WCN Autumn 2010

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WCN Issue N° 43 12
Drama is the only word that can sum up the final two days
of the 2010 wire Düsseldorf exhibition. During the course
of Thursday 15th April details of the Icelandic volcanic
eruption and its implications for air travellers became
known and many visitors and exhibitors alike turned their
thoughts to the problem of returning to base.
The IWMA has always considered wire Düsseldorf to be
the very best organised industry trade fair and has great
respect for the professionalism of the organisers. Having
masterminded what by common consent was an excellent
exhibition, Messe Düsseldorf worked hard in its last two
days to assist stranded participants as much as possible
by encouraging car sharing for overland travel in Europe as
well as facilitating the extension of visas.
Many tales of epic return journeys and considerable
delays waiting for flights reached the ears of the IWMA. All
concerned are to be commended for their patience in the
face of an uncontrollable event of Mother Nature. Despite
this nothing should detract from the undoubted success of
the 2010 exhibition.
The bare facts do not tell the complete story. There were
1,219 exhibitors from 52 countries, an increase of 7.3%
over 2008. Despite this increase the amount of exhibition
space was down with exhibitors carefully trying to control
costs following the economic meltdown of 2008/2009.
Visitor numbers were also down slightly, with the organisers
reporting a total of 69,200 from over 100 countries for wire
and Tube combined.
However, the most important fact was that a very high
proportion of visitors came with serious intent to review
and purchase equipment once again as the world
economic situation improves.
One IWMA board member reported that wire 2010 had
greatly exceeded his expectations and had been more
successful for him than the previous two editions. Many
other exhibitors shared this experience and the IWMA itself
enjoyed a more fruitful exhibition than 2008. Membership
applications at the IWMA stand in hall 11 were up by 100%
compared to two years ago.
Once again the IWMA’s facilities were well patronised
by members. Apart from hosting the Educational Trust’s
John C Hogg Travel Awards ceremony on 14th April the
stand was also the venue for several important meetings: a
delegation from Sinosteel Zhengzhou Research Institute of
Steel Wire Products, the IWMA’s representatives in China;
with the Shanghai Electric Cable Research Institute (SECRI)
to discuss cooperation with a technical conference at wire
China 2010 and a board meeting of the IWMA Educational
Trust.
Members of the IWMA executive board were able to thank
Sinosteel’s president Mr Yang Jianhua personally for his
organisation’s excellent efforts in securing many new
members in China and to give the association’s full support
for further development in the People’s Republic.
At the meeting with SECRI the IWMA Technical
Sub-Committee agreed to source at least six international
technical papers for a morning session at the wire China
supporting conference on 22nd September 2010. It was
also agreed that the conference would be held at the
exhibition venue, the Shanghai New International Exhibition
Centre (SNIEC), and the international papers session would
be chaired by the IWMA.
Away from the IWMA stand other gatherings during wire
2010 included the IWMA’s 40th anniversary dinner at the
Congress Centre on 13th April and an important meeting
with the Wire Association International (WAI) and ACIMAF
to review last year’s Istanbul conference and discuss
possible venues for future technical events.
How will wire/Tube Düsseldorf 2012 compare with this year’s event?
The IWMA Executive Board takes a bow at the anniversary dinner ▲ ▲
Some of the 270 guests at the IWMA anniversary dinner at wire Düsseldorf ▲ ▲
IWMA Educational Trust John C Hogg Travel Award winners pictured on the ▲ ▲
association stand with Stephen Wood (centre left), Joachim Schafer (back
centre) and Friedrich Kehrer (centre right)