Number of foreign visitors to TIMTOS 2005 doubled

Taipei, March 22, 2005 (CENS)--Foreign buyers visiting the six-day Taipei International Machine Tools Show (TIMTOS) 2005 numbered 3,550, representing a whopping 97% from the previous session held two years ago, according to the semi-official Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), one of the co-organizers of the show.

TAITRA said domestic machine-tool manufacturers widely expected a promising outlook for the industry this year due to the record number of visitors to the show.

The show, held March 15-20 at the Taipei World Trade Center, drew approximately 50,000 buyers at home and abroad. The biggest foreign visiting group came from South Korea comprising 427 buyers, including the representatives from Hwacheon, Doosan, and Hannkook. This indicated that TAITRA's efforts in carrying out an export promotion project to that nation last year have paid off significantly.

Japan ranked second in terms of the number of buyers, followed by Malaysia, and Turkey. Due to the appreciation of the euro against the U.S. greenback, many European buyers came to Taiwan to purchase locally made machine tools and accessories at the show.

With a total of 642 exhibitors utilizing 2,664 booths, the scale of TIMTOS 2005 was the largest in the history of the show. There were 127 foreign exhibitors occupying 453 booths, up 25% and 28%, respectively, from the previous session.

According to findings of a survey released by TAITRA, many foreign buyers were satisfied with the improved quality of locally made machine tools and accessories exhibited at the show. The items catching eyes of foreign buyers included multi-spindle lathes, high-precision mold-making machines, linear motor-based machining centers, wire-cutting electric discharge machines, and high-speed ballscrews.

With many years of experience in attending TIMTOS, Awea Mechantronic Corp., one of Taiwan's professional manufacturers of double-column machining centers, said it received many inquiries from buyers from South Korea and India. The company noted the visiting buyers showed stronger willingness to purchase locally made machines than ever before.

Soco Machinery Co., specializing in the production of circular sawing machines and tube bending machines, said it received many inquiries from Indian and Turkish buyers. In addition, some buyers of South Korea also expressed strong interest in the machines developed by Soco.

DMG Machinery Taiwan Ltd., a subsidiary of Germany-based DMG Machinery specializing in the production of metal-cutting machines tools, said it was highly impressed by the exhibition effects presented by the TIMTOS 2005. The company participated in the show for the first time ever.

Campro Precision Machinery Co., a professional manufacturer of machining center in Taiwan and a newcomer to the show, said it received spot orders from buyers from Turkey, and some nations of Europe and Asia as well.