February, 2026
This is a repeating eventFebruary 24, 2028 9:00 am
DACH+HOLZ International
Event Details
DACH+HOLZ International
24. – 27. February 2026 | Cologne, Germany
Official Website: https://www.dach-holz.com/en
A primary strategic misjudgment at DACH+HOLZ International is approaching it as a conventional product showroom for roofing tiles or timber beams. This mindset overlooks the fair’s deeper role as the central node for validating integrated, future-proof building systems. German and European architects, specialist contractors, and project developers attend not to source isolated components, but to evaluate complete, certified solutions for complex challenges like sustainable renovation, digital building processes (BIM), and energy-efficient construction. Success therefore depends on demonstrating not just a product, but your mastery of the entire technical and regulatory system it operates within—a credibility that is built in years, not days.
Strategic Snapshot
DACH+HOLZ International is the definitive convergence point for the specialized, high-value roofing and timber construction ecosystem. Strategically, it functions as the industry’s critical validation platform, where new materials, digital workflows, and system solutions are stress-tested by a concentrated audience of specifiers and master craftsmen. It is less about moving commodity volume and more about securing a position in the intricate, specification-driven supply chains of European construction.
Why This Fair Matters in Germany’s Exhibition Ecosystem
Located in Germany, a global leader in high-performance construction standards, engineering precision, and the pioneering “Energieeffizienzhaus” (energy-efficient house) movement, DACH+HOLZ carries immense normative weight. Acceptance here by leading German roofers and timber engineers serves as a powerful seal of technical and regulatory compliance for the wider European market. The fair attracts a uniquely qualified audience: not general contractors, but specialized roofing and timber construction firms, architectural offices focused on sustainable design, and public project procurers—all engaged in long-term planning and partnership decisions based on technical trust and lifecycle performance.
Who This Fair Is For — and Who Should Skip It
Ideal for:
- Manufacturers of advanced, system-integrated building materials (e.g., complete roof systems, prefabricated timber wall elements, smart vapour barriers).
- Providers of specialized digital tools for planning, fabrication, and installation in roof and timber construction (BIM libraries, CAD/CAM software).
- Companies with strong narratives on sustainability, circular economy (recyclable materials), and documented energy performance metrics.
- Suppliers targeting the high-end renovation and retrofit market, which demands complex, tailor-made solutions.
Not ideal for:
- Producers of basic, unprocessed raw timber or generic, standalone building materials sold purely on price.
- Companies without a clear technical application story or the capability to provide deep, project-specific support.
- Exhibitors seeking immediate, high-volume spot orders from general building merchants.
- Brands unfamiliar with the dense landscape of German and European building codes (DIN/EN norms) and certification schemes.
The 3–5 Day Moment vs. the 365-Day Reality
DACH+HOLZ generates a highly focused surge of technical dialogue. For four days, your product’s integration details, certification documents, and installation methodologies are scrutinized by the industry’s most knowledgeable practitioners. This intense, peer-level validation is indispensable for entering consideration.
The critical breakdown occurs in the “project support gap.” Companies engage in promising technical discussions but fail to maintain an active, authoritative presence in the months-long project planning and specification phases that follow. In an industry where mistakes are costly and responsibility is long-term, disappearing after the fair is interpreted as a lack of reliable partner capability, nullifying initial technical interest.
Consequently, the strategic return is not measured by leads collected, but by your ability to use the fair as the starting point for a year-round engagement as a technical resource and dependable system partner for upcoming projects.
Strategic Next Step
Before exhibition planning, audit your technical communication: Can you articulate not just what your product is, but how it seamlessly integrates into a certified construction system, solves a specific builder’s pain point, and fulfills long-term performance guarantees? To understand how to build this continuous technical authority, review the framework in our analysis of the 365-Day Trade Fair Visibility Strategy.
Explore the Ecosystem
German Buyer Behavior Trade Fairs
Exhibitor Checklist for German Trade Fairs
Strategic FAQs for Exhibitors
How does the integrated digital platform change the strategy for exhibitors compared to a pure physical fair?
It makes pre-fair positioning and post-fair continuity non-negotiable. The platform’s business directory and content feed mean your company is evaluated long before the physical event. Exhibitors must use it to publish technical articles, case studies, and product data, establishing a baseline of credibility. After the fair, the platform sustains the connection, making a year-round, high-quality digital presence essential to support the relationships initiated in Cologne.
For a timber construction exhibitor, is it more important to target architects or the executing carpentry firms?
You must address both, but with tailored narratives. Architects seek inspiration, technical data for specifications, and aesthetic flexibility. Carpentry firms need precise fabrication details, installation efficiency, and on-site problem-solving support. Your presence should bridge this gap: showcase beautiful, realized projects to attract specifiers, while providing the granular, practical technical documentation that gives contractors the confidence to execute and recommend your system.
What is a common mistake international material suppliers make regarding German building standards?
Assuming that CE marking or an international ISO certificate is sufficient. The German market demands specific approvals (e.g., from the Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik – DIBt), Ü-markings for structural timber, and compliance with a web of overlapping norms (DIN, EN, ZVDH guidelines). Failing to present these specific, recognized certifications immediately disqualifies you from serious projects, regardless of product quality. Preparation requires investing in local regulatory expertise.
With the focus on sustainability, how should a company present its “green” credentials effectively here?
Move beyond vague claims. Provide transparent, third-party verified data: Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), information on embodied carbon, details on recyclability or reuse at end-of-life, and chain-of-custody certification for timber (e.g., FSC, PEFC). Frame sustainability as a performance and risk-mitigation factor for the builder (e.g., future-proof against tightening regulations, meets green building scorecards like DGNB/LEED), not just a marketing point.
How can a company leverage DACH+HOLZ to build a specialist distribution network in Europe?
Use the fair to identify and qualify potential partners, not to sign them. Target established regional specialist distributors or leading carpentry firms. Your goal is to demonstrate that your technical support, training, and co-marketing make them more competitive and profitable. Have a clear “partner program” prototype ready for discussion, focused on shared project support rather than just margin. The follow-up process involves pilot projects and detailed capability assessments, turning the fair into a launchpad for selective, high-quality market entry.
