Tasmanian Tiger is excited to exhibit at the IWA OutdoorClassics trade fair in Nuremberg/ Germany once again!

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To allow all participants to plan with certainty, NürnbergMesse has taken the decision to cancel the IWA OutdoorClassics 2021 well ahead of time. Rising infection rates, various quarantine rules and travel restrictions are simply making it impossible for exhibitors and visitors to make any firm plans. The next IWA OutdoorClassics will take place in Nuremberg from 3–6 March 2022.

“Over recent weeks we have received a lot of support and understanding from within the sector. The discussions we have had with our exhibitors have clearly shown that the IWA continues to be an essential part of the B2B community,” says Petra Wolf, from the NürnbergMesse Management Board. “Despite the challenging situation, more than 1,000 exhibitors had registered for the trade fair. It is therefore with even greater regret that we must now postpone this event till 2022. This commitment by exhibitors and their willingness to participate in the fair reinforce our conviction that the IWA still plays a significant role,” Wolf continues.

“Road to IWA 2022” in the pipeline

The IWA team is currently working on an interim programme. The kick-off event for the series of online and physical events and formats called “Road to IWA 2022” will take place on 12 March 2021, the first day of the planned IWA 2021. The selected date corresponds to the IWA Friday. “We want to offer the sector the opportunity to stay in contact during these turbulent times. We are therefore working hard to develop concepts to allow us to bridge the gap until the next face-to-face gathering. We will miss the direct contact, that much is certain. It is therefore even more important to stick together as a sector and support one another,” explains Rebecca Schönfelder, Exhibition Director IWA OutdoorClassics.

Institutional sponsors support decision

Klaus Gotzen, managing director of the JSM (German Firearms and Ammunition Manufacturers Association), says: “It is certainly true that the IWA is one of the most important occasions and industry gatherings in the year. But all of us need to prioritise our health. We very much regret the cancellation of the IWA because meeting our partners and members in person is so important to us. Nevertheless, we completely understand the decision by NürnbergMesse and are looking forward to the event in 2022.” The manufacturers’ association is one of the institutional sponsors of the IWA OutdoorClassics and currently serves 42 companies.

Ingo Meinhard, managing director of the VDB (Association of German Gunsmiths and Gun Traders), has a similar perspective: “As a leading trade fair, the IWA is a source of information for an entire sector, presenting trends and innovations to an appreciative audience. It’s where our members not only gain inspiration but also meet like-minded professionals. The cancellation of the event affects the entire industry, and we hope that this unusual situation will normalise soon.” The professional association, which is also a sponsor of the event, represents the interests of around 1,400 members.

Dates for IWA OutdoorClassics 2022 now finalised

The IWA OutdoorClassics 2022 will take place in Nuremberg from 3–6 March. However, the usual schedule has been brought forward by one day so that it will now run from Thursday to Sunday.

Following this year’s cancellation due to the coronavirus pandemic, the consumer event will take now place under the new name “HUBANA 2021 – Jagderlebnistage Schloss Lembeck” from 25 to 27 July 2021 at Lembeck Castle in North-Rhine Westphalia. The event will be organised by the IWA OutdoorClassics team to the customary high standard of quality and will allow visitors to test and buy a wide range of products in a unique open-air setting. The event is supported by hunting associations KJS Hubertus Recklinghausen e. V. and Hegering Herrlichkeit Lembeck und Dorsten e. V.

The “HUBANA – Jagderlebnistage Schloss Lembeck” will take place in in North-Rhine Westphalia in the summer of 2021 and is aimed at consumers. With its regional European atmosphere and open-air product tests, the event will offer a special experience. It has been initiated by the IWA OutdoorClassics as a response to the increasing importance of the consumer in the hunting sector and will bring together traditions and customs with trends and innovation. It will also be the launchpad for a series of events, with partner events set to follow within Germany and in other European countries.

Local hunters endorse the event

Petra Bauernfeind-Beckmann, President of KJS Hubertus Recklinghausen e. V. and Chair of the Hunting Customs Preservation Committee, welcomes the event: “As a regional hunting community we support events that help nurture and protect our customs and traditions, so we are pleased to give our backing to ‘HUBANA – Jagderlebnistage Schloss Lembeck’.” The 2,000- member association has nine hunting groups, making it one of the largest members of the North-Rhine Westphalian Hunting Federation.

Hermann Wolff, President of the hunting association Herrlichkeit Lembeck und Dorsten e. V., is also aware of the resulting opportunities to enhance the reputation of hunting: “An event of this kind helps us with our PR activities as it allows us to inform and educate visitors and help create a lasting positive image of the hunting community among the general population. Because hunting continues to be an important factor in species and nature conservation.”

Experience hunting with all your senses

The baroque-style castle is surrounded by medieval-looking moats and is a unique event location. The 300-year-old castle is in the border region to France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The expansive grounds mean that there is plenty of room for visitors to move around comfortably. In addition, a nearby shooting range will allow numerous tests to be carried out under realistic conditions. As well as hunting sights and accessories, holders of the German ‘grüne/gelbe Waffenbesitzkarte’ (hunters/sport shooters permit) can test out rifles and ammunition at the HUBANA. Manufacturers and dealers of off-road vehicles suitable for hunting will also be on site to present their products. The prestigious location and an exciting supporting programme add to the calibre of the event. “We are bringing the innovations in the sector to the place where they belong: to the great outdoors among like-minded people,” says Rebecca Schönfelder, Exhibition Director IWA OutdoorClassics and HUBANA. “If a product passes their personal test, visitors can pay for it and take it with them or place an order,” Schönfelder continues.