SHOW NEWS: 2008 Fastener Fair Matches Previous Attendance

John Wolz

Fastener Fair Coventry matched the 2006 marks, according to preliminary reports. The total number of visitors was over 1,000 and within 10 of the last Coventry show in 2006. Total registration was about 1,400.
The 140 exhibiting companies took a record amount of space, show organizer Jerry Ramsdale announced.
“Almost exactly the same number of visitors came as two years ago,” Ramsdale said. “In fact, there were slightly more, which is a remarkable achievement for a mature event that’s been running since 1995. It shows that Fastener Fair Coventry is the industry’s key exhibition, and that with the help of our exhibitors we’ve managed to keep things fresh, lively and compelling for visitors.”
Three quarters of attendees were purchasers for their companies, Ramsdale said.
The June 11-12, 2008, trade show in Coventry, England, was geared toward the fastener and fixing markets in the UK and Ireland. Fastener Fair Coventry is held in even-numbered years, alternating with international-oriented Fastener Fair Stuttgart in odd-numbered years.
The biennial Coventry banquet drew 230, who contributed �3,000 (US$5,977) to this year”s charity, Dreams Come True. The charity, which provides for children with terminal illness, was advocated by Gary Dixon of Caparo Atlas Fastener of Birmingham. The event featured auctioning of sports memorabilia. The Heinz Storch memorial golf tournament raised �6,000 (US$11,954). “Three of the important things in Heinz’ life were golf, customers and doing something to help those less fortunate than ourselves,” Fastbolt UK managing director Graham Joyce said. Storch, chairman of Fastbolt, died in February at age 63. The proceeds were donated to Willen Hospice, a terminal facility in Milton Keynes, UK, where Fastbolt was established by Storch 25 years ago. The 13th Fastener Fair for the UK and Ireland is being planned in June 2010 in Coventry. For Fastener Fair information contact Jerry Ramsdale. Tel: (44) 1727 739 150 E-mail: jerry@fastfair.net Web: fastenerfair.com \ �2008 FastenerNews.com