Exhibition
INTERNATIONAL FASTENER EXPO 2024
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An Outpost for Keeping Up with U.S. Customers' Needs
International Fastener Expo (IFE), a B2B trade show in the North American market for manufacturers of fasteners, machinery, tooling and peripheral fastening products, took place on September 10-11, 2024, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center Halls B & C.
More than 600 booths from 35 countries/regions (including the United States, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE, and Vietnam) came to exhibit a wide range of standard/customized products and services for industrial fastening applications on-site (about 380 international exhibitors), and seize the opportunity to secure sales orders, increase brand awareness and explore more opportunities for cooperation.
Fastener World, the organizer’s exclusive sales agent in Taiwan, also brought 60 exhibitors to exhibit this year, including Chin Lih Hsing, Tone Dar Seen, Kwantex, Chu Wu, Gain Den, Chite, L & W, J. T. Fasteners, Kelly International, Fang Sheng, Mols, Special Rivets, A-Stainless, Excel Components, TIFI, Chirek, Wei I, Rexlen, Bi-Mirth, Taiwan Shan Yin, Aimreach, Taiwan Precision, Katsuhana, Screwtech, Luna's Light, Shiang Ging, J.C. Grand, Link Upon, Dragon Iron, E Chain, Hu Pao, Ji Li Deng, Dicha, Spec Products, Wattson, Dar Yu, Gofast, Meteck, Jungshen, Soon Port, Standing Industrial, Professional Fasteners Development, Apex, Feng Yi, Huang Jing, Shaw Guang, Pingood, Sintec, Mao Chuan, Shyang Sheng, King Point, Linkwell, Ray Fu, U-Ween, J Mo, Ie Perng, KOT, Kenlon, Orimetal, Shin Guang Yin, Locksure, Jeng Yuh, Label One, Vertigo, and Konfu. Taiwanese exhibitors also formed one of the major international pavilions this year, along with the others from India and China.
The show attracted executive management, sales and marketing and purchasing representatives from fastener distributors and manufacturers, mostly from industrial, construction, automotive, assembly production and aerospace applications.
In order to promote industry exchanges and market opportunities, the organizer also invited industry professionals to hold a number of industry seminars. These included 9 presentations on topics such as AI, technology trends, fastener finishes, applications and marketing, 4 fireside chats and 2 workshops (now available for online listening on the show’s official website).
IFE Show Director Morgan Wilson said in an interview: “We had a great golf tournament and a welcome party the day before the show, and the first day of the show went very well! Not only did we have a number of region and industry-specific networking events that everyone could not miss, bringing together professionals from aerospace, automotive and a variety of other industries, but we also had a Espresso Bar offering free coffee. There were also the annual Hall of Fame and Young Fastener Professional Awards, as well as new marketing workshops. We are thrilled with this year’s success and look forward to raising the bar even higher for next year.”
According to a market research report, the U.S. remains one of the world's largest importers of fasteners. The U.S. market is expected to show a similar growth trend, given the high demand for automation, aerospace and other related industrial applications in the global market. In addition, due to the rising demand for lightweight vehicles and aircraft, many companies are moving away from standard fasteners to customized products, which will stimulate further growth and expansion of the U.S. market for related fasteners. At a time when the U.S. continues to impose a 25% tariff on Chinese fasteners, Taiwan's high-quality fasteners exported to the U.S. without being affected by anti-dumping duties are bound to show a relatively competitive advantage in the eyes of U.S. buyers.
“Through participating at this show, we not only met with our existing customers to understand the current local market situation, but also promoted our main products to some unfamiliar customers. Under the influence of the global economic downturn, the most important thing that our customers are concerned about in terms of procurement is not only the competitive price, but also whether the delivery time can meet their demand. Thanks to Fastener World's assistance, so our two-day show could go smoothly,” said Ms. Peggy Chang, who exhibited on behalf of J. T. Fasteners at the show. However, there are a few short-term phenomena in the U.S. market that we should pay special attention to. “I observed that the inventory level of U.S. customers is still high,” said General Manager Bill Wang of Hu Pao Industries, also an exhibitor this year.
Taiwan exported about 640,000 tons of fasteners to the world in the first half of this year, of which nearly 300,000 tons (47.1%) were exported to the U.S., an increase of 1.77% over the same period last year. The top exported fasteners included Other Screws, Bolts (73181590), Nuts (73181600), Self-tapping Screws (73181400), and Wood screws (73181200). Manufacturers who are interested in expanding into the U.S. market are advised to develop more customers for these products.
The organizer announced that the next show will be held on September 15-17, 2025 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center Halls E & F. Interested exhibitors are invited to reserve their booths by contacting the sales department of Fastener World, the exclusive sales associates of the show in Taiwan (Tel: 06-295-4000 / Email: sales@fastener-world.com.tw)
