Exhibition News

The Taiwan International Fastener Show, held once again at the impressive Kaohsiung Exhibition Centre, opened its doors on 11^th April 2016 for the fourth edition of the show. Will Lowry, editor, visited the show to find out more about the Taiwanese fastener industry and the capabilities of those companies exhibiting.

Hosted by the Bureau of Foreign Trade and co-hosted by the Kaohsiung city government, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), and the Taiwan Industrial Fastener Institute, the Taiwan International Fastener Show had over 402 exhibitors and included a wide range of fastener producers and traders.

The show consisted of four main sections – the Fastener Products Area, the Machine, Mould and Hand Tool Area, the Foreign Companies Area, and the Cross-Strait Area – which were spread across two halls, separated by a central atrium.

Visitors were treated to eye-catching stands at the entrance to both halls – underlining not only the professionalism of Taiwanese companies but also that this was a celebration of the Taiwanese fastener industry and its capabilities.

Those stands that particularly caught the eye included Zyh Yin Enterprise Co Ltd, Jinn Her Enterprise Co Ltd and Unitech Products Corporation, all of which attracted a lot of interest from visitors. Other notable stands included QST International Corporation – part of Boltun Group – which focused on its range of automotive fasteners and metal parts; Fang Sheng Screw Co Ltd – promoting its ability to carry out the entire production process (from raw material to finished product) in-house; as well as Tong Hwei Enterprise Co Ltd – which concentrated on its comprehensive range of stainless steel fasteners.

In the Machine, Mould and Hand Tool Area there was also a range of manufacturing technology being demonstrated – once again underlining the capabilities of Taiwanese companies and giving visitors more economic alternatives to US or European equipment. Exhibitors showcasing machinery included San Shing Fasttec Corporation and its four spindle round nut tapping machine; Jern Yao Enterprise Co Ltd and its special parts former series; and Ching Chan Optical Technology Co Ltd, which had a selection of its sorting and bolt forming machines on display.

TAITRA announced that total visitor numbers for the three day show was over 28,000. Since badges were scanned on each entry to both halls, and visitors inevitably criss-crossed between the two, it is probable this total reflects a significant number of re-entries. That said, the aisles were busy throughout the first two days of the show and there was the satisfying hum of business being done.

International visitor numbers were reported at 1,996, which is almost a 14% increase on the amount that visited the Kaohsiung show in 2014. The quality of those international visitors was undoubtedly very high, with different coloured name badges for international visitors making it easy to pick out senior buyers from all over the globe. This included China (17%), Japan (13%), the USA (10%), India (8%), Germany (5%), Malaysia (4%), Vietnam (4%), Italy (3%), South Korea (3%) and the UK (2%). Other countries that were also well represented included the Netherlands, Romania, Canada, France, Poland, the Czech Republic, Russia and Switzerland. Many of the international visitors this magazine polled explained they had incorporated the exhibition into a tour of the Far East – visiting factories in Taiwan, as well as other locations such as Vietnam, Thailand and China.

Anchor T.H. Chang, chairman of the Taiwan Industrial Fasteners Institute (TIFI), explained that the Taiwan Show’s location between Gangshan and Luzhu – which when combined with Kaohsiung boasts a large cluster of the global fastener supply chain – is what makes the exhibition such a unique show, as visitors are able to attend the show and also visit factories around the local area.

From walking the aisles and speaking to the exhibitors, there is a clear pride in having a show dedicated to the Taiwanese fastener industry and the opportunity this provides them to illustrate the vast products and competences they are able to offer. Thanks to the commitment of TAITRA and TIFI, as well as the show’s ability to attract international visitors from around the world, there is no doubt that the Taiwan International Fastener Show has firmly established itself within the fastener calendar as a must attend event.