Mike Hale: Show signs of a full recovery

For many working in the optical industry, the annual pilgrimage to Munich in early-to-mid January for the Opti tradeshow is a marker that a new year has truly begun in earnest. The deep winter timing and snowy Bavarian location lend a compelling backdrop to the show, and I was happy to see that visitor numbers have increased (see News, page 5) after a somewhat depressed outing in 2023.

Of course, tradeshows have been one of the areas of optics most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath. Prior to 2020, Opti had been building momentum and international recognition steadily for over a decade. Unable to be held for a year or two, since the pandemic these large meetings have been subject to some scepticism from both potential exhibitors and attendees alike.