany that focuses so specifically and in detail on logistics properties. This not only addresses developers, investors, and contractors but also users and component manufacturers.”

And Richard Schneider, managing director of fabrikon, adds: “BUILDINX impresses as a highly specialized fair with a clear focus on logistics and industrial real estate. It brings together the leading minds and companies in the industry and offers a unique platform for trends, innovations, and new cooperation opportunities. Particularly impressive is the targeted integration of modern technologies and forward-looking concepts that set crucial impulses for the further development of the entire industry. The comprehensive supporting program and inspiring presentations create special added value for exhibitors and visitors. We are excited about the significant growth potential we see for the coming years and look forward to the next editions.”

Innovation Arena – Start-ups Engage in Articulate Duels

Furthermore, the Innovation Arena was also one of the highlights in the program of the 2024 fair edition. In collaboration with the Founders Fight Club, it provided start-ups with a platform to present forward-looking solutions. At the same time, the Founders Fight Night on the first evening of the fair featured thrilling pitch duels. Inspired by the format of battle rap, the young entrepreneurs competed against each other, trying to convince both the expert jury and the audience with their respective business models. At the end of an exciting event, the start-up SLAPStack emerged victorious, impressing with the development of a groundbreaking operating system for autonomous ground block storage based on driverless forklifts.

Outlook 2025 – Next BUILDINX Already in Planning

After the successful debut of BUILDINX 2024, exhibitors and visitors are looking forward to the next edition. From November 18 to 20, 2025, Dortmund will once again become the central meeting point for the logistics and industrial real estate sector, offering innovation and networking at the highest level.

Photo: © BUILDINX