With nearly unbroken vigour, the BLECHexpo international trade fair for sheet metal processing and the SCHWEISStec international trade fair for joining technology are continuing their ongoing success story. As of the end of September, exactly 810 exhibitors have made firm booking for the 9th BLECHexpo, and an additional 82 have registered for the 2nd SCHWEISStec. Not only are private trade fair promoters P. E. Schall GmbH & Co. KG. pleased with these results, but rather the company’s longstanding project manager Monika Frank as well, and of the course the exhibitors too. In any case, it would appear that all involve parties – i.e. the promoter, the exhibitors and the conceptual sponsors – will soon succeed in breaking through the recurrently contagious lethargy, in order to reach the stated goal of getting an international trade fair with international validity off the ground by means of united forces.
892 Exhibitors from Over 30 Countries Around the Globe
The fact that BLECHexpo and SCHWEISStec have achieved high levels of internationalism and acceptance above and beyond Europe is made plainly apparent by BLECHexpo’s participants from 28 countries, as well as SCHWEISSTec’s exhibitors from 7 nations around the globe. It’s also worth mentioning that this year’s BLECHexpo exhibitors have reserved significantly more floor space with an increase of more than 100,000 square feet, whereas SCHWEISSTec is coming in with a more than respectable 107,000 square feet (same as last year). If one considers developments being experienced by other technical trade fairs in comparison – based on the economically difficult year of 2009 – losses of 50% and more are being reported, in contrast to which the trade fair duo for the sheet metal processing sequence and joining technology has maintained very high levels.
High Percentage of New Exhibitors More than Makes Up for Economy Related Drop-Outs
In this regard, BLECHexpo/SCHWEISStec project manager Monika Frank reports: “For us it’s astonishing that roughly 300 new companies have registered for participation, which more than compensates for unfortunate drop-outs due to insolvencies etc. In addition to this, we’re registering strong demand from outside of Germany. 24% of BLECHexpo’s exhibitors, and significantly more than 20% of SCHWEISStec’s come from outside of Germany. This adds up to a total of 170 manufacturers and suppliers from foreign countries near and far, who will take up roughly 30% of all occupied floor space.”
And this is very encouraging, especially in light of the unremittingly tense economic situation, and it indicates that foreign manufacturers are counting on BLECHexpo and SCHWEISStec as an initial impetus for stimulating the market. On the other hand it’s not all that surprising, because internationally competitive foreign manufacturers see the German market as a benchmark, and know very well that they’ll only enjoy international success if they’re able to assert themselves in the “lion’s den”.
Six Offene Systeme GmbH
