PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release

Advancing Metallurgy and Foundry Technology: Synergy at
GIFA and METEC Southeast Asia 2023, co-located with wire
and Tube exhibitions
Singapore, 10 October 2023 - From 20-22 September 2023, BITEC, Bangkok was

abuzz with industry professionals as the show floor put the spotlight on
metallurgy and foundry technology alongside the wire, cable, tube, and pipe
sectors at the co-located trade fairs: GIFA and METEC Southeast Asia, and wire
and Tube Southeast Asia.
Over three days, some 91 exhibitors from 11 countries demonstrated theirtechnology, machinery, and innovations across multiple application sectors fromautomotive, building and construction, energy and gas, to users from metal andsteel plants. The two synergistic exhibitions of GIFA and METEC Southeast Asia
successfully presented a comprehensive platform for over 4,200 trade visitors –with 25 percent coming from outside Thailand. Together with visitors for wire andTube Southeast Asia, international visitors hailed from neighbouring Malaysia,Vietnam, Singapore, Philippines, as well as China and India, among others. On
the local front, there were also 54 visiting groups representing the key target
sectors of wire and cable manufacturers, iron and steel and non-ferrous metalindustry and from upstream supplier industries. These included Bangkok Cable,
Thai Summit Cable & Parts, The Siam Industrial Wire, Alphacast, PV Casting andMachine, TMT Steel Public and many others.
“While this year saw a more focused group of visitors, what truly stood out was
the depth of engagement and the quality of discussions on the show floor. It wasevident that participants came with clear objectives and a genuine interest incollaboration. The value of these interactions and the potential for lasting
business relationships cannot be understated. We remain committed to providing
a platform for meaningful exchanges for the industries we serve,” said Gernot
Ringling, Managing Director, Messe Düsseldorf Asia.
For the SMS group, one of the world's leading companies in metallurgicalmachinery and plant engineering, it was the second consecutive participation
after the successful premiere of METEC Southeast Asia last year. "Thisunderlines our interest in the Asian market and we are pleased with ourparticipation. We have made a number of business agreements with customers
from Asia and look forward to further opportunities with new and old business
partners in the region." On the occasion of the SMS group's 150th anniversary,
we were able to celebrate "150 years of shaping the future" with customers andcolleagues at our stand at the end of the exhibition," said Dr. Pino Tese, Chief
Sales Officer and Managing Director, India and Asia Pacific, SMS group.
Echoing this sentiment was fellow colleague Bernhard Steenken, Chief SalesOfficer, India, Asia Pacific (APAC) & Middle East, Africa (MEA) region, SMS
Group, who said METEC Southeast Asia was a significant platform to showcase
expertise in the metallurgical industry and to “establish valuable connections in1

the Southeast Asian market. Our participation proved to be highly successful,allowing us to engage with industry professionals, potential clients, and partners.”
As a first-time visitor, Professor Dr. Suchatvee Suwansawat, former Presidentof the Council of Engineers, Thailand, was deeply impressed by theinternational representation, particularly from Europe, and the extensive displayof machinery and solutions on offer. “Witnessing such global interest from theexhibitors, right here in Bangkok, with a vast range of machines, products, andsolutions, also highlights how fortunate the Thai and regional industries are to beable to experience such exhibitions. This is not just a sourcing ground; it is also aunique opportunity for the local industry to learn, share, and embrace bestpractices."
Reflecting a similar standpoint was Thai exhibitor Pine-Pacific Corporation, oneof Thailand’s leading suppliers of both raw materials and equipment for thefoundry industry, who remarked that this was also a good opportunity for the localindustry to meet and network with an international audience. According to Itthinai
Yingsiri, Managing Director, “for local companies, here you can explore moretarget groups and gain access to potential customers from other countries or fromthe Southeast Asian region without even having to travel abroad.”
Beyond showcasing innovations and solutions, the exhibitions were also aboutknowledge-sharing. The four co-located exhibitions included concurrent events
such as conferences, technical presentations, and business matching activities.
One standout was the 2-day international conference titled ‘Towards aSustainable Future – Transforming Challenges into Opportunities’, jointlyorganised by Messe Düsseldorf Asia and the International Wire and Machinery
Association (IWMA). Key topics revolved around sustainable growth andenvironmental responsibility, resonating with the region's efforts towards
economic growth paired with decarbonisation.
Among the distinguished speakers at the conference, Septiyanto Catur,
Secretary General of the Indonesian Foundry Association (APLINDO),
emphasised this was an ideal platform for Southeast Asia and the international
community to come together; ““this is a good opportunity for the industry to shareand learn from each other. Especially at a time like this where productivity andefficiency are key – material costs and labour costs have increased, so theindustries need new technologies and solutions, and sustainability is a toppriority.”
For Nava Chantanasurakon, Chairman, The Federation of Thai Industries –Iron and Steel Industry Club, and Keynote Speaker, stated that the conference
was timely as Thailand is well on the way to moving modern energy and reducing
CO2 emissions up the agenda, and to improve the production process for lowcarbon manufacturing.
Reflecting on the conference, Bernd Lohmüller, Managing Director,
Maschinenfabrik Niehoff, leading supplier of machinery for the non-ferrous, wireand cable industry, shared, "Positioning the conference on the show floor was agood addition and significantly enhanced the visitor experience. The content
2presented was insightful, especially the contribution from the Thai presenters whooffered deep local insights. Discussions around CO2 emissions reduction andenergy efficiency also resonated deeply, as lowering CO2 emissions invariably
leads to reduced production costs. Overall, the concept of the conference greatly
enriched the exhibitions.”
Amid rapid urbanisation, infrastructure development, and increasing internet
penetration in Southeast Asia, the demand for wire, cable, tube, and pipes havebeen on upward trajectory. Notably, in 2022, the Asia-Pacific region held thelargest revenue share in the wire and cables industry, with over 37 percent
market share. With infrastructure development being the focal point for Southeast
Asia on the back of the pandemic, the region continues to solidify its globalsignificance. Wire and Tube, and GIFA and METEC Southeast Asia 2023
presented a timely opportunity for businesses in the relevant sectors tostrengthen their foothold in the region.
For second-time exhibitor at METEC Southeast Asia, producer of refractories,
ladle well fillers, and synthetic slags for the steel industry, Purmetal Gmbh & Co,“the experience has been very good, and having served the Thai market foralmost half a century, the exhibition provides us the possibility to be at thedoorstep of our customers and this really helps to reinforce our brand presence
here in Southeast Asia,” said Tim Breitzmann, Sales Manager.
The next editions of GIFA and METEC Southeast Asia, alongside wire and Tube
Southeast Asia, will return to a biennial cycle and will take place in 2025 atBITEC, Bangkok from 17 to 19 September.
A detailed post event report will be released soon, meanwhile for more updates
go to www.gifa-southeastasia.com | www.metec-southeastasia.com<Ends>Media contact:
Zarina A Muhammad | zarina@mda.com.sg | (65) 6324 9624

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