High-profile trade fair fueled by sizable building material export

Building on momentum from 2005, the Hong Kong International Hardware & Home Improvement Fair outdid itself again in 2006, attracting 13,490 buyers from 112 countries and regions with displays of the industry`s latest products from 131 exhibitors.



The 2006 event was held from October 27 to 30 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center. As in 2005, the latest show was held in conjunction with the Hong Kong International Lighting Fair.

The high profile hardware show continued to underscore Hong Kong`s pivotal role in the hardware industry. During the first eight months of 2006, Hong Kong`s global exports of building materials including hardware grew a robust 14% year-on-year, to US$7.79 billion.

On the showground, product categories were car accessories, bathroom fitting and sanitary wares, building materials, cleaning tools and supplies, door and window accessories, furniture and furnishing accessories, outdoor and gardening products, hardware and DIY products, home furnishing products, and safety equipment and supplies.

Three themed zones-Decor Zone, Outdoor & Gardening World and Sanitary World-continued to give buyers more choices than ever before. Decor Zone, launched in 2003, was a showcase of high quality interior design decoration products. Outdoor & Gardening World and Sanitary World were launched in 2004, with the former catering to the growing trend in developing exterior space, while the latter offered a complete range of bathroom fittings and sanitary ware.



Eye to the World
Trend Sanitary (HK) International Group Ltd. is a Hong Kong-based company with a factory in mainland China. Established in 1983, the company started as a purveyor of porcelain arts and crafts before switching to a line of sanitary products in 2000. The company has a wide array of lavatories, washbasins and other porcelain products. "We have many customers worldwide, almost everywhere in the world-Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe, Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and even Russia," said William Ng, the company`s sales manager.

Ng added that his company also exports to South America, though price sensitivity in that market has made expansion tough. "We would like to build our presence in international markets, including South America, through this fair. It is a big market," he stressed. His company has exhibited at the fair since 2002.



Chevalier Ltd., another fair exhibitor, manufactures kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors and counter-tops in a variety of hues and finishing. "We are always working to keep up with trends in the marketplace," said sales manager Patrick Lai. The latest industry trend, he said, is glossy surfaces with square edges trimmed with metal flashing and handles. "Aluminum is the material of choice at the moment with natural anodizing," he added.

Lai`s company exports most of its products to Europe, Australia and some Asian countries. "Our goal in attending the fair this year is to expand into the American market," Lai said. "We exhibited at this show for the first time in 2005. This year, we have a large area to promote our products to and the Decor Zone is quite suitable for that," he stressed.

At the hardware event, Compoclay International Holdings Ltd. exhibited a patented material dubbed as "Compoclay," which is a natural composite of a clayish matrix with fiberglass reinforcements. The material is free from volatile organic compound emissions, heavy metals and asbestos; and is non-flammable and odorless. It can be used in a variety of decorative and engineering applications.



A move into a new product area prompted Wah Hing Development (S.A) Co., Ltd. to exhibit at the Hong Kong hardware fair for the first time. "We are showing metal product display items. These include floor stands and counter stands for use in supermarkets and convenience stores," said marketing manager Shirley Yam. "Our items are all tailor-made and can include advertising panels. We offer customers a variety of ways of displaying different products," she added.

Established in 1994 in Hong Kong, Wah Hing specializes in making multifunctional kitchen racks and hanging frames. "We`re attending the fair to promote our latest products to various markets," Yam said.



Made in China
A&D Homewares Co., Ltd. supplies a wide range of home products, including storage items such as portable wardrobes, storage boxes, hanging shelves, jewelry organizers and different kinds of hangers. The company also sells soft furniture and accessories including bean bags, cushions, table cloths and seat covers; cooking utensils such as knife sets, BBQ sets and kitchen accessories; laundry items and PVC/PE foam hardware and tiles.

"All of our products are made at our factory in China, which covers 15,000 square meters," said A&D marketing executive Serena Fong. She noted that her company`s major markets are the United States, Oceania and Europe.

Growth Master Enterprises Ltd. displayed adhesive and decorative foils as well as borders and tile decorations at the show. "We carry a large number of patterns for all our products, including more than 200 styles of foil products for windows," said general manager Emma Ho.

The company, which has production facilities in China, can also produce patterns to buyer specifications. Its products are particularly in demand in the growing do-it-yourself (DIY) market. "DIY products are especially popular in Europe and the United States. Buyers there are looking for quality and innovation, not just low prices. We have what they need," Ho said.



Wattson Enterprise (HK) Co., Ltd. has more than four decades of experience in manufacturing hair dryers and heat guns, the latter taking the spotlight at its display in Hong Kong in 2006. "We are showing our complete range of heat guns, with models targeted at various customer markets," said Dephne Tsai, the company`s marketing manager.

Tsai said her company`s mini heat guns are ideal for children doing craftwork and also attractive to women because of their low cost and ease of use. "They can be used for stamping and engraving, and for jobs around the house," she said. Her company has installed LEDs in its heat guns to indicate precise temperature.

Tsai`s company attended the Hong Kong show for the first time this year. "We`ve met current customers here and also made useful contacts with buyers from the United States, Europe and Russia," she noted.

When it comes to generating new business, Maria Yeung, managing director of Meyatko Wood Industrial Ltd., is optimistic about the future. Specializing in wood furniture and clothes hangers, the company exhibited at the show for the first time and was pleased with the results.

Yeung hoped the fair would help her company expand its client base in major markets, including Japan, Europe and the United States. Among the products displayed by the company were standing hangers, flower tables, magazine racks and telephone tables. There was also a speculator range of coast hangers designed to meet almost any wardrobe need.

At Builder Trading Company`s booth, visitors found aluminum cases of various sizes and specifications, including watch presentation boxes, gun cases and pilot`s briefcases.

Builder is a built-to-order supplier and its customers include distributors and retailers, with over 95% of its orders coming from North America, Europe and Australia. Its annual sales top US$6 million.

The company had been in business for 10 years and had exhibited at the show for eight years.

Ireland-based Oglesby & Butler Ltd. enjoyed a successful debut at the Hong Kong hardware show, which offered the company a platform to broaden its network and raise awareness of its Portasol brand name in the fast-growing Asian market. The company produces cordless gas powered soldering and heat tools, including glue guns, gas torches, soldering irons and kits. "We place a lot of emphasis on quality control to produce professional products for industrial, automotive, DIY and hardware applications," said marketing director Patrick Purcell.



Measuring Up
Rise Chain Industries Ltd. was established in Taiwan 28 years ago. Today it makes tape measures at a factory in Taiwan and two in mainland China. "At the fair this year, we are focusing on professional tape measures, which are longer and more durable than consumer models," stressed Lucy Chan, the company`s sales manager. "Our products extend from 100 feet up to 330 feet, or 100 meters," Chan added.

One model that is particularly robust is made of nylon clad steel. "It is rust proof, easy to clean and practically unbreakable. Its rewind speed is three times faster than regular models," Chan boasted.

Ching Wah Metal Products Ltd. has more than 15 years of experience in making aluminum products including wastepaper bins, pedal bins, bread bins and laundry bins. The company now operates an ISO9001-certified factory in China`s Guangdong Province. "We have an edge in bin design and production. In addition to bins, we make metal kitchen and bedroom items," said Daisy Lau, the company`s sales manager.

Lau says that Ching Wah has been able to build up strong customer bases in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia thanks to its innovative designs.

Posez Factory Ltd. demonstrated aluminum cases for various uses at the Hong Kong show. "Our cases are very suitable for carrying tools and our multi-layer cases and trunk cases are very suitable for transporting samples that need good protection," said company general manager John Cheng.

The company produces around 50,000 cases a month at its Chinese factory and has a product development team based in Hong Kong.

(by Ken Liu)