Glasspex India 2015: Outlook slightly optimistical

Glasspex India, the international trade fair on glass plants and machinery, was held in Mumbai, at the Bombay Convention & Exhibition Centre from March 13th to 15th, this year. As before, also for this fourth run of the fair, VDMA had registered for a German common stand.   

18 German exhibitors and 2 sub-exhibitors presented their products and services at the German common stand, which comprised an information desk and 480 square metres of exhibition space. Dusseldorf’s fair (Messe Düsseldorf GmbH as well as Durchführungs-gesellschaft der Messe Düsseldorf) were responsible for organizing the so-called German Pavillon and did a perfect job.

Glasspex India was held in hall 5 where the German common stand was well and centrally located near the hall’s entrance. The opening ceremony in the morning of the fair’s first day was carried out by representatives of Dusseldorf’s fair and other partners that support Glasspex. Visitors were allowed to take part free of additional charge upon registration to the fair and reception of their relevant badges.

In addition to the actual fair Glasspex India, a conference organized by AIGMF was held on the first two days and was well attended, seeing 50 – 60 participants on average. At this conference, representatives of well-known international exhibitors spoke on topics such as “cost efficiency in container glass technology”, “glass in modern facades – benefit, safety, energy”.

The fair suffered from the currently weak economy in the glass machinery industry and the uncertainties in the Indian economic policies. Compared to previous events, the number of exhibitors as well as the exhibition space registered for had clearly declined. The organizers’ hope to see more companies of the flat glass industry attending this fair has not yet been fulfilled entirely either. In total, there were 131 companies exhibiting on 1,570 square metres; in 2013, there had been 182 companies on 2,540 square metres. However, with 3,220 the number of visitors remained nearly the same (3,350 in 2013), although the last day of the fair was a Sunday that was very badly attended – something the exhibitors complained about also.

In light of the above, it is not at all possible to name the current situation for the German glass machinery industry in India a boom. However, the mood had not been negative at all either. More than two thirds of the participants of the German common stand already plan to participate again in the next Glasspex India; the remaining companies keep their decision on hold for the time being. It is very important for all these companies to continue observing the Indian market, establishing and maintaining contacts and promoting their company’s image – even at a still difficult market. Some exhibiting companies experienced some positive trends and therefore look at the development on the Indian market slightly optimistically.

The next Glasspex India is scheduled from March 2nd to 4th, 2017 in Mumbai – running again Thursday through Saturday.