Industry reports positive outcome despite decline in number of visitors
the 11th International Trade Fair for Machinery, Equipment, Plants, Processes and Raw Materials for Ceramics and Powder Metallurgy, reflected the tense situation in the industry. While there was a decline in the number of visitors compared to 2006 – organisers reported some 15 000 trade visitors from more than 90 countries (compared to 22 000 visitors in 2006) – the share of foreign visitors increased to nearly 60%.
Exhibitors welcomed the international character and quality of Ceramitec’s visitors: “The quality of the visitors is outstanding. The thing that distinguishes Ceramitec from other fairs is that it is much more international”, explained Paul Eirich, Chairman of the Ceramitec Exhibitor’s Advisory Board and Managing Director of Gustav Eirich GmbH & Co.KG. According to Gerhard Fischer, Managing Director of Händle, “Ceramitec is a platform that is an absolute must. There are no alternatives. All important markets and market players are represented here – not a single country is missing.”
A survey conducted by tns infratest confirmed that assessment: 87% of the companies surveyed gave Ceramitec a rating of good to excellent for the quality of its visitors, and 89% gave the fair the same rating for the international character of its visitors.
After Germany, the top ten visitor countries were Italy, France, Austria, the Czech Republic, Iran, Poland, Spain, Turkey, the Russian Federation and Great Britain, in that order. Luca Caramelli, CEO at Bongioanni Macchine S.p.A. in Italy: „Bongioanni decided to focus on Ceramitec as international ‘red carpet’. Ceramitec definitely proved to be a real international trade fair regarding visitors.”
A total of 656 companies from 35 countries (612 exhibitors in 2006) presented their products, new developments and innovations in four halls. There were 33 companies from China, which is the largest contingent of Chinese companies to ever participate in Ceramitec. Xiaodong Liu, International Director of Keda in China: “We had lots of technicians and engineers at our booth, so very special visitors with a good quality. Ceramitec was successful for us.”
Once again, the Ceramitec supporting programme was very well received. A total of some 3 000 visitors attended the 55 lectures at the Ceramitec Forum, which the exhibitors als appreciated.
The next Ceramitec will be held in 2012.