Frankfurt am Main: A cooperation agreement has been signed by Dr.  Michael Peters, Member of the Board of Management of Messe Frankfurt, and Stuart Henry, Chairman of the World Plumbing Councils (WPC), during this year's Light+Building. The agreement makes Messe Frankfurt the exclusive industrial partner of the World Plumbing Councils, the federation of international sanitation, heating and air-conditioning organisations. In the future, the two partners will exchange experience and expertise and provide mutual support for their public-relations activities. Moreover, the WPC has agreed to hold its meetings and conferences at the same time as an ISH trade fair.

Dr. Michael Peters: "We hold the ISH, the world's leading trade fair for the sector, here in Frankfurt every two years. And, with ISH China, ISH North America and ISH Kitchen+ Bathroom GULF, we offer three additional platforms in important economic regions. With the World Plumbing Council, we have gained an important strategic partner, which will support us with our international visitor advertising for all ISH fairs."

Stuart Henry, Chairman of the World Plumbing Council, adds: “Many countries of the world do not have the high standards of installation quality, which are an everyday aspect of life in Europe. Our aim is to promote the international exchange of knowledge to achieve safe and reliable supplies of heat, water and air throughout the world. For us, the ISH fairs represent an ideal platform for our work."

Michael von Bock und Polach, General Manager of the German Sanitation, Heating and Air Conditioning Association (Zentralverband Sanitär, Heizung, Klima - ZVSHK), is ex-Vice Chairman of the Council. As its trade-show advisor, he welcomes the cooperation agree­ment as being future-oriented: "By concluding this agreement, Messe Frankfurt has positioned itself as the partner of trade associations in the field of building and energy technology on all five continents and, at the same time, secured its position as the leading organiser of events for the worldwide sanitation, heating and air-conditioning sector. I firmly believe that the working relationship with the World Plumbing Council and its member associations will have a positive impact on the concepts and fringe events of the ISH fairs held around the world."

Every two years, around 2,300 exhibitors and 180,000 visitors attend the ISH in Frankfurt (15 – 19 March 2005). ISH Kitchen+ Bathroom Gulf (16 – 19 May 2004) is expected to attract in the region of 110 ex­hibitors and 3,500 visitors. ISH China (14 – 17 September 2004) will pull in approximately 220 exhibitors and more than 13,000 visitors while ISH North America (14 – 16 October 2004) attracts some 530 exhibitors and 12,000 visitors.

For further information about ISH 2005, please contact:

Messe Frankfurt GmbH
ISH Press Team
Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1
D-60327 Frankfurt am Main

Phone: +49 69 7575 6477
Fax:     +49 69 7575 6758

E-mail: iris.jeglitza-moshage@messefrankfurt.com
web:    www.ish.messefrankfurt.com

For further information about World Plumbing Council, please contact:

World Plumbing Council
Mr. Andy Watts, MBE Secretary
c/o The Institute of Plumbing (IOP)
64 Station Lane
Hornchurch, Essex
RM 12 6NB
United Kingdom

Phone: +44 1708 472791
Fax:     +44 1708 448987

E-Mail: andyw@plumbers.org.uk
web:     www.worldplumbing.org