3/28/2009
NEWS BRIEFS
Exhibitor Numbers Down at Spain’s Fastener/Hardware Show

Spains biennial hardware and DIY fair, Ferroforma, opened this week with only half the number of exhibitors it had in 2007. There were 43 fastener-related exhibitors.

Ferroforma announced before the trade show that 776 companies would be exhibiting, down from 1,314 two years ago.

The March 25-28, 2009, show is down to three halls from all six in the Bilbao Exhibition Centre.

Fastener and Fixing Europe assistant editor Will Lowry estimated under 500 booths at the 2009 booth compared with 994 in 2007.

The reduced exhibition space reflected the economy and the decline in the housing building sector in Spain, according to F&FE.

The fastener booths included Taiwanese and Chinese exhibitors.

Among major past exhibitors not participating this year were Germany’s ABC SPAX, Madrid-based rivet maker Bralo and Grupo Index, the fixings systems manufacturer based close to Bilbao.

Lowry reported exhibitors found a characteristically quiet opening day. The second day was better with most companies reporting some good contacts and the aisles busy until late in the afternoon,” Lowry reported.

As usual, the majority of visitors appear to be Spanish, although Lowry says M-Cut Europe reported visitors from Switzerland, Germany, France and Italy.

In 2007 the show received 24,080 visitors, over 90% from Spain. Ferroforma reported 2009 pre-show registrations of 29,500 and were hoping that a new marketing agreement with Koelnmesse, which hosts the International Hardware Fair in Cologne, Germany would boost international participation in the Spanish show.

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