search
cart
facebook instagram twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
    • FEATURED PRODUCTS
  • CONTRACTORS
    • BATH & KITCHEN PRO
    • BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
    • HIGH EFFICIENCY HOMES
    • TECHNOLOGY
    • WATER TREATMENT
    • PMC COLUMNS
      • Dave Yates: Contractor’s Corner
      • John Siegenthaler: Hydronics Workshop
      • Kenny Chapman: The Blue Collar Coach
      • Matt Michel: Service Plumbing Pros
      • Scott Secor: Heating Perceptions
  • ENGINEERS
    • CONTINUING EDUCATION
    • DECARBONIZATION | ELECTRIFICATION
    • FIRE PROTECTION
    • GEOTHERMAL | SOLAR THERMAL
    • PIPING | PLUMBING | PVF
    • PME COLUMNS
      • Christoph Lohr: Strategic Plumbing Insights
      • David Dexter: Plumbing Talking Points
      • James Dipping: Engineer Viewpoints
      • John Seigenthaler: Renewable Heating Design
      • Lowell Manalo: Plumbing Essentials
      • Misty Guard: Guard on Compliance
  • RADIANT & HYDRONICS
    • RADIANT COMFORT REPORT
    • THE GLITCH & THE FIX
  • INSIGHTS
    • CODES
    • GREEN PLUMBING & MECHANICAL
    • PROJECT PROFILES
    • COLUMNS
      • Codes Corner
      • Natalie Forster: Editorial Opinion
      • Guest Editorial
    • SPONSOR INSIGHTS
  • MEDIA
    • EBOOKS
    • PODCASTS
    • VIDEOS
    • WEBINARS
  • RESOURCES
    • INDUSTRY CALENDAR
    • DIRECTORIES
    • PM BOOKSTORE
    • CE CENTER
    • MARKET RESEARCH
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EMAGAZINE
    • EMAGAZINE
    • ARCHIVE ISSUES
    • CONTACT
    • ADVERTISE
    • PME EMAGAZINE ARCHIVES
  • SIGN UP!
Plumbing NewsGreen Plumbing and MechanicalPlumbing & Mechanical Contractor

ISH Frankfurt takes on industry issues

In 2015, those lines started to blur with greater emphasis on water-efficient plumbing products and better-looking heating appliances.

By Bob Miodonski
ISH 1

ISH attendees pack the exhibition hall that displays energy-efficient heating equipment. Photo credit: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH/Jens Liebchen

ISH 2

Viessmann displays hybrid heating equipment that uses oil or gas plus a renewable energy source.  Photo credit: Bob Miodonski/Plumbing & Mechanical

ISH 3

Hansgrohe reserved a section of its exhibition space at the ISH trade show for members of its Technical Service Center to explain to tradespeople how its products function.  Photo credit: Bob Miodonski/Plumbing & Mechanical

ISH 1
ISH 2
ISH 3
June 22, 2015

Many of the plumbing and heating products on display at the ISH trade show March 10-14 in Frankfurt, Germany, will never make it to the U.S. market. Their technologies, however, address major industry issues on both sides of the Atlantic: energy efficiency, water quality and water consumption.

Produced every two years, ISH Frankfurt traditionally has featured stylish European design in its plumbing exhibition halls and ever-increasing energy efficiency in its heating equipment halls. In 2015, those lines started to blur with greater emphasis on water-efficient plumbing products and better-looking heating appliances.

“Sanitary equipment always was design-oriented and heating was all about efficiency. Now it’s a combination,” says Wolfgang Marzin, president and CEO of Messe Frankfurt GmbH, the company that produces ISH. “The heating equipment always used to be in the basement or behind the wall. Now you can put your heating equipment next to your TV.”

Nearly 200,000 attendees viewed the products of almost 2,500 manufacturers with booths at ISH. The estimated 198,000 visitors and 2,465 exhibitors both represent record highs for the show.

ISH continues to be an international affair with 61% of exhibitors and 37% of visitors coming from countries outside Germany. Nations with the largest contingents are Italy, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and China, with significant growth in the number of U.S., British and Irish visitors.

“The German market alone would not be sufficient to host a show of this kind,” Marzin says. “From the beginning, all the leading shows in Germany needed to think internationally.

“ISH combines the big issues of the world. Energy efficiency, water quality and water consumption are among the big topics in the world today.”

 

Energy efficiency

Heating equipment that utilizes renewable energy sources such as solar power and wood pellets has been displayed at ISH since at least the mid-1990s. That’s still the case in 2015, with products that shift the fuel source away from fossil fuels and, in Europe, from nuclear power.

Some manufacturers exhibited systems that use traditional fuel sources more efficiently. Aquatherm, for example, showed its black pipe system for radiant heating and cooling ceilings and walls, as well as floors. Bosch displayed advanced condensing — and good-looking — wall-hung boilers under a number of its brands such as Bosch, Buderus and Junkers. In its booth, Viessmann combined the best of both worlds with hybrid systems that use oil or gas plus a renewable energy source.

During a press conference March 12, company owner Dr. Martin Viessmannsaid the success of the renewable energy era rests on the shoulders of heating industry professionals. The heating market accounts for 40% of energy consumption, making it the largest primary energy consumer.

“The sustainable energy era can only succeed if energy efficiency is significantly increased,” he says. “We need to increase energy efficiency and the heating industry is the key to doing this. Many obsolete heating systems need additional subsidies for modernization of heating systems that are reliable.”

The heating industry can offer solutions to the volatility that comes from generating electricity through renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, he adds. This can be accomplished by developing storage for excess energy. He labels two ways to do this as “power to gas” and “power to heat.”

The first concept involves power from renewable energy being converted into hydrogen using electrolysis. Adding carbon dioxide to it results in synthetic methane, which then can be stored, transported via a nationwide gas network and used as energy.

Putting its money where its mouth is, Viessmann last year installed the world’s first industrial-scale power-to-gas facility at its headquarters in Allendorf, Germany.

The power-to-heat concept involves decentralized, short-term energy storage in buildings with heat pumps, which can be turned on when power is less expensive and energy demand is lower. The power can be transformed into heat very efficiently, stored in a buffer cylinder and later used to heat the building.

“New concepts in self-generating power and its utilization, as well as decentralized energy storage, provide an enormously promising opportunity to ensure the sustainable energy era’s success,” Viessmann says.

 

Water quality, consumption

Much as is the case with energy efficiency breakthroughs from heating equipment manufacturers, German regulations are driving innovations on water quality through strict standards on drinking water. Among manufacturers exhibiting drinking water-hygiene systems at ISH were German companies Kemper and Viega.

“Drinking out of the tap in Germany is quite common because the water quality is very high,” says Stefan Schulte, a Viega product manager. “Impeccable drinking water is a requirement to our health.”

In the U.S. market, the focus on healthy drinking water includes minimizing the risk of Legionella bacteria and other waterborne diseases, says Derek Bower, P.E., Viega’s U.S. director of product management for metals. Systems developed for the U.S. market need to address issues such as stagnation of water in plumbing pipe and water temperature.

Viega plans to adapt its water quality technology to the U.S. market as it continues to educate the U.S. plumbing industry on water quality issues, Marketing Manager Tim Allbrittensays. The company has scheduled a water quality workshop July 21 in Chicago.

Along with displaying contemporary designs, plumbing manufacturers from Europe, North America and Asia displayed products that offer sustainable sanitation and water management solutions. Plumbing brands known to U.S. visitors include Kohler Co., Vitra, Dornbracht, Duravit, Franke, Grohe, Hansgrohe, Ideal Standard, KWC, Villeroy & Boch and TOTO.

Falcon Waterfree Technologies displayed its water-saving hybrid urinal configured for both the U.S. and European markets. The European version features a mechanical valve while the U.S. product is equipped with a velocity cartridge.

Grohe and Hansgrohe designated areas at ISH for plumber training. The Grohe Professional mobile education center, which is housed in a two-level semitrailer truck, was parked outside an exhibit hall. The first level features product displays, and upstairs is a classroom. Hansgrohe reserved a section of its exhibition space for members of its Technical Service Center to explain to tradespeople how its products function.

The next ISH Frankfurt will take place March 14-18, 2017.

“We can have a trade show with such a big investment only every other year. It would just be too big to do every year,” Marzin says. “Also, the innovation cycle in sanitary, heating and HVAC is more of a two-year cycle. Since companies look forward to launching their products at the world’s leading show, which is ISH, it just has to be every other year.” 

KEYWORDS: contractor training energy efficiency green heating green plumbing renewable energy systems

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Miodonski

Bob Miodonski is the former Group Publisher of BNP Media’s Plumbing Group, which consists of industry-leading print and digital magazines, websites and e-newsletters. Titles include: Supply HouseTimes, Plumbing & Mechanical, PM Engineer and Reeves Journal magazines; Bath & Kitchen Pro e-News; PVF e-News; Radiant &Hydronics e-news; and www.RadiantAndHydronics.com.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Worker using the Milwaukee Tool SWITCH PACK drain cleaner

    Pipeline profits: Drain cleaning, pipe inspection create opportunities

    Drain cleaning and inspection services offer lucrative...
    Green Plumbing and Mechanical
    By: Nicole Krawcke
  • Uponor employee, Arturo Moreno

    The reinvestment in American manufacturing and training

    Plumbing & Mechanical Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke and...
    Plumbing News
    By: Nicole Krawcke and Natalie Forster
  • March 2024 Women in Plumbing hero image of woman engineer overlayed by circle of hexagon shapes with numbers from 1 to 10

    Celebrating 10 Influential Women in the Plumbing Industry

    Celebrating Women's History Month and Women in...
    Plumbing News
    By: Nicole Krawcke
Manage My Account
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • eMagazine
  • Manage My Preferences

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Plumbing & Mechanical audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Plumbing & Mechanical or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • J.J. Keller CMV vehicles on road
    Sponsored byJ. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.

    The dash cam game-changer for small business safety

Popular Stories

Heat pump of air-water technology for the home.

Rethinking Heat Transfer: Why 'Natural' Isn't Always Ideal for Air-to-Water Systems

Bath & Kitchen Pro 2025 Cover 900x550 hero image

eBook | Fifth annual Bath & Kitchen Pro

Solar rooftop on apartment condo building in Nashville, Tennessee. Production of clean ecological electrical energy. Renewable electricity with zero emission.

The Age of Deregulation? Proposed Changes to Federal Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation Standards

2025 Bath & Kitchen Pro eBook

Events

November 13, 2024

Future Proofing MEP: Navigating the 2026 High Efficiency Water Heating Standards

Join our deep dive into DOE’s new standards so you can future-proof your MEP practice.

EARN: 0.1 ASPE CEU; 1 AIA LU/HSW; 0.1 IACET CEU*; 1 PDH

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Will business be up or down in 2025?

Do you anticipate business in 2025 to be up or down in comparison to 2024?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

The Water Came To A Stop

The Water Came To A Stop

See More Products

Download the FREE Water Conservation, Quality & Safety eBook: Plumbing Trends Increasing Safe Water Availability

Related Articles

  • PM-Road-Miodonski-Feature.jpg

    On The Road: ISH Frankfurt 2013 - Part 3

    See More
  • PM-Road-Miodonski-Feature.jpg

    On The Road: ISH Frankfurt 2013 - Part 2

    See More
  • PM-Road-Miodonski-Feature.jpg

    ISH Frankfurt 2013

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • what hydronics taught holohan.jpg

    What Hydronics Taught Holohan: A Memoir of Life in the Heating Industry

  • The ACCA Job Safety (1).jpg

    The ACCA On-The-Job Safety Handbook (Pack of 5)

  • M:\General Shared\__AEC Store Katie Z\AEC Store\Images\Plumbing\new sites\valve-handbook.gif

    Valve Handbook

See More Products
×

Keep your content unclogged with our newsletters!

Stay in the know on the latest plumbing & piping industry trends.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
    • Supply House Times
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing