Asian Companies Have a Significant Presence at glasstec 2008

Companies have traveled from all over the world to take part in glasstec 2008. Of the 1,341 exhibitors, 862 have traveled here from countries other than Germany. In fact, countries from Asia have a significant presence here at the show. China, with 152 exhibitors, is one country in particular that has a major representation at glasstec. Chinese companies are here offering everything from flat glass and decorative products to interlayer materials for laminating glass and hardware for glass doors and entrances. Some say the show has been good so far, while others say traffic has been a little bit slower compared to shows of years past.

Qingdao HengDa Glass Technology Co. Ltd. from Qingdao, China, produces a number of different glass products, including a vacuum insulating glass product that Fei Wang, manager of business development, said had seen a lot of interest from exhibitors at the show.

"In Europe they use very thin insulating glass units to get the same performance that they can get from this," Wang said. "It can also be built into an insulating unit for even better performance." In addition, Wang said they are also working on a technology to soon be able to temper the vacuum insulating glass.

She added that traffic and feedback at the show have been good so far.

"At this show the attendees are very professional and they know what they are looking for," Wang added.

LIQI Glass Group, also from Qingdao, was showing its mirror and glass products. New for the company, according to Nancy Liu, is copper-free mirror.

"Also, some companies require their mirror to be tempered for furniture applications and we can do that, too," Liu said.

From Taiwan, Eastech Digital Technology Co. Ltd. manufactures printers and inks for digitally printing onto glass. Helmut Göhner, who was working in the stand from Germany, said they had been seeing a lot of excitement about the product from exhibitors. He said no UV inks are used, and the equipment can print very bright, vivid colors.

Also from Taiwan, Gang Gwo Industrial Co. Ltd. was showing its commercial door hardware. The company offers standard product, but can also do custom work as well. While they were seeing steady traffic through the stand, today Ming Ting Wei, marketing executive, said they hadn't seen as many people as they did two years ago.