Berlin - Flat-panel televisions were the dominant product at the opening to the public Friday of the IFA fair, an annual consumer-electronics extravaganza in the German capital Berlin.

Ticket booths and turnstiles matched the pace of arrivals of trade buyers from around Europe and gadget lovers streaming into the fairgrounds during the morning.

The event this year features 1,245 manufacturers of screens, cameras, phones and sat-navs from 63 nations.

Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia are among countries represented for the first time at the event, which has been expanded this year to include home appliances such as washing machines for the first time.

About half the 200,000 visitors expected up to next Wednesday will be trade buyers. Manufacturers have laid on elaborate entertainments at the booths, with dancers, light shows and luxury food, to attract the buyers.

Last year, exhibitors reported taking 2.75 billion euros (4.07 billion dollars) in orders from merchants, and organizers said this week that 2008 ordering was likely to outstrip that.

The change from boxy televisions to flat screens, mainly the LCD type which uses liquid crystal diodes to form the colour picture, has helped the industry to shrug off the threat of recession in the West. (dpa)