SELECT makes enlightening trip to Germany with industry colleagues

Our Technical experts joined a delegation from the Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA) at this year’s Light + Building expo in Germany. Here, new Director of Technical Services Robert McGoogan shares his diary to reveal what they packed into their three-day adventure

SELECT's Technical trio with their colleagues from the EDA and wider industry

DAY 1: A RELAXING START TO OUR FRANKFURT JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY

SELECT was delighted to be asked to join the EDA at Light + Building 2026 in Messe Frankfurt, one of the world’s largest trade fair and conference venues.

The event features exhibitors from all aspects of the electrotechnical industry, from switchgear and luminaires to the tools that contractors use every day, so it was an excellent opportunity to get a snapshot of the current state of the industry.

Joining me on the trip was outgoing Director of Technical Services Bob Cairney and Technical Services Manager Bruce Findlay, whom I duly met at Edinburgh Airport on Sunday 8 March.

The departure lounges were full of thousands of disappointed French fans heading home after their Six Nations defeat to Scotland the previous day so after helping them drown their sorrows with a couple of light

refreshments, we set off for our busy adventure.

After a short flight to Frankfurt, we collected our luggage and headed for our nearby hotel in true Scottish fashion – i.e. Google Maps – only for our “five-minute walk” to turn into a 30-minute expedition. So much for technology!

The first item on the itinerary – organised with military precision by EDA CEO Margaret Fitzsimons and her team – was to meet the rest of the delegation. Made up of employers and employees from large and independent wholesalers, we enjoyed a relaxing evening together at a local restaurant, ready to begin our adventures in earnest the next morning.

Bruce, left, and Bob inspect the technology at Messe Frankfurt

DAY 2: A FASCINATING INSIGHT INTO THE FUTURE

After the most important meal of the day, our 50-strong party left the hotel at 8.15am sharp for the half-hour bus ride to the Messe Frankfurt. On arrival, the sheer magnitude of the venue was overwhelming, with around a dozen giant conference halls full of exhibitors.

The delegation was divided into two groups so exhibitors wouldn’t be swamped by our party and we duly set off with our EDA guides to sample our first taste of the expo.

On this first day we met manufacturers who most Members will be familiar with, including Legrand, Prysmian,

EATON and WAGO.

The latter had a small domestic-style premises set up to show off pre-fabricated wiring systems in installations, which was quite interesting – although not exactly new to British electrical eyes!

Also of interest were the EATON products, particularly the Type AC RCDs they had on display, which were a surprise as this type of RCD hasn’t been manufactured or used on the Continent for 20-plus years.

We also noticed that Italian switchgear manufacturers SCAME also had Type AC RCDs incorporated into their sleek and stylish connection units, which are normally seen in caravan parks and marinas. Let’s hope this was only for demonstration purposes!

Panic suddenly struck as I lost sight of Bob, only to find him nearby, engrossed with the exhibitors from Gewiss – generally a manufacturer of BS EN 60309 socket-outlets – whose self-testing and resetting RCDs had caught his attention.

After a short lunch, we had another interesting visit to Trench, who provided an excellent presentation on their containment systems. Their products might be particularly useful to the Members who ask us about the construction of metallic containment systems and the level of protection they provide against the ingress of solid objects.

Next up was a tour of the large exhibit from switchgear manufacturer and former SELECT Associate Member Hager, who showcased the electric vehicle charging equipment and electrical energy storage systems that will soon be released to the market.

After a great first day of presentations and networking, the EDA had arranged a get-together with gland and enclosure manufacturer WISKA, who provided both drinks and a great atmosphere as a live saxophonist serenaded us into the evening.

It was then time to board the bus and head into Frankfurt Old Town for our evening meal at a traditional 250-year-old German pub. On the menu was a local delicacy of pork knuckle that was sampled by most… except Bob and me.

A 3D printed Formula One car was among the many exhibits that caught the eye

DAY 3: THE POTENTIAL POWER OF NEW TECHNOLOGY

Our final day in Frankfurt involved meeting a range of lighting manufacturers, including SELECT Associate Member Thorn along with Ledvance, Megaman and Kosnic Lighting.

Among the well-presented exhibits, we saw how Ledvance is now promoting how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in its products, including hand signals that control a room’s lighting and its famous AI controlled dancing table lamp!

By contrast, Megaman focused on the retrofit aspect of modifying older fluorescent luminaires with innovative

and often simple retrofit solutions. This caught my attention as I was undertaking this type of work as a practising electrician 15 years ago and was amazed to see how it has advanced.

The experts at Thorn provided an excellent insight how lighting installations can be managed to become more efficient to suit the needs of installations and their occupants.

To do this, they demonstrated how their innovative solutions for schools, hospitals and airports can be incorporated into building management systems to provide assistance, direction or evacuation, either during normal operation or in the event of an emergency.

Our final stop was with the German electrical contractors’ association ZVEI, where we met the vice president and toured their display which showed how houses can be adapted electrically to suit the needs of the individual and – possibly controversially – the supplier.

After a light lunch, the EDA delegation then said its goodbyes and we all went our separate ways via train, planes and automobiles. I agreed with my fellow travellers that it had been fascinating to see the wealth of innovative new technology and products that can now be installed to enhance efficiency and safety.

With the increasing integration of renewable technology and the ongoing electrification of society, it also reinforced the need for qualified, competent and skilled electrotechnical contractors to ensure that such products are installed correctly and safely.