As Asia’s most comprehensive woodworking machinery, furniture production and interior decor trading platforms, CIFM / interzum guangzhou will be stepping into a new decade with the 2014 edition. The new beginning also welcomes some changes with the exhibition period extended by one day to five days, and new show dates from March 28 – April 1 in 2014. According to the organizers, over 1,100 manufacturers and suppliers are expected to participate in the event, which in turn should attract over 60,000 visitors. More than 70 percent of the booth spaces have already been snapped up by exhibitors who pre-committed at the event in 2013 and organizers foresee an over-subscription based on the current robust take-up rate. Timber Design & Technology talks to Karen Lee (pictured), General Manager South China, Koelnmesse Co., Ltd., ahead of the event.
01. In retrospect, what were the major achievements of the 2013 edition?
The 2013 edition coincided with the tenth anniversary of interzum guangzhou. Having witnessed the growth of the global furniture manufacturing industry for the last decade, interzum guangzhou has become the largest and most comprehensive professional trade fair for the woodworking machinery, furniture raw materials and interior decor industry in Asia. We are proud that the show has grown in scale from 1 exhibition hall in 2004 to 15 halls with 130,000 sqm this year. Besides that, the number of exhibitors has reached a record high of 1,095 from 28 countries and regions, featuring 60,975 professional visitors from 119 countries and regions, combined with the China International Furniture Fair – Office Show segment.
02. How is the next edition positioned? What are the main objectives for the show in 2014?
interzum guangzhou 2014 will continue to provide a high-quality ‘one-stop’ trading platform for the respective fields of the industry for both manufacturers and buyers and aim to be the choice event for new product launches, leading industry trends. We hope to build interzum guangzhou into a bellwether event combined with practical trade functions.
03. What are the key highlights of the show? Are there any events such as awards, seminars and workshops at the next edition?
First and foremost, the debut of the Swedish Pavilion will be one of the not-to-be-missed highlights, which will see companies from the region bringing exquisite Nordic carpentry and high quality wood products to the fair. In addition, the show will continue to present a series of engaging supporting activities for a more value-added procurement experience. It is also worth mentioning that all professional forums and seminars next year will be concentrated at the international buyer lounge, which is also known as the Piazza in Hall 14.1, where industry luminaries will be sharing their analyses and forecasts of the market’s future.
04. How does interzum guangzhou aim to be different from other trade fairs?
interzum guangzhou, as one of the satellite events of Koelnmesse’s interzum brand trade fair, was imported into China from Germany in 2004. The brand has enabled us to compete effectively, emerging as the leader among other shows. interzum guangzhou’s positioning as the premier event in Asia with radiating global influence sufficiently indicates its status as the industry’s flagship show. In addition, ‘effectiveness’ is interzum guangzhou’s key to success. Whether it is launching of new products, seeking new business partners, strengthening business relationships or elevating brand exposure, interzum guangzhou is a reliable platform to produce immediate results for industry players. And this is exactly the reason why big names from the industry have been supporting us all these years.
05. How many visitors and exhibitors are likely to be there at the fair next year? What percentage of them are repeat exhibitors and how many of them are new?
Next year, the number of exhibitors is expected to exceed 1,100 and we are estimating more than 60,000 visitors to arrive at the show. Among them, over 70 percent are likely to comprise returning exhibitors. Due to the high participation rate, stable long-term support from repeat exhibitors as well as the inability to expand capacity, a lot of new exhibitors are unable to participate in the show, and this is precisely an issue requiring an urgent solution from the organizers. I hope we will be able to coordinate a solution, so that these companies, which have been waiting for years, can have the opportunity to be part of interzum guangzhou, and also provide buyers with more choices.
06. Who are some of the new exhibitors making their debut at the show this year?
As of now, some of the renowned first-time exhibitors include AGT, Aydin Tekstil, Lion Rock, Tuoch, Lambert and ICA, from Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and Spain respectively. There are many other quality exhibitors that are still awaiting booth allocation, which as I have mentioned earlier, is a problem we are looking to resolve.
07. What – in your opinion – are the major trends for the timber and woodworking machinery market at the moment?
After two centuries of continuous improvement, refinement and enhancement around the world, the industry has gradually become matured. From the exhibits, we will find more and more woodworking machinery and equipment with high manufacturing efficiency, low energy consumption, and ‘green’ production processes. I believe this should become the industry trend.