The first day of the trade fair is organized by VDMA Sanitary Engineering and Design and focuses on essential future topics in sanitary engineering. The focus is on smart installation solutions, drinking water quality, hygiene, efficiency, and current normative requirements. The program is aimed in particular at specialist tradespeople, planners, and decision-makers in the sanitary industry.

Morning, 10.30 - 12.00

The morning will be all about innovative technologies and systems that simplify everyday installation work while also ensuring greater safety. Leading manufacturers will present practical solutions for efficient and future-proof implementation.

• Geberit will present smart trade fair innovations relating to floor-level shower solutions and show how modern systems simplify and speed up installation.
• SYR – Hans Sasserath will present SYRLock, a new tool-free connection technology that ensures fast, safe, and error-free installation.
• Hansgrohe will explain the advantages of the iBox universal 2 and show how it enables greater flexibility, planning reliability, and compliance with standards during installation.

Afternoon, 13.30 - 15.30

The afternoon will be devoted to the central topic of drinking water. In five compact 20-minute presentations, visitors will receive an up-to-date update on challenges, technical solutions, and normative developments relating to drinking water installation and hygiene.

• Grohe will open the session with an overview of future challenges facing the sanitary industry and sustainable solutions for dealing with drinking water.
• Gebr. Kemper will show why climate change is a previously underestimated risk factor for drinking water hygiene and what implications this has for planning, operation, and maintenance.
• Viega provides insights into current developments and issues in drinking water installation as well as new technical requirements.
• TECE explains how drinking water hygiene can be reliably ensured in accordance with standards using automated systems.

The second day of SHK+E ESSEN will focus on international networking and professional exchange. With the Royal Dutch Association for Refrigeration (KNVvK), the trade fair welcomes a new partner that will contribute its expertise in sustainable and economical refrigeration technology in buildings. Technical presentations, a panel discussion, and best practice examples from the Benelux countries will highlight current challenges and solutions across national borders.

During the networking lunch that follows, participants will have the opportunity to engage in personal conversations, deepen contacts, and establish new collaborations.

Programme overview

10:30 a.m. - The EU Drinking Water Directive covers hygienics… What about national additional requirements? The Dutch case explained
Speaker: Leendert van der Marel, Kiwa Nederland B.V.

11:00 a.m. - Unused Potential in Water-to-Water Heat Pumps - Practical insights into zeotropic mixtures and system optimisation
Speaker: Mr. Casper Helder, Founder and technical lead, Ciclos BV

11:30 a.m. - Thermally Activated Building Systems (TABS): Comeback or Caution? Concrete Core Activation and its current perspective
Speaker: Mr. Dr. Ir. Kees Wisse, Proven Expert, DWA

12:10 p.m. - The new EU Drinking Water Directive in practice: What it means for manufacturers, installers, and users
Speaker: Giel Tettelaar, H2O Register

12:45 p.m. - Networking and closing remarks

*Times are subject to change

This lecture program will focus on modern urban development and resource-efficient building technology. Practical concepts such as sponge city approaches, roof and facade greening, and water reuse will be presented in cooperation with figawa e.V., showing how cities can be made more sustainable and resilient.

Programme overview

2:00–2:15 p.m. – Introduction: Rethinking water, Michael Reinders, figawa e.V.

2:15–2:45 p.m. – Water-conscious urban development: Working together for liveable cities!

2:45–3:15 p.m. – Roof and façade greening as part of water-conscious urban development – synergies with the HVAC trade, Michael Reinders, figawa e.V.

3:15–3:45 p.m. – Focus on water stress: Requirements and opportunities for modern rainwater systems – Rainwater utilisation in accordance with DIN: Safe planning and operation with regard to drinking water hygiene, Manuel Cirkel, WILO SE

3:45–4:15 p.m. – Three quality-assured water cycles for long-term security of urban water supply as a contribution to the development of climate-adapted cities – aqua3 research project

4:15–4:30 p.m. – Q&A

*Subject to change

The third day of the trade fair will see the premiere of Hospitality Focus Day. Together with the Hotel Real Estate Working Group, SHK+E ESSEN is launching a new format that specifically targets hotel operators, investors, architects, and building services engineers. The program offers the latest insights into trends, technical solutions, and best practices for the hotel industry.

A compact lecture program will present current trends, industry-specific challenges, and innovative technical solutions for hotels. Experts will then discuss key industry topics in a panel discussion and provide practical insights for hotel planning and management. A curated tour of the trade fair will take participants to exhibitors and products that are particularly relevant to the hospitality sector.

The focus day will be rounded off by a networking get-together, which will provide an opportunity to deepen contacts, initiate collaborations, and forge new partnerships between industry and the hotel sector.

Programme overview

12:00 p.m. - Meeting of speakers and participants
Meeting point: GROHE exhibition stand, Hall 7, Stand 7A08/7A10

12:30 p.m. – Welcome
Location: SanitärHub, Hall 7, Stand 7B06
Mr Andreas Martin (Hotel Real Estate Working Group), Mr Torben Brinkmann (Project Manager SHK+E ESSEN), Mr Uwe Metzger (GROHE Germany)

12:35 p.m. – Keynote speech by Mr Harro Grimmer: Project Pulse: Construction costs, operating costs, sustainability – potential savings in the HLS sector of hotels and serviced apartments

1:00 p.m. – Product showcases:
1:00 p.m. – Product showcase 1: GREENJET – Water-saving nozzle with Mr Niklas Al-Deek, Greenjet
1:15 p.m. – Product showcase 2: GROHE – Heat recovery shower waste water heat exchanger with Mr Heiko Bonin, GROHE Deutschland
1:30 p.m. – Product showcase 3: CLAGE – Energy-saving use of instantaneous water heaters with Mr Jürgen Unseld, CLAGE
1:45 p.m. – Product showcase 4: TECE – The turning point in the wall – space-efficient sanitary installation walls with Mr Robert Schilling, TECE

Around 2:00 p.m. – Discussion round with all speakers
Topic: Potential savings in the sanitary sector of hotels and serviced apartments

From 2:45 p.m. – Guided tour of selected exhibitors (Viessmann Deutschland (Stand 3A11), TECE (Stand 6E16), Uponor (Stand 6G11), GROHE Deutschland (Stand 7A10), Hansgrohe Deutschland (Stand 7A06), HSK-Duschkabinenbau (Stand 7B02))
with Harro Grimmer & Andreas Martin

From 4:00 p.m. – Networking snack in the Business Club*Participation by personal invitation only.

Around 5:15 p.m. – End of the event