ITMA ASIA + CITME 2016 attracts strong interest
Featuring the largest showcase in the series since its launch in 2008, the recently concluded ITMA ASIA + CITME 2016 textile machinery exhibition received a very strong response from visitors
By the end of the five-day show on October 25, the fifth combined showcase registered a visitors of over 100000 from 102 countries and regions. 20 % of the visitors came from outside China.
In terms of visitor numbers, Chinese mainland visitors ranked first, followed by India, Japan, Korea, Taiwan China, Indonesia and Bangladesh, and exhibitors have commented very favourably on the high quality of professional and trade visitors attending the show.
A total of 1673 exhibitors from 28 countries and regions participated in the exhibition, which covered over 170000 square metres of gross exhibition space.
Mr Fritz Mayer, President of CEMATEX, said: “We are delighted that this was our largest show since its launch back in 2008. The majority of our visitors were serious buyers, and as a result our exhibitors are very happy with the overall quality. We are looking forward to another successful presentation of the next combined show in 2018.”
Mr Wang Shutian, President of China Textile Machinery Association (CTMA), agreed: “The combined show continues to be a ‘must’ for textile machinery manufacturers and their customers, and we are delighted to present the very best technologies from both east and west to Chinese and other Asian buyers.”
With the rapid development of information technology, the organiser provided some brand new services to visitors. Visitors could download an interactive map to navigate the exhibition halls, and visitors were also given the option of registering and paying for their badges via WeChat, a popular mobile app in China.
The next combined show will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (Shanghai) from October 26-30, 2018 and will be organised by BJITME, and co-organised by ITMA Services.
TextileFuture’s short comment: This is the official (meager) statement of the organisers, however we talked to various exhibitors who voice that the exhibition at the new location created lower visitor streams, and the Chinese and visitors from other countries were less prominent decision makers, rather middle management. This is also why so far no big orders were announced at the fair. The first reactions by exhibitors on the fair’s result are rather cautious. Exhibitors voiced also the opinion that the old location of 2014 was more attractive to exhibitors and visitors, and that the 2014 show was more rewarding for exhibitors.