OTWorld 2024: Mission Possible Launches Tomorrow in Leipzig
Climate change, crises and wars continue to challenge us as a society. However, they also act as a catalyst for innovation in sectors such as prosthetics and orthotics, orthopaedic footwear technology, and rehabilitation technology. More than 570 exhibitors from 42 countries and over 300 speakers from some 30 countries are travelling to OTWorld 2024 to present the future of orthopaedic treatment and care. From Tuesday through Friday, 14 to 17 May 2024, the global orthopaedic treatment and care industry is getting together for its international trade show and world congress. Their shared mission: To make the impossible possible in daily life, sport and at work.
All the professions working at the interface between humans and technology will be gathering at OTWorld in Leipzig. Visitors are expected from more than 80 countries from Argentina and Norway to Vietnam. Prominent users of medical aids have also announced their attendance. These include astronaut John McFall, sports presenter Heinrich Popow, para-athletes Markus Rehm and Abel Aber from partner country France as well as sports personalities such as handball player Dominik Klein and ice hockey defender Arne Uplegger. Influencers Jana Crämer and Caroline Sprott are also attending. They all represent millions of people who rely on skilled orthopaedic treatment and care.
"We will be welcoming more than 570 exhibitors to OTWorld. More than half of them come from abroad. This makes OTWorld more international than ever before. The whole world is coming to visit!", says Martin Buhl-Wagner, Managing Director of Leipziger Messe. "This fantastic response clearly shows the tremendous significance of OTWorld and the global relevance of orthopaedic treatment and care."
"Covering everything from care provision in war zones and crisis regions to the first ankle-foot orthotic made from algae-based fibres, the orthopaedic treatment and care sector is highly innovative in craftsmanship, industrial production and research", explains Alf Reuter, President of the German Association of Orthopaedic Technology (BIV-OT), conceptual partner of OTWorld. "Every individual reliant on medical aids needs a personalised treatment plan to manage their medical condition, minimise complaints or compensate for mobility impairments." At OTWorld, numerous examples of excellent treatment and care are showcased, ranging from the first astronaut with a leg prosthesis to a father of three children who wears a prosthesis, as well as top athletes with all kinds of medical conditions who rely on the respective orthotic or prosthetic aids. "To ensure medical aids are well fitted, an interdisciplinary team of medics, orthopaedic footwear technicians and physiotherapists is required. Here in Leipzig, they will all be working together to improve orthopaedic treatment and care across the world in times of war, crisis and climate change when the sector needs to be fully functional."
Under the motto "Mission Possible", OTWorld 2024 will be opened on 14 May at 4:45 pm in Hall 3, Room 1 CCO by its hosts Martin Buhl-Wagner, Managing Director of Leipziger Messe and Alf Reuter, President of the German Association of Orthopaedic Technology (BIV-OT). At the opening ceremony, visitors will be taken on a journey into the future of orthopaedic treatment and care by John McFall, an astronaut at the European Space Agency (ESA), Emmanuel Cohet, Envoy of the French Embassy in Germany, David Constantine, President of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics, Ingo Pfefferkorn (Dipl-Ing FH), Chairman of the 2024 Programme and Workshop Committee and Thomas Wirth (Prof Dr med), Chairman of the 2024 Programme and Workshop Committee.
Leading World Trade Show Provides a Platform for Groundbreaking Treatment Strategies
Every two years, OTWorld brings together a Who's Who of prosthetics and orthotics and provides a platform for industry and trade innovations. In the three exhibition halls, products and services from all the leading national and international companies are on show. The spectrum ranges from high-tech prosthetics and orthotics, insoles and 3D printing to lymphatic care and caters for everyone from athletes and para-athletes to children, disabled war veterans and other affected patients. Special emphasis is placed on the digitalisation of the prosthetics and orthotics industry. The use of 3D printing to produce customised orthoses, prostheses and insoles is growing in relevance. For this reason, OTWorld is dedicating a separate exhibition area to this production technology. The most significant innovations are on display at the OTWorld.3D special exhibition in Hall 1. Here, visitors can find out about the full range of possible applications in prosthetics and orthotics.
At the other special shows dedicated to orthopaedic treatment and care in crisis regions and neurological diseases, as well as in the exhibition area for companies working in orthopaedic footwear technology, guests can gain insights into professional orthopaedic treatment and care and explore a wide range of innovative new products and services.
World Congress Promotes Professional Exchange
Alongside the German Association of Orthopaedic Technology (BIV-OT), more than 30 professional societies have helped to design the comprehensive congress programme. The result is impressive. Over 300 speakers from more than 30 countries will be holding some 360 talks at the world congress. All the major topics in orthopaedic treatment and care will be covered, from prosthetics and orthotics to sports orthopaedics and lymphology. The congress programme at OTWorld 2024 offers further education opportunities for all professional groups involved in treatment and care, from doctors, prosthetists and orthotists to staff working in healthcare supply retail. At the daily keynote addresses, renowned experts will shed light on innovative topics such as green carbon and AI assistive robotics. The programme also contains daily workshops covering subject matter that is highly relevant in everyday professional practice.
The full congress programme is available online on the OTWorld website.
Tickets for the Leading World Trade Show and Congress
Tickets for OTWorld 2024 can be purchased in the online shop. The online ticket gives visitors quick and easy access to the international trade show and world congress.
OTWorld 2024 Press Tour
During the press tour on 14 May from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, participants are given a unique opportunity to speak directly to experts and talk to users of medical aids about their quality and enjoyment of life after an amputation, a stroke or a lymphoedema diagnosis. The tour starts at the first information point of the tour in the BIV Café on stand D10/E11 (German Association of Orthopaedic Technology).
Information for Editorial Offices
Media representatives can register online in advance to gain accreditation for OTWorld 2024.
About OTWorld
OTWorld is the largest leading international industry platform for all manufacturers, distributors and service providers in the field of modern orthopaedic treatment and care. The OTWorld International Trade Show and World Congress offers a unique range of products and services for prosthetists, orthotists, orthopaedic footwear professionals, rehabilitation technicians as well as therapists, doctors, engineers and employees of medical retail and health insurance companies. The German Association of Orthopaedic Technology (BIV-OT) is OTWorld's conceptual partner. The holder of the OTWorld brand and organiser of the Congress is Confairmed GmbH. Leipziger Messe GmbH is responsible for the industry trade show. The next OTWorld will take place from 14 to 17 May 2024 in Leipzig.
More information: www.ot-world.com/en/