Trade shows in the days of Covid-19: how was wire China? The words of Cabletec

wire China in Shanghai was the first wire show this year. The weeks leading up to the exhibition saw a strong climate of uncertainty due to the health risks such a big event could entail, and to the severe travel restrictions that could prevent many professionals from reaching the venue. However, according to the organizers, wire China was a strong success.

We reached out to Cabletec, a well-known wire and cable machine manufacturer based in China and one of the 725 exhibitors that took part in the event, to get an inside view.

How long have you been attending wire China? Why is it important for you?
We have been participating in wire China since 2005. The exhibition has certainly helped us to make ourselves known in the industry. Furthermore, the event allows us to better understand our business related fields, meet customers, expand contacts, and increase profits. wire China is a professional exhibition which gathers many qualified industry users with high requirements, better understanding of the product value, and great interest in innovative technologies. Last, but not least, the face-to-face conversations enabled by such an international event make it easier to increase the customer's trust in your company and products.

wire China was the first wire show this year, and everyone was a bit nervous about it. What were your expectations for this particular event?
We were aware that the pandemic would prevent many international buyers from attending the event. However, we believe China implemented strict and good protective measures to deal with Covid-19. The risk of being infected during the show was basically down to zero and we were definitely not afraid for our safety.

Which products did you showcase during the event?
wire China gave us the opportunity to display some of our flagship products, including wire and cable extrusion lines, high-speed taping machines, and cantilever single frame twisting lines.

Did you find any interesting leads? How was the stand turnout? Were visitors mainly from China or from other countries?
Yes, we got some good leads, but they were all coming from China. Clearly, we would have expected more from an international event, nevertheless we are equally aware that the virus has severely limited the scope of the show. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, very few foreign visitors could be seen in this fair.

Did your customers find any travel difficulties? What security measures did you have to comply with?
We invited both national and international customers. On the one hand, local ones had no problem reaching the fairgrounds. On the other hand, the majority of our international clients could not travel to China. As per the safety measures in place, we were asked for our health code at the entrance and we had to wear masks all the time. Furthermore, sanitizing gels were available in strategic points all along the event.

A comment on the Chinese market: how is the situation there?
Despite the difficult year, the Chinese market is still good. The domestic demand is high and, personally, we got more orders than last year.