IUT '08: 2-Day Tunnelling Fair in Sargans, SwitzerlandMore than 2,800 visitors took advantage of the IUT '05 in September 2005 in order to aquaint themselves with the latest trends and developments provided by the most significant companies belonging to the tunnelling industry. The high number of registrations for IUT '08 clearly indicates that this interesting and sophisticated underground fair remains as attractive as ever. Indeed, the number of registered exhibitors is already considerably higher than at the same point in time for the IUT '05. With more than 100 exhibitors, the IUT '08 will once again provide a wide range of information and discussion topics from 17th to 18th September in the Hagerbach test gallery near Sargans in the east of Switzerland. In the galleries and on the large outdoor areas in front of the entrance, interested trade visitors and innovative exhibitors will meet up with experts and friends for the fifth time.The organisers, the IUT consortium, have intentionally kept the range of information and discussion opportunities as wide as can be. It will be possible to undertake the familiar traditional visit to the exhibition stands of companies representing all important sectors of tunnelling. In addition, participants can pay a visit to the seminars staged by various companies. In this case a number of especially innovative companies take advantage of the fair to inform a select, invited audience about their latest products in closed lecture rooms. Participants will also be able to meet up at the presentation stage to learn about the latest trends and developments provided by competent lecturers from throughout the world of tunnelling. The IUT consortium has invited Russian experts to visit the IUT. Probably some 40 experts will spend five days in Switzerland. Apart from visiting the exhibition it is planned that they participate at the tunnelling seminar and the IUT festive evening as well as in excursions and a cultural programme. The guests hail from construction companies, architectural offices and clients from all parts of Russia and various CIS successor states. Russia requires substantial infrastructure projects involving the tunnelling sector. An example is the link between Sochi on the Black Sea with the venues for the 2014 Winter Olympics in the Caucasus some 50 km away.The tunnelling seminar will be staged in the afternoon of 17th September and the morning of 18th September, in German and English, involving selected experts from the international tunnelling world. Chaired by Prof. Alfred Haack the topic of "Modern Tunnel Equipment for Road and Rail" will be presented at the IUT '08.In keeping with a topical trend the organisers will also be providing a further highly interesting theme, namely the "Utilization Possibilities and Potentials" of geothermics at a German-language seminar held in the afternoon of 17th September. Proven experts will also be featured and it will be chaired by Dr. Roland Wyss of the Swiss Geothermal Society.Following a protracted day at the fair or to take a midday break there are lounges as a meeting place for talks, to eat lunch, have a snack or simply enjoy some time in the special tunnel atmosphere. And the traditional and unique IUT festive evening in the Hagerbach test galler is scheduled for 17th September.The excursions taking place on Friday 19th September, the day after the fair, are popular with visitors and exhibitors alike. Three different excursions are available: to the Uetliberg tunnel (Zurich west bypass and A4 Knonaueramt construction site), to the A28 bypass in Saas and to the redevelopment and relaying of the Hardhof sewer system.The Hagerbach test gallery near Sargans will be a romping place for tunnellers during the event. During these two days everyone who matters will come together for "Innovation Underground" in order to discuss the latest trends in tunnelling and equip themselves for the future. Visit www.iut.ch 35/08.