Press release
In the context of a watchmaking and jewellery market in full recovery, the 17th edition of EPHJ-EPMT- SMT ended with very positive indicators, both in terms of business and attendance which remains at the same level as previous years.
Now that the doors of EPHJ-EPMT-SMT have been closed after 4 days of activity, the 820 exhibitors, as well as the organizers can smile. "The key issue of this 2018 edition is what exhibitors tell us about the quality of the international and Swiss visitors », explains the trade show manager Alexandre Catton . « This results in a very important volume of business concluded or bound for upcoming signing ».
The recovery of the watchmaking and jewellery market appears to have had direct effects on the conclusion of these businesses and the order intake. Morale is good and the indicators are positive. The same goes for the synergies between the different sectors of the show with a very significant increase in exhibitors active in the medtech and a strong trend towards diversification.
The EPHJ-EPMT-SMT therefore remains at the same level in terms of participation and attendance as in 2017, i.e. around 20’000 visitors from Switzerland and all continents. « Upon their request, we have stabilized the number of exhibitors with the purposes of controling our growth and keeping the friendly spirit which characterises the show, "says Olivier Saenger, co-founder.
The more than 800 exhibitors occupied the same area as last year on one level with the addition of the successful European Start-up Pole. As every year since its creation, the EPHJ-EPMT-SMT therefore continues to bring together all the driving forces of high precision at the end of spring.
Another highlight of this edition is the very large number of world premieres and innovations presented. Revealing a state of mind that characterises subcontracting, SMEs and start-ups are constantly innovating. This explains the large number of brand or finished product representatives among visitors.
The victory of SY&SE, a start-up of the Haute Ecole Arc Ingénierie based in La Chaux-de- Fonds, at the 2018 Grand Prix des Exposants perfectly illustrates the amazing innovativeness of the exhibitors. Its technology of assembly of materials without the use of glue or welding is a real technological innovation which seduced the Jury and the other exhibitors. This project was supported by the Confederation and is hosted by in the business incubator Néode.
