PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release

Powering Forward: The demonstrated demand for wire andtubes, and synergy with metallurgy and foundry
technology at co-located exhibitions - wire and Tube
Southeast Asia with GIFA and METEC Southeast Asia
Singapore, 10 October 2023 - From 20-22 September 2023, BITEC, Bangkok wasabuzz with industry professionals, showcasing the vibrancy of the wire, cable,tube, and pipe sectors together with metallurgy and foundry technology at the colocated trade fairs: wire and Tube Southeast Asia, and GIFA and METECSoutheast Asia.
Over three days, some 254 exhibitors from 27 countries demonstrated theirtechnology, machinery, and innovations across multiple application sectors fromautomotive, building and construction, energy and gas, to users from metal andsteel plants. wire and Tube Southeast Asia successfully presented acomprehensive platform for 6,350 trade visitors with 24 percent coming fromoverseas. Together with visitors for GIFA and METEC 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 across wire andcable manufacturers, iron and steel and non-ferrous metal industry and fromupstream supplier industries. These included Bangkok Cable, Thai Summit Cable& Parts, The Siam Industrial Wire, Alphacast, PV Casting and Machine, 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.
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 local
industry to meet and network with an international audience.
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According to Itthinai Yingsiri, Managing Director, “for local companies, here
you can explore more target groups and gain access to potential customers fromother countries or from the Southeast Asian region without even having to travel
abroad.”2-day international conference - ‘Towards a Sustainable Future –Transforming Challenges into Opportunities’
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 a
Sustainable 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.
Commenting on some key takeaways from the conference, Don Neville,Chairman, IWMA, said he was very interested by some of the common
challenges presented by the speakers. “Not just within this region but with otherparts of the world too, despite the unique characteristics of each region, there arestill fundamental common denominators – and that is something worth
communicating and sharing in a conference setting such as this. The different
regional perspectives on sustainability challenges are very important in shaping
discussions,” he said.
On the same note, Nava Chantanasurakon, Chairman, The Federation of Thai
Industries – Iron and Steel Industry Club, and Keynote Speaker, stated that theconference was timely as Thailand is well on the way to moving modern energy andreducing CO2 emissions up the agenda, and to improve the production process forlow-carbon manufacturing.
Bernd Lohmüller, Managing Director of Maschinenfabrik Niehoff, a leading
supplier of machinery for the non-ferrous, wire, and cable industry, also offered
his perspective on the conference. He shared, 'Positioning the conference on theshow floor was a good addition and significantly enhanced the visitor experience.
The content presented was insightful, especially the contribution from the Thaipresenters who offered deep local insights. Discussions around CO2 emissions
reduction and energy efficiency also resonated deeply, as lowering CO2emissions invariably leads to reduced production costs. Overall, the concept of
the conference greatly enriched the exhibitions.'"
For Maillefer Extrusion, one of the world’s leaders in wire, cable, pipe and tube
production technologies, and also an industry forerunner on sustainability,according to Henri Hackman, Sales Manager, Asia Pacific, “being able topromote the values of sustainability for now and in the future is very important tous, so we look forward to the opportunity of collaborations such as this at the nextedition.”2

Both companies – Niehoff and Maillefer – together with FMS Force Measuring
Systems AG, and Metalube Group, were among the line-up of IWMA member
presentations as part of the conference programme on the second day.
Southeast Asia’s growing demand
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 global
significance. 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 visitor Kirk Riddel, representing the International Sales department atBanpong Screen Pipe, the exhibitions provided a dynamic platform to makevaluable connections and to look for supplier partners. “I was on the lookout for a
few suppliers of stainless steel wire suppliers and API line pipes and I found a
few and look forward to receiving the quotations and moving things forward.”According to Turkish based wire producer Cokyasar Holdings, this was their first
foray into Southeast Asia with the main objective to better understand the region
and the demands of the markets here. “It was good for us to see the whole
picture and get a better sense of the market. We really wanted to see what thisregion has to offer. We had some very interesting companies visit our booth, withsome good leads. We also received a couple of new potential customers,” said
Kemal Ertunga Mumcu, Sales Executive.
The next editions of wire and Tube Southeast Asia will return to a biennial cycle
and will take place in 2025 at BITEC, Bangkok from 17 to 19 September.
A detailed post event report will be released soon, meanwhile for more updates
go to www.wire-southeastasia.com | www.tube-southeastasia.com<Ends>Media contacts:
Zarina A Muhammad | zarina@mda.com.sg | (65) 6324 9624

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