11/22/2010
HEADLINES
36% of NIFS/West Exhibitors Have Foreign Addresses
Part of the Korean Pavilion at 2010 NIFS/West. Ten Korean companies exhibited at the show.
Numerous U.S. fastener manufacturers have complained about the growing number of foreign companies exhibiting at the National Industrial Fastener Show/West.
The 2010 drew 203 companies listing foreign companies for 35.7% of the 568 total exhibitors.
Not included are numerous exhibitors who are importers with domestic addresses. There were 90 companies listing addresses in China and 72 in Taiwan.
NIFS is co-owned by Jim Bannister and Mike McGuire. McGuire also owns American Fastener Journal and last summer announced he would support domestic manufacturers by not accepting ads from foreign companies unless they met multiple conditions.
“We believe it is our job to help and to promote American fastener manufacturers, importers and master distributors to our American fastener distributor readership,” McGuire wrote.
McGuire stipulated that foreign fastener manufacturers advertisers must have a business location in the U.S. with inventory; American workers, performing packaging and shipping logistics and invoicing; support American fastener associations; and “pay into our tax system, support employees with a health care plan and provide for employees’ retirement obligations.”
In August McGuire started a fastener importing business with Rob Lucas of Hong Kong-based Fidelis Fasteners. Fidelis was the featured cover advertiser in the September/October issue of AFJ and Lucas was given a prime speaking slot on the show floor November 9.
Fidelis lists no U.S. facilities or offices on its website. The company lists locations in Hong Kong and Shunde, China.
The partnership has triggered criticism from industry veterans.
“I’d suggest show ownership not have conflicting interests with suppliers,” one multiple-booth exhibitor said in reference to the McGuire-Lucas importing partnership.
In contrast to McGuire’s policy proclamation, Bannister responded that NIFS welcomes “exhibiting companies worldwide in our expositions” and noted he has no ownership in AFJ. ©2010 GlobalFastenerNews.com
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