EXHIBITIONS International Fastener Show,
Tainan Unable on this occasion to attend and personally report on the International Fastener Show in Tainan, Taiwan, we arranged to receive detailed reports from some of the most knowledgeable European attendees: here is a compilation of their impressions.
T
his International Fastener Show was organised by the Taiwan Fastener Traders’ Association in conjunction with Fastener World
Magazine and our ‘correspondents’ were unanimous in noting the level of commitment and energy applied to this first venture. Recent fastener shows in Taiwan have been organised by the Taiwan Industrial Fastener Institute through TAITRA, the country’s export development agency. Relatively few TFTA members were able to participate due to limited venue space and it is very evident that organisers and participants were highly committed to making the first Tainan show a memorable one. Tainan has around 80% of Taiwanese
fastener production within 50 kilometres of the city, so like Kaohsiung is at the heart of the industry, facilitating follow up or pre-show visits by buyers. That is an important dimension for many long range visitors, although several now comment that the factories are so busy around the show period that it is actually more effective to visit suppliers at a different time, in order to obtain the level of attention they require. The exhibition guide listed 272
companies, of which seven were foreign companies, occupying around 560 booth spaces. The organisers claimed the show as the fourth largest fastener event worldwide. Our correspondents commented particularly on the professional presentation of the event, with many stands “spacious, well designed and constructed.” An iPhone app as well as the show guide and map facilitated navigating the show. “Very friendly and well-organised staff” in highly visible yellow t-shirts were “keen to help visitors with a willing and ready smile” – a welcome contrast, one correspondent commented to the rather formal Stuttgart hostesses. Fastener World publisher, William Liao, together with his wife, were visibly active in welcoming key overseas visitors. The organisers reported more than 8,000 visitors over the three day show from 43 countries, including Europe and North America. Our correspondents felt there were probably fewer European buyers
present than the previous Kaohsiung shows, attributing this to the proximity of the Tainan show to Fastener Fair Stuttgart. Buyers from the big international
fastener companies informally confirmed the show was well organised and the reception very friendly. However, there was a widespread view that the Taiwanese fastener show should be staged every two years, and would be better staged in Kaohsiung combining members of the two Taiwanese associations - particularly with a new venue in the offing, and because the city was logistically easier to reach. There is, commented several of our
correspondents, a growing and widespread concern amongst major buyers, as well as exhibiting companies, that the proliferation of fastener shows around the world is placing too much pressure on both financial and time resource. Parallel to the show, nineteen seminars
were held with presentations by both technical fastener experts and from international economic oriented speakers. Attendance, particularly for the technical subjects averaged more than forty people. Companies making presentations included the Würth Group, Bossard Group and Brighton Best International. The European Fastener Distributors Association presented an overview of the European economic outlook and an explanation
of EU trade regulations. The National Fastener Distributors’ Association spoke on the economic and industrial outlook for North America. International participation, notable
at the Welcome Party before the show, also included the president of the China Fastener Industry Association, and representatives from the Hong Kong Screw & Fastener Council and the Turkish Fastener Association (BESIAD). Dr Volker Lederer represented the EFDA and Jay Queenin the NFDA. Newly elected UDIB president Gian Marco Dalpane also attended. TFTA chairman Jim C.N. Chen was the host for the event.
Fastener + Fixing Magazine would like to express its appreciation to all the contributors to this article but particularly to Bernd Stapf for his insightful and detailed feedback on the event.
46 Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 81 May 2013
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152