Fastener World's Exhibition Footprints in 2024

     Fasteners World Middles East, a professional international exhibition for the fasteners, hardware, industrial components and related raw materials/metal processing technology industries, was held at the Expo Centre Sharjah in UAE from January 8 to 11 this year, which is also a thematic sub-show of the well-known SteelFab.

 

     The 4-day exhibition attracted many key industry players and potential buyers from the local and neighboring Middle East countries to observe the latest developments and innovations in the industry. Supported by the local government's policy of encouraging the metal fabrication industry to undergo digital transformation to enhance market competitiveness and gain more opportunities for development, the exhibition featured not only fasteners & metal-related processing technologies, but also other welding/cutting, power tools, machine tools, pipes & tubes, stainless steel products, as well as AI and robotics.

 

     Hundreds of exhibitors from the UAE and other countries participated in the event, looking forward to deepening industry interactions and exchanges through the annual Middle East exhibition platform, and more importantly, promoting their brands to enhance their image and accelerating their steps to look for companies they can further establish business cooperation with in the future expansion of the Middle East market. Exhibitors from Germany, India and the UK, the largest overseas exhibitors groups this year, were also seen setting up their own national pavilions to showcase latest products, technologies and peripheral services.

 

     According to the observation of Fastener World's on-site staff, most of the local Middle East buyers who had a large demand for fasteners during the show were general metal manufacturers, large-scale project builders (e.g., steel mills or power plants), and telecommunication transmission parts manufacturers. Many traders also came to our booth to ask for the latest publications and suppliers info, mainly inquiring about standard fasteners for various applications, while the demand for special fasteners was relatively low.

 

     A few local buyers told Fastener World's on-site staff that “price, quality and flexible payment methods” were their key concerns when conducting pre-purchase evaluations. They also hoped to find Taiwanese fastener suppliers that can offer high c/p ratio of products through Fastener World’s multiple suppliers info platforms, including printed/digital publications, online buying and selling systems, and comprehensive supplier databases.

 

     As the UAE is one of the most important import markets for fasteners in the Middle East, and a key gateway for many overseas fastener suppliers to enter the Middle East fastener supply chain, the on-site presence of Fastener World staff will help fastener suppliers interested in expanding their business in the Middle East or the neighboring emerging markets to build up more cooperation with the local buyers.

 

     The biennial Wire Düsseldorf, which was co-located with Tube Düsseldorf, took place in Messe Düsseldorf from April 15-19 this year, with a total of 17 exhibition halls open. The exhibits included: fastener manufacturing, processing machines, precision formers & technologies, various wire & cable materials, manufacturing & processing auxiliary machines, press/lubrication technologies, automation & quality control systems, welding equipment, quality inspection & measuring instruments, spring manufacturing, pipe materials & spare parts, etc. Visitors took opportunities during the 5-day event to keep pace with the development and latest trends of these industries in one visit.

 

     The “wire” zone this year utilized 67,400 sq. m of exhibition space and attracted 1,500 exhibitors from 60 countries. The “tube” zone used 52,200 sq. m of exhibition space and attracted 1,200 exhibitors from 54 countries. Together, the two zones had about 120,000 sq. m of exhibition space and 2,700 exhibitors. Nearly 50 fastener machine equipment, mold & dies, and parts /components manufacturers from Taiwan also exhibited their latest products and services, demonstrating the soft power of Taiwanese related industries.

 

     Fastener World Inc. also signed up to participate in the exhibition in 2024. Through the distribution of our magazines on-site, we interacted with buyers from Germany, neighboring European countries, and even from the Americas and Asia, and introduced to visitors a reliable and efficient sourcing platform that could enable them to search for more high-quality suppliers in a one-stop way, actively playing the role of a bridge between buyers and sellers. During the 5 days, our stand attracted buyers interested in cooperating with Taiwanese and global quality suppliers to make their inquiries.

 

     According to statistics of the organizer, this year's show attracted visitors from 135 countries to Düsseldorf, including not only domestic German visitors, but also those from Italy, Spain, Belgium, France, Austria, the Netherlands, Turkey, Switzerland, the UK, Sweden, Poland, the Czech Rep., the U.S., Canada, S. Korea, Taiwan, India and Japan. There were also visitors from Central and North America, Turkey and Asia, who wanted to meet the exhibitors face-to-face, explore innovative products and look for new suppliers.

 

     Innovation was the main theme of this year's show. Besides the exhibition itself, a few esteemed experts and industry leaders were invited to give speeches and presentations, and special shows and digital guided tours were also highlights of this year's show. Exhibitors also actively demonstrated their companies' sustainable development strategies and shared with guests their green energy policies and carbon reduction targets they already achieved.

 

     The organizer has also officially announced that the next show will be held again from April 13-17, 2026.

 

 

     Inafastener was held at JIExpo Kemayoran in Jakarta, Indonesia, from May 15 to 17 this year, and was concurrently held with the shows for bicycle & motorcycle parts & accessories, tyre & rubber, bus & truck parts & accessories, construction/infrastructure/mining, and trucks & trailers. Although Inafastener, which exhibited a wide range of industrial fasteners and fastening elements, assembly and installation systems, as well as services related to warehousing and logistics, was one of the thematic zones, the number and proportion of exhibitors of hardware and fasteners was relatively small, as the overall exhibition area was still dominated by exhibitors from automotive and motorcycle related industries.

 

     This year, Fastener World also participated in the exhibition and distributed our latest magazines on-site, in order to build a bridge with local supply chains and potential customers for those interested in expanding into the Indonesian market and deepening their business layout in the ASEAN markets. According to the observation of Fastener World's staff on-site, this year's show was more of a regional show. Although there were a few exhibitors from Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam and China, the majority of exhibitors were local. Automotive parts and accessories were the products with high enquiries this year. In addition, in response to the industry's concern about energy saving and carbon reduction, some exhibitors displayed products and services related to energy saving or low carbon technology.

 

     The organizer has announced that the next show will be held on May 21-23, 2025. For more information, please visit our website at www.fastener-world.com

 

 

 

 

     Fastener Fair USA, one of the most important trade shows in North America dedicated to the fastener industry and its peripheral manufacturing industries, took place at Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland on May 22-23 this year, following the success of the last edition in Nashville, which attracted many exhibitors and buyers, providing an excellent business matching and exchange platform for supply chains and in-demand buyers from the U.S. and other countries. 
 
     Visitors this year mainly came from advanced manufacturing, agriculture & off-highway, aerospace, industrial machinery, maintenance, appliances, marine, automotive, military, construction, renewable energy, distribution, electronic & telecom...and other industries. A total of 234 exhibitors registered for the show, with the majority of exhibitors from the U.S. Taiwan and China were the only two major overseas exhibitors groups, totaling 35 and 36 exhibitors respectively.

 

     United Expo International is the sole agent of this exhibition in Taiwan. Taiwanese exhibitors in this exhibition represented by United Expo included Yow Chern, Your Choice, Younturn, Wan Iuan, U-Ween, Super Nut, Soon Port, Shen Chou, Shaw Guang, Nova. Fastener, Mols, Mao Chuan, Mac Precision, Long G, L & W, King Point, Ji Li Deng, IE PERNG, Hsin Jui, Homeyu, H-Locker, Fontec, Feng Yi, Evereon, Eray, Chite, Chia Long, Canatex, Bi-Mirth and ABS.

 

     Fastener World was also present at the show this year to distribute our magazines to strengthen the promotion and publicity of products and services for customers who intend to enter the North American market. According to Fastener World's on-site staff, this year's visitor flow was obviously more than that of the 2023 show, and the crowd was very enthusiastic on the 2-day exhibition. We encountered a lot of new customers who traveled from afar to inquire about products and the latest magazines, and there were also many buyers who came to Fastener World booth to ask for information about suppliers of industrial fasteners, clamps, and other related products.

 

     During the event, the organizer also invited industry experts from organizations such as Fastener Training Institute (FTI) to hold seminars to discuss the industry's most concerned issues (e.g. fastener manufacturing, lightweight fastening trends & design, etc.). A tour to Brighton-Best Inc. in the U.S. was also arranged.

 

     The organizer has announced after the show that the next edition of Fastener Fair USA will be held on May 28-29, 2025 in Nashville.

 

 

     This must-visit annual show for fastener professionals across China was held on May 22 to 24. It used two exhibition halls totaling the area up to 42,000 square meters. According to the exhibitor registration statistics by the organizer, 690 fastener and related exhibitors participated in the show, which successfully attracted tens of thousands of visitors from home and abroad within the 3-day event, once again proving its status as the cornerstone for Chinese fastener industry to expand sales. Fastener World also exhibited at the show to bring you first-hand market intelligence.

 

     Fastener World on-site staff observed that the exhibitors could be categorized into fastener products, forming machines, inspection and sorting machines, packaging machines, raw materials & steel, tools and dies, and heat treatment companies. In addition, there were overseas exhibitors such as Hyodong Machine from South Korea, Sacma from Italy, and Nedschroef, as well as many renowned fastener products and machine manufacturers from Taiwan. Fastener World was also one the exhibitors this year, distributing publications on-site and introducing the companies in the publications as well as the Fastener World export matchmaking platform to visitors from China and around the world to create export connections.

 

     Fastener World's on-site staff reported that the overseas visitors were mainly from Central and South America, with Mexico being the largest visitor source, and some visitors from the United States coming to meet with Chinese suppliers. In addition, the prices of standard fasteners in China are now very low and competition is intense. The local Chinese market is saturating up, so many local companies are turning to export. Last but not least, due to EU anti-dumping duties and the US-China trade war, the Chinese machinery exhibitors have now switched their sales targets from Europe and the U.S. to developing countries such as Mexico, India, and South America.

 

     As the show closed, the organizers quickly announced that the 2025 edition will be held at Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Center from May 22 to 24 again, contributing momentum to the development and prosperity of the fastener industry.

 

 

 

TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL FASTENER SHOW
06/05-07/2024
Quality Fasteners Shine with Taiwan Now in the World’s Spotlight
 The 7th Taiwan International Fastener Show continues its popularity from last year and opens its doors to the world again at Kaohsiung Exhibition Center from June 5th to 7th this year. According to the show’s website, the organizer predicts that 10,000 domestic and foreign buyers and related industry players will come to visit and purchase. According to data provided by the organizer, this edition attracts nearly 300 companies taking up an exhibition area of 20,000 square meters, an overall scale increase of 20% compared with last year. Overseas buyers mainly come from India, the United States, Europe, Japan, Germany, and Thailand.

 

     This edition centers on "sustainable fasteners & precise practice", using low-carbon and low-energy-consuming materials in decoration, transportation, signage, etc. More than 95% of the decoration materials in the venue are recyclable and reusable, expected to achieve carbon reduction by 50%. This edition also responds to the AI boom and uses AI show guides for the first time. Visitors can learn about important activities and special exhibition areas through direct dialogue. Generative AI technology is also introduced to assist product display using 3D models, increasing visitors’ interaction with the exhibits. In addition to the planned "High-Value Fastener Pavilion", the "Green Sustainability Zone" showcases Taiwan's first carbon emissions traceability management system exclusively for the fastener industry, as well as a number of energy-saving, carbon-reducing and waste heat recovery technologies. A briefing was held in the show to provide one-on-one guidance on reporting CBAM data and required documents.

 

     A big highlight of the "Global Fastener Industry Forum" held on the first day of the show was to invite Alexander Kolodzik, Secretary General of the European Fastener Distributors Association, to give a speech on the "Impact and Strategies of CBAM on Taiwan' s Fastener Trade", which attracted an audience from Taiwan, Japan, the United States, Europe and many other countries. In addition, Sheh Fung Screws was invited to introduce High-Value Fastener Products and Smart Manufacturing, and Sunco Industries introduced Japan's innovative fastener logistics technology.

 

     The Fastener World booth comes with a new visual theme and dress design this time, and once again offers highly favored fresh popcorn and hot-pressed bakery, as well as bagged drinks hung with colorful neck beads. Visitors can snack on the specially designed sofa and interact with the Fastener World staff and fastener companies from many countries. The booth is full of visitors. We have encountered end users from the U.S. looking for high-quality fastener products from Taiwan, as well as Japanese nut manufacturers and Turkish fastener manufacturers coming to look for Taiwanese suppliers. This year, Taiwan attracts more attention than ever from the world and many buyers have again recognized the key role played by Taiwan’s fasteners. Buyers are taking advantage of this show in Kaohsiung to continue to strengthen friendly collaboration with Taiwanese suppliers.
 
     The organizer will announce the next edition after the show. Stay tuned to Fastener World and the official website ( www.fastener-world.com ).

 

 

 

   Japan's largest manufacturing-related trade show, Manufacturing World Tokyo, kicked off on June 19-21 at the Tokyo Big Sight. About 2,100 exhibitors from Japan and overseas registered to participate in this annual industry event, and a wide range of fasteners and screw-fastening products were on display.

 

     This year, East Hall and South Hall were open to the public, with exhibits focusing on 3D printers, generative AI, DX for back office, factory DX, mechanical components, manufacturing & inspection, unique technologies, production management system, processing technology, accident prevention, ODM/EMS, global suppliers, 3D scanner, CAD/CAE, and medical technologies,etc. There were also other thematic exhibitions related to design and manufacturing, machining, medical, AI, aerospace and so on. In addition, the organizer provided free shuttle buses between the two halls for exhibitors and visitors.

 

     According to the statistics of the organizer, the show attracted around 20,000 visitors per day to explore suppliers, partners and observe the latest technology, products and services of the industry, and attracted nearly 70,000 industry professionals in total over the 3 days. In addition, in order to enrich the experience of exhibitors and visitors, the organizer also arranged more than 20 seminars during the 3-day exhibition period, inviting local and international industry leaders and experts to share their professional observations and insights on current trends, product and technology applications, and future challenges (e.g. automotive, AI, digital transformation, green manufacturing, carbon neutrality).

 

     Fastener World Magazine, which has the largest circulation and the highest marketing coverage in the world, was also present at this year's show. Not only did it distribute its latest publications on site, but also actively visited potential Japanese exhibitors in the show, hoping to help customers interested in expanding into the Japanese market to continue to step up their promotional efforts and reach out to more potential business opportunities. It is understood that many local buyers are interested in the products of the suppliers after reading our magazines and trying our online B2B platform, and they do not rule out the possibility of further negotiation and cooperation with these manufacturers in the future.

 

     In addition to the series of shows in Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka, the organizer has announced that the next Manufacturing World Tokyo will be held on July 9-11, 2025 at Makuhari Messe. For more information, please visit Fastener World’s website at www.fastener-world.com.

 

 

 

     From June 19th to 22nd, a significant international manufacturing show was held at Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC). This show was large and included six areas including auto parts, surface treatment, electronics, robots/automation, facility management, mold making, and plastics, to create the most comprehensive manufacturing and peripheral industry show in Southeast Asia.

 

     A major feature of this show is having pavilions for many countries including China, Singapore, Germany, Taiwan, and Japan. The visual design of each pavilion showed the exhibitors came prepared in a form of unified allies. In addition to local Thai exhibitors, this show gathered a large number of Chinese exhibitors, exceeding the number of other foreign exhibitors. The foreign countries with the second largest number of exhibitors were Japan and Germany. Among the exhibitors, many were manufacturers of medium and large automotive parts. Among the exhibitors that provided fasteners as part of the product line, most were Chinese companies, and additionally there was a South Korean automotive fastener manufacturer. In terms of hardware and washers, there were several exhibitors from China, Thailand and Singapore. In terms of fastener-related peripheral products, there were several Japanese screw feeder manufacturers, as well as several Japanese fastener surface treatment companies.

 

     It is worth noting that in the Taiwan pavilion, many Taiwanese hand tool manufacturers came to exhibit, including well-known manufacturers such as Mobiletron and Proxene. The exhibitors also included hand tool traders and distributors from Japan and Thailand. In addition, many Japanese exhibitors in this show participated in the name of their branches established in Thailand.
Most of the visitors who came to Fastener World’s booth for the latest publications were looking for electronic screws, standard screws, customized screws, hexagonal bolts, automotive bolts, washers, and springs. A Japanese trader representative revealed that his company used to solely import fasteners into Thailand from many Japanese suppliers via the branches in Thailand. 

 

    However, price considerations have rendered them to begin looking for other suppliers from Asia (including Taiwan) and Southeast Asia this year. In addition, a well-known German fastener developer is about to set up a factory in Thailand and is looking for high-quality fastener suppliers in Asia. Fastener World did its best part to introduce suitable suppliers in the publications to these representatives and other visitors.

     The next show will be held again at the same location from June 18 to 21, 2025, and is expected to continue this year's achievements.

 

 

 Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center opened its gate for MTA Vietnam from July 2 to 5, 2024. According to the organizer’s released list of exhibitors, there were 322 exhibitors coming from Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, Poland, China, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, the U.S. and Vietnam. The products displayed by the exhibitors related to the fastener industry included fasteners and hardware products, metal forming machines, power tools, tool holders, inspection equipment and gauges, packaging technology, dies, heat treatment technology, etc.

 

     For this edition, the organizer planned pavilions of Germany, Taiwan, and China. In addition, an exhibitors exchange meeting titled "The Journey Towards Sustainability and Carbon Neutral in Manufacturing" was held for discussing topics including sustainability, carbon neutrality, greenhouse gases, and ISO 14064 certification.

 

     Fastener World’s booth encountered visitors from Japan, the U.S., Hong Kong, Arabia, China and India. The largest number of visitors were from Vietnam, showing strong interest in Taiwan's high-quality fastener suppliers. Visitors from the U.S. and Japan were mostly specialized fastener traders, hoping to find more price-competitive fastener suppliers in Vietnam and around the world through Fastener World. The remaining visitors were mostly machine manufacturers and end users of fasteners. Using the most complete database across the fastener industry, Fastener World recommended suitable suppliers to these visitors based on their product needs, connecting Vietnam with the world’s fastener business opportunities.

 

     The organizer will announce the next show date. Stay tuned to the latest announcement on Fastener World website.

 

 

FASTENER FAIR INDIA
07/26-28/2024
High Demand for Construction and Industrial Fasteners in the South Asian Market
 A study by Straits Research predicts that the Indian industrial fastener market is expected to reach US$17.868 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 7.9% until 2030. India has become one of the hot markets for global manufacturing investment in recent years. This year's show was held in this background with the expectations of market investors.

 

     The show was held in Hall 6 of the venue, Pragati Maidan, divided into a three-day fastener show and a four-day parts and components show. Fastener World led 6 Taiwanese exhibitors to the show, including Ray Fu Enterprise, Chite Enterprises, Hurmg Yieh Machinery Industrial, L & W Fasteners, Homn Reen Enterprise, and Yih Tieng Machinery Industrial, bringing Taiwan's high-quality and well-received fastener and machinery suppliers with high cost performance ratio to the Indian market. Meanwhile, Fastener World introduced many Taiwanese suppliers to Indian visitors through its publications.

 

     Fastener World’s exhibitor observed that the majority of the show’s exhibitors were local Indian companies, with the rest from Japan, China and other countries. The visitors were mainly local fastener importers, distributors and manufacturers. The products that visitors inquired about were mainly fasteners, CNC products, fastening tools, precision parts, and machines. It was quite good considering the number of visitors. In addition to interacting with visitors, many exhibitors took the opportunity to meet long-time customers. Many buyers were very interested in working with Taiwanese and Chinese fastener and machine manufacturers, looking to find more high-quality product sources. The demand for construction fasteners and various industrial parts was high there. Many Indian manufacturers said they purchase machines from Taiwan. They said Taiwan provides better quality. There were also some Indian manufacturers looking to find Chinese suppliers who offer cheaper prices.

 

     On another note, BIS certification will pose a future challenge. Initially, only Indian manufacturers were required to have this certification, but in the future, overseas manufacturers who want to sell products to India will also be required to pass this certification. However, the implementation details are currently only drafts and have not yet been officially in force. Companies interested in entering the Indian market must pay more attention to BIS information.

 

     The organizer will announce the next launch of the show. Fastener World will have the latest information and with announce it right away. Log on to Fastener World website at www.fastener-world.com to track the latest development.

 

 

 

 The 2024 Fastener Fair Vietnam is a three-in-one hybrid show, combining Vietnam Manufacturing Expo, Vietnam Material Handling, and the Fastener Pavilion, held at I.C.E. Hanoi from August 7 to 9. According to the exhibitor list released by the show organizer, there are a total of 145 exhibitors, 44 of which are fastener-related exhibitors, accounting for 30% of the total.

 

     Fastener World brought 4 manufacturers representing Taiwanese high-quality fasteners and services to exhibit at the show, including A-Stainless International, Taiwan Kodai, Ching Chan Optical Technology, and Uni-Protech Industrial. Fastener World’s staff on-site observed that this show attracts many Taiwanese companies to exhibit, and the show also has a Taiwan pavilion. From here, we can see that in addition to Thailand, Vietnam has also become a part of Taiwan's popular investment destinations in Southeast Asia in the past three years. 

 

     Fastener World’s staff on-site says that in addition to fastener product exhibitors, most of the others are machinery manufacturers. Although this is not a very large exhibition, it attracts a good number of crowds. Visitors come from a wide range of fields, providing exhibitors with business opportunities to develop new industry fields. Among the visitors to Fastener World's booth, in addition to buyers looking for industrial fasteners, there are purchasing representatives from local large hardware stores looking for sources to purchase fasteners. This means that household fastener products also have business opportunities in Vietnam.

 

     The Vietnamese market has experienced an upward V-turn since the pandemic, and such growth potential is expected to continue this year. Fastener Fair Vietnam will announce the dates of the next show soon. Stay tuned to Fastener World website for the latest details.

 

 

 

     Fastener Fair Mexico, which was relocated to be held the year before last in Guadalajara, a major commercial city in Mexico, was held in conjunction with Expo Nacional Ferretera at Expo Guadalajara from September 5 to 7 this year. About 80 exhibitors registered to participate in the event, and most of them came from China, in addition to a few exhibitors from Mexico and Taiwan. With a total floorplan of 3,000 sq. m, this show was regarded as a more professional exhibition platform for fasteners and hardware products in Latin America and a channel to promote communication and exchange with local buyers.

 

     The exhibitors this year mainly showcased fastening products for automotive, construction & engineering, hardware products, energy-related and mechanical metal processing applications. Fastener World, the show’s exclusive stand sales agent in Taiwan, led six Taiwanese fastener manufacturers, namely Hurmg Yieh Machinery, Kay Tai Fasteners, Konfu, L&W, Spec Products and Chi Ning, to exhibit a variety of high value-added and cost-effective products and services, and meet face-to-face with buyers from Mexico and neighboring Spanish-speaking countries. However, perhaps due to the indirect impact of external unfavorable factors such as global political and economic changes or the periodic industrial demand adjustments within the region, the 3-day exhibition attracted about 2,000 visitors according to the show organizer’s statistics. There is still a lot of room for growth in the number of visitors compared to the original expectation.

 

     According to the on-site observation of Fastener World's staff, the visitors coming to Fastener World's booth this year mainly inquired about automotive and construction fasteners, and preferred collaborating with suppliers who have already established a deep-rooted presence in the Latin American markets. In addition, since Spanish is the main medium of communication among local manufacturers, those who are interested in entering the local markets should pay special attention to the availability of professionals who can communicate in Spanish.

 

     In the section on import duty rates, in order to curb unfair competition from countries/regions that do not have a free trade agreement with Mexico, on April 22, 2024, the Mexican federal government announced another revision of the duty rates on specific product items, including fasteners. Originally, the ad valorem duty rate of the involved fasteners (falling within HS codes 7318.11.01 / 7318.12.91 / 7318.13.01 / 7318.14.01 / 7318.15.04 / 7318.15.99 / 7318.16.06 / 7318.19.99 / 7318.22.91 / 7318.23.02 / 7318.24. 03 / 7318.29.99) was 25% per kilogram. Starting from April 23, 2024 to April 23, 2026, the rate will be temporarily adjusted to 35%.

 

     The organizer has also announced that the next edition will be held on September 4-6, 2025 at the same venue. For more information about this show or if you are interested in exploring the American market, please contact the sales dept. of Fastener World, the show’s exclusive sales agent in Taiwan (Email: sales@fastener-world. com.tw) for more information.

 

 

     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)

 

 

 

     Fastener Poland, the annual professional event for the fastener industry in Central and Eastern Europe, was held at Expo Krakow on Sep. 25-26. More than 140 exhibitors from Poland, Germany, Italy, China, the Czech Rep., Taiwan, the UK, Turkey, Pakistan, Malta, the U.S., the UAE, Denmark, and India registered for the show, with Taiwan and China being the largest overseas pavilions of the show. The exhibits included industrial fasteners and fixings, building fasteners, assembly and installation systems, fastener manufacturing technology, storage and distribution equipment, and related services. 

 

     Krakow, once the capital of Poland, has played an important role in Poland's history and is now one of the country's major business, culture and science centers. Poland's proximity to Ukraine, Germany, the Czech Rep., Slovakia, Belarus, and Lithuania makes it a key hub for trade among countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Coupled with the rapid economic development and GDP growth of Central and Eastern European countries in recent years, the demand for construction and automotive fasteners continues to increase. In the first 8 months of 2024, Poland ranked as Taiwan's 9th largest fastener export partner. Taiwan exported nearly 20,000 metric tons of fasteners to Poland, showing a significant increase of 31.69% over the same period of last year. Poland also had the highest YoY increase among Taiwan's top 10 fastener export partners.

 

     Optimistic about the future economic development of the Central and Eastern European market, Fastener World also led nearly 30 Taiwanese exhibitors to exhibit and exchange with local buyers face-to-face this year, including De Hui, Gold Head, Ie Perng, Lin-Yu, Loyal & Birch, Ray Fu, Shiang Ging, SPEC, Sprout Tooling, Taiwan Precision Fastener, TIFI, Wa Tai, Yuding, Yeswin, Joker, Jiele, Homn Reen, Hoplite, Konfu, Mao Chuan, Riu Fastener, San Yung, Tai Huei, Chite, and Chen Tai. On the first day of the show, many local buyers from Poland came to look for potential exhibiting suppliers. As there were many exhibitors from Taiwan and China this year, it was also more convenient for local buyers wanting to purchase high quality or competitively priced fasteners or even machinery & equipment from Asia. On the first day of the show, the organizer also invited several industry experts to give speeches on market trends.

 

     Although this show is relatively a regional exhibition for the Central & East European market, Fastener World's on-site staff also met visitors from Iceland, the UAE, the UK, and even Ukraine coming to inquire about specific customized products, in addition to inquiries from local buyers. A few Taiwanese exhibitors told Fastener World that they had heard that the Polish market is a new star in the Central and Eastern European market, so in addition to exchanging ideas with local buyers during the show, they also arranged to meet with a few local manufacturers after the show in the hope of bringing more orders back to Taiwan through this business trip. Timo Scholle, Managing Director of Achilles Seibert, a famous fastener importer from Germany, who also participated in this year's show, told Fastener World that it was their first time to participate in Fastener Poland and they hoped to know more about the Polish market and expect more cooperation opportunities.

 

     The organizer has announced that the next edition will be held on Oct. 15-16 at the same venue. For more details about the show, please stay tuned for the latest info at www.fastener-world.com.

 

 

 

 

 

     Metalex Vietnam is an annual exhibition for precision engineering and manufacturing professionals on metal processing and related equipment applications, and is the more representative exhibition for precision machinery, metal tools and equipment in the South Vietnam region, which was held from October 2 to 4 at S.E.C.C. in Ho Chi Minh City. The theme of the show this year was “FROM LINES TO CYCLE - BUIDLING A CARBON NEUTRAL MANUFACTURING LEGACY”, hoping to offer a one-stop destination for all world-class technology providers and local industrialists to exchange breakthrough ideas and business know-how.

 

     The show this year had a total of 188 exhibitors from 14 countries/regions including Vietnam, China, Japan, Germany, Taiwan, South Korea, Italy, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and USA. Vietnam, China, Japan and Germany were the major groups of exhibitors. The products on display were mostly about sheet metal working, precision engineering, molds and dies, automation, machine centers, robotic, metrology & testing device, pumps and valves, raw materials handling & storage, welding, surface treatment, painting, chemical, packaging, hand tools, safety equipment, software systems, wires and tubes, jigs, and so on.

 

     The show this year presented lots of latest high-tech precision engineering and machining technologies, attracting many relevant professionals. According to the observation of our staff on-site, who interacted with some visitors during the 3-day exhibition, this year's visitors were mostly importers and manufacturers from the field of precision metal processing parts, engineering fastening components, and machine tools, whose demand for these products mainly focused on satisfying the local manufacturing industry of Vietnam. Fastener World’s booth was also visited by the purchasing representatives of some leading fastener-related companies such as Böllhoff.

 

     According to statistics, Vietnam relies on imports for more than 70% of its machinery and equipment, and is now the world's 8th largest importer of machine tools. Benefiting from the growth of Vietnam's automobile/motorcycle and consumer electronics manufacturing industries, Vietnam is also a very important export partner for Taiwan's machine tools. Vietnam Association of Mechanical Industries (VAMI) estimates that, from 2019 to 2030 the market demand for machinery will reach about US$310 billion.

 

     The organizer has not yet announced the date and venue for the next edition. For more information, please stay tuned to Fastener World’s website at www.fastener-world.com.

 

 

     International Hardware Expo Taiwan (IHT) took place on Oct. 16-18 at Taichung International Exhibition Center and was co-located with Taiwan International Tools & Hardware Expo (TITE Expo) at the same venue. The Expo was divided into 7 thematic zones, including Tools & Accessories, Automotive Part & Maintenance Equipment, Garden/Outdoor/Agricultural & DIY, Building & Locks, Metal Processing Equipment & Work Safety, Fasteners & Fitting, Smart Manufacturing.

 

     As the location of the Expo is close to the hardware & hand tool industry clusters in Central Taiwan, it is easier to attract the neighboring professional hardware & hand tool companies to visit the Expo to observe the industry's updated technology or to look for cooperation opportunities. This year's show was based on the theme of “LESS”, with special emphasis on the trend of low carbon, environmental protection, energy saving and sustainability. According to the official data released after the Expo, there were more than 270 exhibitors registered this year with an exhibition area of 7,000 sq. m, hoping to win more domestic and overseas orders through the 3-day exhibition in Taiwan, which has an annual export of more than NT$100 billion.

 

     According to the on-site observation of Fastener World's staff, this year's exhibitors were mostly hand tools, small hardware and gardening peripheral products exhibitors, and relatively few fasteners and fasteners exhibitors. Domestic manufacturers and small and medium-sized OEMs made up the majority of the visitors, with fewer foreign buyers. However, there were also some buyers who mainly purchased hardware and hand tools at the screw exhibitors' booths, hoping to expand their product offerings.

 

     In order to enable participants to learn first-hand about AI automation, digital transformation, energy saving & carbon reduction, industrial energy, carbon fees, government resources and generational heritage, the organizer also invited IDA of MOEA, Taiwan Hand Tool Association, and a number of colleges/universities, large manufacturers, and expert reps to deliver keynote speeches. Chairman Lai of Taiwan Hand Tool Association, said in his speech that the hand tool industry in Central Taiwan has a deep foundation. Mr. Chih-Ching Yang, Director General of IDB of MOEA, said that the government will continue to promote AI and low-carbon transformation and help enterprises maintain their competitiveness through favorable policies such as the special budget for the post-pandemic period, the cultivation of AI talents, and rental tax incentives.

 

     The next edition of the Expo will be held at the Taichung International Convention & Exhibition Center, and the organizer is looking forward to further enhancing the strength of Taiwan's hardware industry and its supply chain through a better exhibition environment.

 

 

 

 

     Korea's annual manufacturing industry event, Korea Metal Week, was held from October 16th to 18th at Center 1 of the KINTEX exhibition ground, with the support of a number of local Korean manufacturing industry associations.

 

     Nearly 300 exhibitors from Korea, China, India, Japan, Germany, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Taiwan, the U.S., Russia, and Cyprus came to showcase a variety of industrial metal products and peripheral equipment & services. In addition to the largest number of Korean local exhibitors, about 90 Chinese exhibitors formed the largest international pavilion at this year's event, while the second largest pavilion was from India (more than 20 exhibitors), showing Chinese and Indian exhibitors’ optimism about the recent domestic market in Korea.

 

     The show was divided into 14 thematic zones, including: Fastener & Wire, Foundry & Die-Casting, Automobile & Machine Parts, Press & Forging, Tube & Pipe, Surface Treatment & Painting, 3D Technology, Aluminum, Laser & Welding, Fundamental Manufacturing Technology, Pump Technology Industry, Tools, Composite, Control, Measurement & Automation. The clear separation of exhibits made it easy for buyers to find interested exhibitors quickly. During the first two days of the show, the organizer also invited experts and representatives to hold a total of 13 seminars on ESG, vehicle lightweighting, environmental sustainability, and injection molding technology, which are the most concerned topics in the industry. “This show offers an exceptional opportunity to meet domestic and overseas buyers and exchange ideas on relevant technologies in the industry,” said Hongyu Lee, CEO and Chairman of the show.

 

     Fastener World also participated as exhibitor in the “Fastener & Wire” zone this year and interacted with many Korean buyers. According to our observation, most of the visitors who came to Fastener World's booth were small and medium-sized fastener traders or importers, and some of them acclaimed that Fastener World Magazines are a worth-reading industry toolkit, which is very helpful for them to find suitable manufacturers to place orders.

 

     Korea is one of the most important industrial products exporting countries in Asia, and the development momentum of its supply chains of metal parts processing and manufacturing is more mature and robust than that of other emerging countries in Southeast Asia. Its demand for fasteners for automotive, electronics/3C and heavy industries is more obvious. The latest Korean official statistics show that Korea's exports in September 2024 set a new record for the largest single-month export, and showed growth for the 12th consecutive month. Coupled with the competitive advantage created by the signing of FTAs with Europe and the U.S., Korea’s exports to Europe, the U.S., the Middle East, China, and ASEAN all showed growth as well.

 

 

 

     As Taiwan's eighth-largest export market for fasteners and Europe's second-largest fastener manufacturing nation, Italy has over 200 fastener manufacturers, with more than 75% of fasteners exported globally. Fastener Fair Italy is a grand and international biennial event for the local fastener industry, held this year from October 29 to 30 at the Allianz MiCo Convention Center in Milan. The 4th edition attracted over 200 exhibitors, primarily from Europe, along with exhibitors from Taiwan, China, India, and Turkey. Some exhibitors aimed to reconnect with existing clients to address their needs and provide replenishment services, while seeking to develop new European clients and secure more high-value orders. 

 

     Among the exhibitors, there were 12 Taiwanese exhibitors participating this year, including those who registered booths through Fastener World, including: ChiRek Fastener, Cornwall Enterprise, Joker Industrial, Kai Shyun Enterprise, Mao Chuan Industrial, Ray Fu Enterprise, Vertigo Forming Solutions, Wan Iuan Enterprise, and Chun Yu Works. We observed familiar faces among European guests who had previously attended exhibitions in Taiwan, and in Fastener Fair Italy they visited Indian exhibitors' booths. 

 

     Additionally, particularly among Chinese exhibitors, we noticed competition between European companies and Chinese exhibitors at the fair. Some equipment suppliers said that “Chinese exhibitors are competing with many countries in fastener products, and plus, they offer machinery that is 30% to 50% cheaper than Taiwan’s, coupled with faster delivery times. Their future competitiveness should not be underestimated.” These equipment suppliers hope to gradually shift their focus towards providing smart and higher-quality equipment to European customers. 

 

     This fair can be seen as a precursor to Fastener Fair Global scheduled for March next year in Stuttgart, Germany. Most visitors to this event were importers from EU countries, end-users of fasteners (primarily construction fasteners), and distributors. During the two days, Fastener World engaged with many international visitors, including new and known faces, introducing them to Taiwan's outstanding fastener companies while exchanging insights on economic prospects in Taiwan and Europe. Some visitors expressed optimism that the European economy would not decline further and could trend toward positive demand recovery. 

 

     The fair’s organizer has yet to announce the date and location for the next edition. For more exhibition updates, follow up on Fastener World's official website at www.fastener-world.com