From April 24 to 28 this year, two high-profile industry-specific trade fairs were held in Dusseldorf, Germany.

The international Wire and Cable trade fair and the Tube and Pipe trade fair welcomed 1 933 exhibitors from 50 countries worldwide.

“The high calibre of wire and tube is the basis for many good contacts made in Dusseldorf; this is where the international industry comes together and scarcely no-one can afford to miss Dusseldorf. Many talks at Tube with numerous producers have given us ideas and suggestions for improvements and new developments,” commented Dr. Gunther Voswinckel, chairman of the board of Otto Junker Simmerath. The enthusiasm for the event was shared by the exhibitors, both wire and wire-working enterprises and tube and pipe manufacturers. They gave the trade fairs top scores, anticipating great potential for post-show business.

“The excellent results of wire and tube underline the worldwide importance of these two number-one trade fairs for the wire, cable and pipe manufacturing industries,” said Wilhelm Niedergoker, MD of Messe Dusseldorf.

He added, “Exhibitors and visitors to the fair voiced their enthusiasm about the fair and reported on new, interesting and promising business contacts.” About 65 000 trade visitors came to Dusseldorf over the five days of the exhibition, approximately 4 000 more than the previous 2004 event.

There was definite potential for the formation of international business contacts as 60% of visitors for the wire fair came from foreign countries and 50% respectively for the tube fair.

Visitors from 71 countries came to wire while Tube registered attendees from 64 countries. The bulk of visitors to the shows were from italy, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, the USA, the UK and Asia.

Visitors to wire 2006 were particularly interested in wire and wire-working machinery and equipment, process engineering tools, upstream supplies, special wires and cables. Industry sectors contributed the most visitors at 80%, specialised dealers constituted 5% of the visitors and skilled craftsmen 4%.

At Tube visitor interest was focused on tubes, pipes and accessories in addition to tube and pipe manufacturing, working and machining equipment.

The next wire and tube trade fairs will be held concurrently in April 2008 for the 11th time at the Dusseldorf Exhibition Centre.

To subscribe to Engineering News's print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.