Security Essen has special omens in 2012: The world's premier fair for security and fire protection technology will take place at Messe Essen for the 20th time on September 25 - 28, 2012. Around 1100 exhibitors from around 40 nations will be expected and will present innovative products and solutions on the internationally most significant platform in their sector. Thus, Security Essen will once again become the trendsetter in the growing security industry. Particularly pioneering innovations will be honoured with the Security Innovation Award.

Showcase for Innovations
Security Essen will offer the whole world of security and fire protection technology under one roof with a comprehensive overview of new security technologies and security concepts. In this respect, the trade fair will consistently place its faith in its solution-oriented profile. From mechanical security technology, fire protection and IT security via security systems for outdoor sites and video surveillance right up to solutions for reporting hold-ups, burglary and theft, trade visitors will be able to obtain extensive information.
Not only the wide range on offer but also the large number of innovations make Security Essen an absolute must for the security sector. A lot of exhibitors develop their innovations in a targeted way for the world's premier fair in order to introduce them to the trade public for the first time there. Within the framework of the opening ceremony in the evening before the fair, the "Security Innovation Award" will be presented to the most innovative companies in various categories. The new Research Area will concentrate on future subjects in the sector: In Hall 8, research-oriented companies and institutes will present themselves on a cooperative booth for the first time.

Special Show for Security Service Providers
The security service providers will extend their presence at Security Essen 2012. Under the auspices of Bundesverband der Sicherheitswirtschaft (BDSW - "Federal Association of the Security Industry") and Bundesvereinigung Deutscher Geld- und Wertdienste (BDGW - "Federal Association of German Money and Valuables Services"), a communication platform will once again be created for this section. "Protection, Security, Service" will be the central idea according to which exhibitors in Hall 4 will present their ranges of available services. The premiere in 2010 aroused great interest not only amongst the companies presenting themselves but also amongst the trade visitors.

Valuable Knowledge: Expert Forums
Three forums will offer the trade visitors the possibility of obtaining information about topical subjects in the sector. In Hall 6 (the Security Forum), there will be lectures ranging from security management to video surveillance. IT security will also play a great role here. Experts will indicate solution paths to the interested trade visitors in a generally comprehensible and practice-oriented form. The forum in Hall 8 will concentrate on subjects from research and development. Public security will be the focus of attention during the forum about the official figures in Hall 9.

Security Innovation Award:
Innovations have a tradition at Security Essen: Nine out of ten companies will take advantage of the trade fair in order to introduce a product innovation. Messe Essen uses the Security Innovation Award to honour particularly pioneering products and concepts for which the deliberations focus on the human being. The prize in gold, silver and bronze will be conferred in the three categories: Technology & Products, Services and Fire Protection; a special prize will be handed over in addition. The mark of distinction is meeting with an outstanding response in the sector: 84 companies have put themselves forward as candidates for the renowned award this year. Around half of the applications to be candidates originate from international exhibitors.
The winners will be announced and honoured within the framework of the festive opening ceremony of Security Essen at Messe Essen on September 24. The expected guests of honour at this gala will include Antonio Tajani (Vice-President of the European Commission), Philipp Rösler (Federal Minister of Economic Affairs) and Hans-Peter Friedrich (Federal Minister of the Interior and patron of Security Essen 2012).

Fire Prevention - An Important Subject at Security Essen
The number of fire and smoke fatalities in Germany is on the decline. An overview of the Federal Statistical Office for 2010 indicates 373 fire victims. 150 died from burns, 213 from toxic smoke gases, 10 for other reasons. Some years ago, the number of victims was generally still around the 500 mark. By contrast, the material damage caused by fires and smoke is increasing. According to an evaluation by the General Insurance Association (GDV) for 2010, the average damage caused by fires in residential buildings is now EUR 4,366 (2008: EUR 3,750) per insurance claim. The damage covered by industrial fire insurance has risen again. GDV expects an increase in the damage sum by 7.5%. What s expensive is, above all, the damage caused by the 150 to 200 major fires every year (> EUR 500,000), on average between four and five million euros.
A study by GDV in 2008 showed that in more than 90% of the major fires in industry there was no automatic fire extinguishing system installed and therefore extinguishing only started on arrival of the fire brigade. It is obvious that many companies accept the risk of damage although there have long since been efficient security solutions for many fields of application and both the technology and the market are continuously developing further in constructional and technological fire prevention, fire alarm technology as well as extinguishing concepts.
This will be reflected again at Security Essen 2012. Some 140 exhibitors out of the total number of 1,100 - and therefore 30% more than at the last Security Essen 2010 - will be presenting the performance and efficiency of modern fire prevention solutions. The entire range of fire prevention, early fire detection and fire-fighting will be presented in the fire prevention halls (halls 1 and 9). Together with the exhibitors, Messe Essen has agreed on a special „Fire Prevention Day" on September 27th. Many companies as well as the Essen Fire Service will be demonstrating their solutions in realistic demonstrations on that day.