 CeMAT Asia 2008 |
Despite the current economic crisis, organisers for concurrently running shows CeMAT Asia and PTC Asia are optimistic about exhibitor registration numbers and expected visitor turnouts.
Deutsche Messe, which is co-organising both events with Hannover Fairs China, anticipates a total of 1,350 exhibitors occupying about 30,000sqm (322,916sqft) of display space for PTC Asia.
"Around two-thirds of the available space had already been rented by mid-May, 25% ahead of the comparable period in 2007," Deutsche Messe says in a statement.
For CeMAT Asia, organisers expect 360 exhibitors in 10,000sqm (107,639sqft) of display space. The registration rate for CeMAT Asia is "substantially ahead" of last year.
Andreas Gruchow, member of Deutsche Messe's managing board, says the response to the company's Shanghai exhibitions is a "highly positive signal" for the industry and a "clear counter-trend to the sustained global economic recession".
"This development gives us hope for an improved situation. Both the power transmission/fluid power sectors as well as materials handling are benefiting strongly from the Chinese government's stimulus package," Gruchow says.
He adds that, as a result, foreign providers and their products continue to be in demand.
China's economic stimulus program calls for a CNY1.5 trillion (EUR155 billion) investment in the expansion of its infrastructure. Gruchow says industry observers are expecting domestic demand for materials handling equipment to increase.
In 2008, China's imports of materials handling equipment grew 22.3% to reach nearly USD3.8 billion. Meanwhile, it ranked third behind Germany and the US with an export volume of about USD9.17 million in materials handling equipment.
CeMAT Asia and PTC Asia will be held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre on 26-29 October.
Deutsche Messe has also announced that it will be staging CeMAT Middle East together with Industrial Automation Middle East and Motion, Drive & Automation Middle East at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre on 9-11 February 2010.