ORGATEC 2026 Guide: What to Look for in Office Acoustics

As open-plan offices, hybrid meeting rooms and shared workspaces become the norm, the complaint architects and procurement teams hear most often remains the same: noise. That makes ORGATEC 2026, held in Cologne on 27–30 October 2026, an ideal opportunity to take a close look at acoustic solutions alongside the furniture. This guide is for visitors who want to explore the fair with acoustics in mind: practical information, the questions to ask at the stands, what to keep in mind when collecting samples, and what awaits you at the FeltVibe® stand.

ORGATEC 2026 at a glance

Info	Details
Dates	27–30 October 2026 (Tuesday–Friday)
Venue	Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany
Opening hours	Daily, 9:00–18:00
Hall layout	Workspace Solutions: Halls 6–9 in the north · Contract Solutions: Halls 5 and 10 in the south
Theme	“From Rooms to Relationships” – how spaces support communication and collaboration between people
FeltVibe® stand	Hall 08.1 · Stand B-051

This year, for the first time, the fair is built around a single overarching theme – and it is directly linked to acoustics: spaces where people can talk comfortably, concentrate and recharge together simply cannot be designed without good sound control.

Why is office acoustics on the fair’s agenda?

Modern offices are dominated by reflective surfaces such as glass, concrete, metal and hard flooring. These surfaces keep sound trapped in the room and prolong reverberation, so even a handful of conversations can make the space tiring. The result: reduced focus, difficult phone and video calls, and a lack of privacy in meeting rooms.

Acoustic panels, baffles and dividers solve the problem by adding surfaces: materials that absorb sound rather than reflect it shorten reverberation and improve speech intelligibility. At a fair like ORGATEC, being able to see and touch these products and put questions directly to the manufacturer is far more productive than choosing from a catalogue.

Before the fair: 5 steps to prepare

Sum up your project in one sentence. A short description such as “open-plan office for 200 people, 6 meeting rooms, high ceilings” speeds up conversations at the stands.
Pinpoint the problem areas. Is it reverberation, sound travelling to neighbouring desks, or a lack of privacy in meeting rooms? Each problem calls for a different solution.
Bring measurements and photos. Ceiling height, wall surfaces and existing materials make it easier to recommend the right product.
Note the regulatory requirements. Knowing the fire classification and certifications your project needs (e.g. EN 13501-1 class, LEED/BREEAM credits) from the outset saves time.
Mark up the hall plan. Workspace Solutions is located in Halls 6–9; shortlist the stands that focus on acoustics and interior surfaces in advance.

7 key questions to ask at the stand

At a fair, many acoustic products look alike. The following questions reveal the differences that lie beneath the surface:

Which standard was the sound absorption value measured to? Alongside the NRC (ASTM C423) or αw (ISO 354 / ISO 11654) value, ask for the test report and the name of the laboratory.
Under which mounting conditions does the value apply? The same panel performs very differently when glued directly to the wall versus mounted with an air gap behind it. Ask which thickness and air gap a figure like “NRC 0.90” refers to.
What is the fire classification, and which application was it tested for? The EN 13501-1 class (e.g. B-s1,d0) or ASTM E84 result should be assessed together with how the product was mounted (bonded or free-hanging).
How does it affect indoor air quality? VOC and formaldehyde emissions, and certifications such as OEKO-TEX®, are especially important in enclosed offices.
What is the recycled content, and is it certified? Instead of a vague “sustainable” claim, ask for a percentage and documentation such as an EPD or HPD.
Can it be customised for the project? Options for colour, thickness, size, printing or custom cutting – and the minimum order quantities that apply.
What are the lead times and the sample process? How quickly will samples arrive after the fair, and what is the lead time for series production?

Tips for collecting samples

Label samples straight away. By the end of the fair, dozens of felt pieces get mixed up; write the stand, product name, thickness and colour code on the back.
Take a physical colour card. Exhibition lighting makes colours look different from reality; make the final choice under office lighting.
Ask for the technical data sheet in digital form. Paper brochures get lost; technical data sheets and test reports sent by email go straight into the project file.
Photograph the installation details. How the panel is hung, how corners are joined and how the edges are finished are quality clues you won’t see in a catalogue.

What to look for in acoustic felt panels

In recent years, PET felt has become one of the most popular materials for office acoustics. It is made from fibres recovered from recycled PET bottles, bonded through needle-punching and thermal bonding; it is lightweight, easy to cut and shape, and its wide colour range gives designers plenty of flexibility. When assessing felt products at the stands, look out for these differences:

Feature	Why it matters	What to ask
Thickness and weight	Sound absorption and durability depend on density as much as thickness	Which g/m² is offered at which thickness?
Surface texture	A plain, mélange or printed surface defines the character of the space	Are the colours stock items or made to order?
Shaping	3D forms, V-grooves and parametric surfaces contribute both aesthetically and acoustically	Do you offer thermoforming and CNC cutting?
Moisture resistance	Standard felt may fall short in wet areas and covered outdoor spaces	Is there a water-resistant range, and which test verifies it?
Fire performance	Public and high-rise buildings may require a higher class	What is the difference between the standard and fire-rated ranges?

What’s on the FeltVibe® stand? (Hall 08.1 · Stand B-051)

Gentuğ’s acoustic felt brand FeltVibe®is at ORGATEC 2026 with the message “Space Sounds Better Together”. In line with the fair’s “From Rooms to Relationships” theme, the stand is designed to show how felt goes beyond being a material to actively shape space.

“This used to be a bottle” – a wall telling the story of the journey from recycled PET bottle to acoustic felt.
100+ colour wall – the chance to see the colours and textures of our standard collections side by side on a single surface.
Wall and ceiling systems – ceiling baffles, decorative wall panels and divider applications.
Parametric and 3D surfaces – layered structures such as a wave-shaped felt arch that turn acoustics into a design element.
Project-specific solutions – one-to-one meetings with our team on colour, print and size customisation.

If you can’t make it to the stand, you’ll find product families, technical values and certifications on the FeltVibe® product page . For application examples, see our Solutionspage, and for our approach to production, our Sustainability page.

After the fair: turning conversations into projects

Compile your notes within the first week. Put which product you saw at which stand, and with which values, into a single table.
Compare the technical data sheets. Compare sound absorption under the same mounting conditions, and fire classification to the same test standard.
Assess the samples in real light. Examine colour and texture under the project’s lighting – ideally next to the existing surfaces.
Ask for an acoustic calculation. Once you share the room dimensions, the manufacturer can recommend how many square metres of material are needed and in what layout.

Architects, interior designers and procurement teams: if we didn’t get the chance to meet at the fair, get in touch – we’ll send you samples, a colour card and technical data sheets.

FAQ

When and where is ORGATEC 2026?

ORGATEC 2026 takes place on 27–30 October 2026 at the Koelnmesse exhibition centre in Cologne. Visitors can explore the fair daily from 9:00 to 18:00.

Where is the FeltVibe® stand?

The FeltVibe® stand is in Hall 08.1, Stand B-051. This hall is part of the Workspace Solutions area, which showcases office and workspace solutions.

What is the most important value when choosing an acoustic panel?

No single value is enough. The sound absorption value (NRC or αw) should be assessed together with the mounting conditions under which it was measured, as well as the fire classification, emission values and durability.

Can I get samples if I can’t attend the fair?

Yes. FeltVibe® samples, colour cards and technical data sheets are sent on request – simply email a short description of your project to [email protected].