Strong début in Stuttgart: Moulding Expo performs above average in the official survey results. 78% of the exhibitors surveyed rate the event as "very good/good", 90% would recommend MEX and 83% consider the quality of professional visitors as "very good/good". "These are superb figures, which are also being currently confirmed in our conversations with the exhibitors", states Florian Niethammer, Senior Project Manager of Moulding Expo. "Over 100 exhibitors have already booked their stand for 2017. As an event organiser, we are delighted that our organisation, date and frequency, as well as the location of Stuttgart, received great praise and thus contributed to the success of the event." Moreover, 74% of the exhibitors are certain that MEX will establish itself as a permanent fixture and continue to grow.
Visitors: Industry needs this new trade fair The satisfaction of the exhibitors is also reflected in the visitor survey. 70% want to come back again and 83% would recommend the trade fair. "The feedback that the market needs a new trade fair with the right exhibitors caught our attention", states Niethammer. "An important unique selling point of our event is the high number of tool, pattern and mould makers at 39%. A concept which has proved a success and which we will continue to pursue."
In total, around 14,000 visitors (excluding synergy visitors from Control) travelled from 52 countries to Stuttgart to be at the première. 31% of visitors travelled over 100 kilometres to Moulding Expo and 21% over 300 kilometres. "As a result, MEX managed to be certified as an international trade fair right from the get-go. The certification according to FKM, the Society for Voluntary Control of Fair and Exhibition Figures, is an important seal of approval", according to the project manager. 75% of visitors came from industry and 36% from the middle, higher or top management level of companies. A third of the visitors came from smaller companies (up to 50 employees), a third from medium-sized companies (up to 500 employees) and a third from large companies (1,000 and more employees) – a very homogeneous composition.
"For us, it was also important that at our trade fair the industrial buyers and the suppliers of tool, pattern and mould making exchanged information and ideas directly", states Florian Niethammer. "We succeeded with the forum of the German Association of Materials Management, Purchasing and Logistics." The participants of the BME Forum, including several decision-makers from important large companies, were brought together with the exhibitors of Moulding Expo during guided tours of the trade fair. Niethammer also rated the concept for the presentation of apprenticeship and in-service training in tool, pattern and mould making as a success. Under the title "MEX: Training 4.0", the associations and companies in Hall 4 provided an interactive presentation of the wide range of apprenticeship and training options in the industry.
But the first Moulding Expo managed to not only entertain the young talent - it also provided a stage for a pioneer of tool construction and mould making: Karl-Heinz Möller. In a ceremony during the exhibitor evening the industry awarded the 93-year-old publisher with a lifetime achievement award.
MEX 2017: Preparations in full swing According to Florian Niethammer, Moulding Expo still has development potential in its international alignment. In 2015, 25% of the exhibitors came from abroad, mainly from the neighbouring countries in Europe. This focus is to be retained. "We don’t want unreasonable growth, but we specifically want to open more markets together with our partners", states the MEX Project Manager. Every new exhibitor must fit into the concept of the trade fair. "The quality of the products and services on offer thus remains the decisive criterion."
The next Moulding Expo will take place in May 2017. The exact date will be announced in autumn 2015.
