glasstec to offer marketing opportunity in repressed economy

The global financial and economic crisis has left its mark on the glass industry worldwide, according to a Dec. 3Messe Düsseldorf North America release. In particular, the flat glass industry, which is heavily dependent on the construction and automotive markets, has had to deal with considerable sales declines in 2009. An example of the trend on an international level is the situation facing the German glass industry. Following increases in the first nine months of 2008, sales slumps in the fourth quarter resulted in a marked decline in production. The flat glass sector was particularly affected by this. According to the annual report published by the Federal Association of the German Glass Industry (BIV), a considerable decline in total turnover is expected for 2009, even though the glass industry was still able to close 2009 with a turnover Euro 8.57 billion and slight growth of 0.2 percent (flat glass production: plus 5.3 percent, flat glass finishing: minus 1.4 percent). The suppliers alsoare automatically affected by this trend and this is clearly confirmed by the situation for the world’s leading German manufacturers of glass machinery and plant equipment. They too had to face declines from the fourth quarter of 2008 onwards. According to information from the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), mechanical engineering companies also expect a much lower sales level for the outgoing year, although the sector, with Euro 834 million in sales for the year, was still able to register increased growth of 13 percentcompared to 2007.

Worldwide, the companies of the glass industry and their suppliers are responding to the sales crisis with economy programs, and parallel to these measures, are intensifying their sales and marketing activities, according to the release. The intensive servicing of regular customers and new customer acquisition currently has the highest priority. An ideal framework for this is provided by participation at international trade fairs, because they offer much more than a pure product and services exhibition. Marketing experts agree: No other marketing or sales measure enables so many valuable customer contacts to be cultivated and developed in just a few days. One example is glasstec, theInternational Trade Fair for Glass Production, Processing, Products. The trade fair focuses on the glass industry, glass machinery, and glaziers' trade and will be held from Sept. 28–Oct.1, 2010, in Düsseldorf, Germany. It offers a unique platform for product innovations, forward-looking processing technologies and new glass applications.

“The unique thematic spectrum at glasstec attracts trade visitors from all over the world to the Düsseldorf exhibition halls," said Dr. Bernd-Holger Zippe, chairman, Glass Technology Forum within the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), in the release. "For the internationally operating manufacturers of glass machinery and plant [equipment]the setting is perfect for presenting their products and cultivating and developing customer contacts.” Anyone who exhibits in Düsseldorf can be sure that their clientele is also present there. Also of great interest to exhibitors at glasstec are, for example, the numerous architects who visit the event, the "glass technology live" special show and the international architect’s conference to obtain information about the latest developments and trends in architectural glass applications.