Held once every two years and one of the major textile machinery exhibitions in 2009, the 14th International Exhibition on Textile Industry (ShanghaiTex 2009) ended successfully on June 15, 2009 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center, Pudong, Shanghai. Over 1,000 exhibitors from 22 countries displayed a variety of textile machinery and technologies, which attracted about 50,000 local and overseas visitors and buyers over four days.
Sign of Importance
The opening day of ShanghaiTex 2009 saw a number of VIPs show up, which is a sign of the importance of a trade fair. This time both industry officials and corporate heavyweights were on-hand.
Given the financial tsunami and global economic downturn that has compromised spending power worldwide etc., Chinese suppliers of textile machinery face enormous challenges. However, with China’s economy gradually recovering, backed by the branding effect of ShanghaiTex built up in the past 25 years, this year’s ShanghaiTex still managed to draw 49,348 visitors and buyers from 40 countries, whose quality and professionalism were reportedly highly appreciated by exhibitors. Apparently the downturn has spared ShanghaiTex 2009: on-the-spot reserved sales reached RMB100 million on the first two days, an improvement over that at ShanghaiTex 2007. The deals made for printing & knitting machinery were more significant, especially those for circular knitting machines, laser-printing machines, warp machines etc. Surprisingly some exhibitors reportedly received more orders than expected.
Great Industry Support
Apart from the generous support from 16 provinces in China, ShanghaiTex 2009 was also supported by nearly 20 local and overseas textile associations who organized buyer delegations to visit the exhibition.
ShanghaiTex 2009 also saw a host of who’s who among the visitors, including Luthai Textile, Sunshine Group, Nantong Douelegreat Textile Co., Ltd, Mhlace Co., Ltd., Changshu Huamao Textile Co., Ltd., Toray Sakai Weaving & Dyeing (Nantong) Co., Ltd (TSD), Jiangsu White Rabbit Textile Group Co., Ltd, Septwolves Industry, Shandong Ruyi, Mesbon Chemical Fibre, Frousans Knitting and Shanghai Threegun Group etc. as well as renowned overseas buyers as the fashion house H&M, sport chain store Columbia, Esquel etc. The typical comment among the visitors was that ShanghaiTex is an internationally important textile event and a premier trading and informative platform.
The above positive feedback is likely due to the fact that ShanghaiTex 2009 is significantly large, spread across 100,000 sq.m. And the exhibitor list is impressive, with names as Fong’s, Brazzoli (Italy), Santoni SPA (Italy), Karl Mayer (Germany), Stoll (Germany), Oerlikon (Swiss), Santex (Swiss), Siemens, Chemtax (Hong Kong), Wellknit (Taiwan), Falmc (Singapore), Shima Seiki (Japan), and Ningbo Yuren (China) etc.
Visitors’ Comments
Mr. Sam C.S. Hwa, president of En-Hwa Industrial Co., Ltd. from Taiwan, has been visiting ShanghaiTex since its debut in 1984 and has seen its growth and progress over 25 years. “I am glad to see a consistent improvement in the quality of exhibitors, who display the latest products, and the exhibition service has been improving too.” Mr. Siyaram from India appreciates ShanghaiTex for grouping exhibits by product categories, and thinks this is very convenient for buyers. An on-site visitor survey shows over 90% of the overseas buyers were satisfied with the exhibition.
China Textile Summit 2009
With the theme “Crisis & Opportunities,” the China Textile Summit 2009, held on June 11 to inaugurate ShanghaiTex 2009, invited Mr. Long Yongtu, famous scholar and Secretary General of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), to analyze and speak on the international and China economic situations, helping to build confidence for the textile industry and encourage enterprises to grasp the opportunities of industrial transformation and upgrade. Mr. Gao Yong, Vice President of China Textile Industry Association and President of China Textile Machinery Association, also gave an in-depth analysis on adjusting and promoting initiatives and measures, giving a clear development direction to Chinese textile enterprises. Nearly 700 representatives from 500 enterprises nationwide attended.
As a trendy way to allow exhibitors to promote machinery, the organizers invited leading exhibitors as Santoni, Stoll, Steiger, Pai Lung and Shima Seiki to participate in the fashion shows, an appealing way to demonstrate indirectly the latest technology in knitting machinery.
ShanghaiTex 2009 also offered educational opportunities by holding more than 20 technical seminars, including “Modern Spinning Technology and Advanced Equipment,” “New Equipment and Technology for Weaving Industry” etc.
The ShanghaiTex 2011 is scheduled for June 2011 at the same venue.
(by CENS)
