MUNICH, Germany—Organizers are preparing for the 10th anniversary of Opti, the international trade fair for optical design, to be held here Saturday, Jan. 28 through Monday, Jan. 30, 2017.

When it first started, in January 2008, GHM organized 357 exhibitors presenting their products in three halls of 30,000 sq. meters at the Fairground Messe München. Since then, the trade show has been continuously expanding, and now covers more than 40,000 sq. meters in four exhibit halls. Last year, 570 exhibitors took part and a similar number is anticipated for the 2017 edition, organizers said.

“Ninety percent of the hall space is already booked half a year in advance," according to Dieter Dohr, CEO of GHM Gesellschaft für Handwerksmessen mbH.

In 2017 opticians will have 28 hours, one hour more than at the previous events, to discover new products services. The main theme for Opti 2017 is “Optic 4.0 – Digital Solutions.” It is designed to be a common thread through all of the four halls and is organized into the four fields in which digitalization plays a role for an optician today and in the future: digital information and communication, digital production and automatization, digital process management, digital services.

Exhibitors with respective digital measuring and manufacturing technologies for lenses, contact lenses and frames are specifically labelled in the catalogue and the Opti show app in order to make it easier for the visitors to find them. Special IT systems, manufacturers of 3D printers or smart glasses will complete the product range. Organizers will also offer guided Optic 4.0 tours for those who want to get a quick overview. Students from universities and professional colleges give daily tours in German and English. The topic is also going to be examined from all angles during presentations and panel discussions at the Opti forum.

The Opti forum in 2017 will also serve as the stage for frame design. During daily design talks icons of glasses design will meet newcomers. In the !HOT area in Hall C1 classics will celebrate their comeback in the “Vintage Passion” area.

Organizers report that by 2019, two new halls will be built on the Fairground Messe München right next to the four already existing Opti halls C1 to C4. This brings new opportunities for further developing Opti together with the visitors and exhibitors.

“The construction of two new halls provides Opti 2019 with a unique opportunity. The new space will take Opti a huge step forward,” said Dohr. “By using the know-how about the industry through our upcoming ‘Seed Session,’ we want to be sure that Opti will bear the progressive signature of its exhibitors and visitors.”

The first Seed Session will take place in Munich this fall. The committee is made up of directors and marketing managers of national and international Opti exhibitors as well as of opticians from Germany and abroad.