Growing optimism at Elmia Subcontractor
At the Elmia Subcontractor trade fair, which closed today, the mood has been positive all week. The manufacturing industry is seeing a brighter future, which was also reflected in the economic reports presented during the fair.
Based in Jönköping, Sweden, Elmia Subcontractor 2013 has strengthened its position as northern Europe’s most important fair for the manufacturing industry. The 30thedition was the biggest ever, with a surface area of 18,307 square metres. 15 311 visitors met with 1,178 exhibitors from 29 countries. During the fair’s four days decision makers from throughout the industry networked and made contacts, initiating thousands of business deals.
“Elmia Subcontractor’s job is to create the conditions for business deals,” explained the fair’s project manager Karla Eklund. “That doesn’t just happen between exhibitors and visitors but also even more between exhibitors and exhibitors. The core of this work is an innovative exhibition but also the programme of events arranged during the fair. I’m very pleased at the good results achieved by the exhibitors and visitors this year and at the fantastic response we’ve received as organisers. It creates a lot of commitment within our organisation to further develop the fair in the years to come.”
“Previously we haven’t thought that Elmia Subcontractor was a fair for us but now we’re here and it feels very good,” said Jörgen Åberg, marketing manager with an exhibitor, Steelnova. “On the very first day we were asked to submit three tenders from industries new to us.”
Elmia Subcontractor has grown into an international marketplace. This year 26 percent of the exhibitors came from outside Sweden. Two new countries, Portugal and Serbia, took part with national stands. Germany’s capital region of Berlin-Brandenburg was also the special focus of this year’s fair and was represented by a joint stand and a delegation from major German companies.
“We’re looking for new partners and solutions and have found many interesting possibilities. Elmia Subcontractor is a good base for business relations,” commented Waldemar Raaz, General Manager Magna Steyr Fuel & Battery Systems.
On Wednesday the fair was visited by Sweden’s Minister for Enterprise Annie Lööf, who summed up her impressions of the fair on Twitter:
“A really good day at the world’s second-largest subcontractors fair, at Elmia with 1,200 exhibitors.”
The next Elmia Subcontractor will be held on 11–14 November 2014.
Voices from the fair:
“Elmia Subcontractor is developing into the industrial hub in Sweden.”
Fredrik Sidahl, CEO, FKG
“It’s terrific that most people feel that here is where they should be if they want to be involved in Swedish industry. We’ve already chosen our subcontractors for this year but will return next year with great interest – to make new contacts.”
Per Svantesson, Vice President Purchasing, NEVS
“Swedish industry has a very good technical foundation and high expertise. I’ve made contact with a number of suppliers during the fair who I’d like to work more with.”
Christoph Tietz, Director Drive Products, Bombardier, Germany
“The impression given by the Swedish industry here at the biggest subcontractors fair in the region is very positive. And our exhibitors from Germany are very satisfied, which I regard as a success.”
Ralf Christoffers, Minister for Economic and European Affairs for the State of Brandenburg, Germany
“I’m here for the first time and am amazed at the fair’s high quality. We’ll be back next year as exhibitors.”
Zygmunt Luk, Luk Metal, Poland
“Elmia Subcontractor is the most important activity we participate in. If we look at our list of customers then we’ve actually met most of them here at the fair.”
Peter Rydahl, CEO, Rydahl Precision Components.
“If we have one of Europe’s biggest marketplaces for the engineering industry eighty kilometres away then of course we should be here and present our companies.”
Magnus Sundén, Business Development Manager, Falköping Municipality, Sweden
“When the economy turned down we stopped participating for two years. But we noticed at once that we had fewer enquiries from both Sweden and Norway because we make good contacts here.”
Anders B Jensen, technical sales consultant, B6 Akustik
“It’s been a few years since we were here last and a lot has changed. Above all, there are more foreign companies than before, which is of interest to us.”
Ester Krüge and Saida Lindahl, purchasers, BeGe Industri
FACTS ELMIA SUBCONTRACTOR
Number of visitors: 15 311
Number of exhibitors: 1,178
Exhibition area: 18 307
Participating nations: 29
The fair was held this year for the 30thtime.
Contact details
Contact: Karla Eklund
Project name: Elmia Subcontractor
Website: www.elmia.se/subcontractor
E-mail: karla.eklund@elmia.se
Phone: 46 36 15 22 61
Elmia AB, P.O. Box 6066, SE-550 06 Jönköping, Sweden Phone 46 36 15 20 00. Fax 46 36 16 46 92 Internet www.elmia.se. E-mail info@elmia.se
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