China's Woodworking & Furniture Production Fair Popular Than Ever

Content diversified with three new feature zones in International Hall

The 7th "interzum Guangzhou China International Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Raw Materials Fair" (CIFM), staged March 27-30, 2010 at the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou and organized by Koelnmesse and the China Foreign Trade Centre, rode the global economic recovery better than many other sectors, with the booths sold out weeks before the show opened as well as many companies on the waiting list, despite an increase of two halls to make up ten altogether.

Some 887 exhibitors showcased a wide range of the latest technologies in furniture production and woodworking, spread over 100,000 square meters, representing a 17% increase in exhibitor numbers and 25% rise in gross exhibition floorage compared with those of 2009.

The popularity of the show matches the global representation this year, with the exhibitors coming from 24 countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, the U.S. and Vietnam.

Also significant this year is that the Americans, Germans and Italians again returned with national pavilions. In addition, the U.S. pavilion, headed by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), continued to bring corporate representatives from Virginia, Kentucky and Mississippi to showcase perhaps the finest woods from the southern states as well as furniture production technologies.

In challenging times, it is essential to keep on top of the latest developments and to maintain a strong relationship with the industry. As another sellout show in 2010, the CIFM has once again proven itself to be Asia's most comprehensive woodworking machinery and furniture production trade fair, and the definitive one-stop platform for participants to meet buyers, manufacturers and suppliers from all sectors of the furniture manufacturing, production and design industries, said Michael Dreyer, Vice President Asia Pacific, Koelnmesse on the expansion and new features of the show.

Content Diversified

As with many other trade shows, the organizer of the CIFM has diversified the content by adding three feature zones in the International Hall, achieving higher degree of specialization as well to serve buyers who may be sourcing more than woodworking and furniture production equipment and materials.

· Materials and Components for Upholstery & Bedding zone, including surface materials, textiles, filling materials and components, PVC, mattresses and linens, electric equipment and various other bedding manufacturing machinery and accessories;

· Materials and Components for Interior Works zone, including wood and wood products, parquets, laminates, veneers, corks, floorings, surface treatments and adhesives; and

· Furniture Hardware and Components zone, including a full spectrum of hardware and components for furniture production.

Technological Forums

Also similar to many trade shows today, organizers hold technology forums and seminars to educate and update participants with production techniques and news that may be foreign to local operators, especially those in emerging nations, who often still use dated technologies. Sharing production technologies may also help operators turn out products that are more marketable to foreign buyers, as well as upgrade production techniques that may cut cost or be more eco-friendly. The program at this year's CIFM included a series of targeted seminars that were divided into three forums.

The Technology Forum, held on March 27, introduced new technologies as wood cutting, abrasive and polishing techniques and their applications in the furniture industry.

The Market and Interior Design Forum, held March 28, focused on eco-friendly issues as energy-saving and emission reduction. The event was a discussion platform among senior personnel from industrial bodies as the China Furniture Association, the Guangdong Furniture Association, the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) and leading enterprises. The first time the General Manager of the National Confederation of German Woodworking and Furniture Industries (HDH), Ms. Ursula Geismann, attended an CIFM seminar as a special guest.

The Innovative Development Forum, held also on March 28, was a targeted discussion on the role of raw materials and accessories to advance the furniture industry.

An exhibitor technology exchange focused on edge-banding techniques was held on March 29, which was followed by a Q&A session for the participants.

The Organizers

Koelnmesse has over 80 years of experience in organizing large-scale commercial events connecting buyers and sellers; while the China Foreign Trade Centre has for over 50 years organized the China Import and Export Fair, the largest trade fair in China; and the China International Furniture Fair (Guangzhou), Asia's biggest furniture fair.