Massimo Sartorio, Sales Manager, Surface Engineering Srl, Magenta (MI), Italy

Surface Engineering is a small company specialising in grinding, polishing and deburring. The company has been an exhibitor at the Tube since 2004. The sales manager praises the fair: "It is the most important fair for the industry. We are currently expecting a lot of changes and that's why it's important to track down the latest trends and developments." Especially in terms of customer structure, Surface Engineering would like to orient itself more towards Europe and the USA. Since the Tube is internationally oriented, the company wants to expand business contacts in Düsseldorf.

Vivek Agarwal, COO (Polymer & Exim), Vishal Pipes Limited, India

Incorporated in 1988, Vishal Pipes Ltd. is a big manufacturer of Steel Pipes & Tubes, Steel Poles, Steel Structure and Polymer pipes. Mr. Agarwal is the second generation to run the company. He reports: "It's day one of the fair and it hasn't been that busy yet. But we are optimistic. Everything is changing at the moment, which is both: an opportunity and a risk. With China being closed off, for example, we're getting a lot of additional enquiries." Despite increasing restrictions in the organisation and uncertainties due tot he pandemic, having no stand at the Tube was never an option for the Indian businessman this year. The fair is too important to him.

Michele Amenduni, Chairman, Gruppo Amenduni Tubi Acciaio, Italy

Michele Amenduni is founder of the Amenduni Group. He reports on his strategy: "One of our success factors for continuous growth is diversification, expansion and development of different competences." The group includes the companies Tecnotubi, Alessio Tubi, Zinchitalia and Antares Tubi Acciaio. He adds, "Tube plays a significant role for us, as it is the most important trade show in our industry." Critical of the development of the competitive situation, he expresses his opinion: "Not all competitors adhere to a moral code in current times, which results in a distortion of the market. Especially when it comes to pricing policy. But we are strong and stand up to it. Our service and quality have proven themselves."

Christoph Sommer, Dipl.-Ing. (FH), CEO, Sommer Maschinenbau GmbH, Germany

SOMMER Maschinenbau GmbH was founded in 2010 as the successor to SOMMER Rohrtechnik and develops and builds bending systems for profiles, solid material and tubes. The entrepreneur has been an exhibitor for many years and is looking forward to the coming trade fair days. He says: "The presentation of our tube plasma cutting machine is particularly important to us. It is still young and offers our customers the advantage of a very low purchase price." Target customers come, for example, from the steel construction, metal construction, shop fitting and furniture industries. The managing director is happy about full order books but, like many companies, is affected by supplier problems.

Markus Ehrgott, Vertriebsleiter, LBI oil free GmbH, Germany

LBI oil free manufactures mineral oil-free Polymer-based metalworking fluids and gels in German production. Markus Ehrgott explains the background: "We are a master distributor of IRMCO. The company developed the technology in the USA more than 30 years ago. We make sure that we offer customers process-tailored solutions." The sales manager is positive about the course of the trade fair: "The quality of the discussions is exceptionally high. Our focus is on acquiring new customers and having a booth at Tube is effective for this objective."

Dr. Ullrich Speer, Vice President Sales und Marketing, Bühler Redex GmbH, Germany

The Pforzheim-based company Bühler Redex specializes in the production of complete cold rolling mills. As an independent company, it is part of the international Redex Group. Dr. Ullrich Speer draws a positive balance on the penultimate day: "For us, the trade show went very well. Even the traditional not very strong first day of the trade show was above average." The manager responsible for sales praises the good preparation of all visitors. He says: "Exclusively every conversation was valuable and serious. Compared to other trade show years, this year stands out positively."