FASTTEC IS FAST BECOMING PART OF OUR SHOW CALENDAR

With 139 exhibitors from Russia (78 companies), Western Europe and the Far East (including 36 companies from Taiwan) displaying a wide range of products, there was something for everyone at the Fasttec show in Moscow. The event attracted a very good attendance (over 3,000) during the four-days, and more than half of the visitors (53 per cent) were seeking new suppliers of fasteners.

Only one UK company took stand space – Northern Precision Ltd (www.npfasteners.com) of Doncaster – and sales director Steve Smith commented: “This is a market with great potential and a long-term future.” And although Northern Precision’s attendance wasn’t without its problems (see story, below) Steve Smith added that “by attending Fasttec we have exceeded all our expectations, particularly in terms of the interest shown in our sheet metal fasteners”.

Like Northern Precision, Master Vida attended for the first time, and this manufacturer of screws and nuts, as well as having a evolving furniture hardware manufacturing division, said “the response had been fantastic” – so much so that by the end of the first day the company had re-booked for next year’s event.

On the other hand, Masterfix’s sales manager observed that the number of other exhibitors displaying similar products distracted visitors from his stand, and as a result he felt the show could have been better.

Oddone Sartore of Sariv srl said it had been a very successful show and in comparison to the previous year’s event there had been a marked increase in prospective customers. As a result, he was looking forward to increased business levels during the coming year.

Overall, 78 per cent of exhibitors were satisfied with the number and quality of business contacts made during the show, according to Natalia Chekashkina from the Fasttec organisational team, and 46 per cent said they would take part next year.

With Russia’s GDP in 2004 standing at 6.9 per cent – fuelled by consumer demand and rising investment – there is no doubt that Russia is an increasingly attractive market and, as a consequence, one that offers numerous opportunities. It is therefore no surprise that Fasttec is becoming an established part of the European fastening fair calendar, but if the experiences of Northern Precision are any guide then the show will have to work much harder to encourage western European companies to attend.