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IFAI Expo Asia 2011 successfully debuts in Singapore

13 Apr '11
8 min read

Technical Symposiums
Organized concurrently with the exhibition were state-of-the-industry technical symposiums drawing large attendance. Under the leadership of Professor Roshan Shishoo, an international advisory team comprised of the industry's leading experts organized symposiums that included applications for geosynthetics, nonwoven, automotive and e-textiles. All of the sessions were designed to address emerging manufacturing opportunities in the Asia Pacific region.

The advisory members were:
* Henk Stijweg, BVZ, Thailand
* Martin King, North Carolina State University, USA
* Samir Gupta, Business Co-ordination House, India
* Junko Takai, Hivix, Japan
* Amie Wang, ACE Geosynthetics, Taiwan

Summary
The event was all about making connections throughout the value chain. Companies exhibiting were on many different levels within the Asia Pacific market. Some were at an entry level looking for help in connecting with partners. Others had already been marketing within China, for example, but wanted to expand in Southeast Asia. One visitor interviewed was part of a division that was new to Asia, even though other divisions in the company had been there for years. Others were introducing new products and looking for distributors.

They all had one goal in common--access to new buyers--and this show accomplished that.

The Industrial Fabrics Association International expects to announce the dates and location of the next IFAI Expo Asia in the very near future. There is already keen interest and many exhibitors have expressed their intention to exhibit again.

Says Herculite CEO McKernan, "I think that there will be more people from the States who will want to be a part of it. There is a tremendous interest in the region in high-performance fabrics, and it's really important to be a part of that for our company, and for IFAI to be a part of that. IFAI Expo Asia 2011 was well-done all the way around. We will be coming back."

Additional Comments...

Mr. Zhao Jinjiang, Vice General Manager of Shandong Roken Group Co., Ltd. - China: "Through this event we have gotten to know lots of overseas clients. We will let our industrial friends in Ling Xian (Ling County) know this. Next year, in name of Ling Xian Geosynthetics Association, I hope to lead more local manufacturers to exhibit overseas."

Peter McDonald, CEO/Managing Director, Gale Pacific Ltd. - Australia: "We've had contacts here at IFAI Expo Asia 2011 in markets that we aren't in such as Indonesia, India, Malaysia, and Thailand; so for us the show has been very good. We got a lot of new leads."

Richard Kish, International Sales Manager, Q-Lab Corporation - USA: "We were delighted to be a participant in the first IFAI Expo Asia, and we got a lot of good leads from all over the world. So this is fabulous. We're definitely going to do this again."

Stephen Siener, Vice President Business Manager, Building Products & Engineered Membranes, Cooley Group - USA: "We've had a tremendous amount of people stopping by. Based on the conversations I've had, I'd say we had eight to ten really good prospects. That's a pretty good ratio."

Bud Weisbart, IFM, Vice President, AR Tech and AR Industries - USA: "We met with embassy personnel from New Delhi, Thailand and Singapore; and these folks are very knowledgeable about the potential in their countries. That has been very valuable."

Adrien Derreumaux, Sales Director-International, Dickson/Glen Raven - France: "The show has been good--well-organized, the Marina Bay Sands Exhibit Hall is nice, and we had a nice booth. We met with a lot of our customers from the region--from the North (Japan, Korea), to the South (Australia)--so this was positive."

John Pierce, WeatherMax Product Manager, Safety Components - USA: "We will return to the next IFAI Expo Asia. I think this has been a very good show, a great opportunity for both learning and contacts."

About IFAI
The Industrial Fabrics Association (IFAI) is the only trade association in the world representing the entire specialty fabrics industry--a world market estimated to grow about five to six percent per year over the next decade. IFAI supports nearly 2,000 members in 11 defined market niches and three country sectors; orgorganizes the largest industry trade show in the Americas, IFAI Expo; and publishes seven trade magazines and buyers guides. IFAI will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2012.

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