Mahavir Jain, Sales & Marketing, Asb Tubes, India

This is Mr. Jain's first time at the wire and Tube exhibition. He has heard many positive things so far and has put up with quite a bit of hassle to visit Germany this year. He says: "Due to the situation, there were additional visa regulations that make entry complicated. I have been in the industry since 2014 and now it was finally time to come to Düsseldorf. My objective is very broad and I have a lot planned: current trends, new technologies, as well as contacting potential customers and suppliers." Asb Tubes specialises in ERW (Electric Resistance Welding) tubes and was founded in India in 2015.

Sten Lukk, Production Manager/Board Member and Hendrik Lukk, CEO, Hest Fencing, Estonia

The brothers are part of the management of the family-run company. The core business is fence production. Because the two young entrepreneurs are in Düsseldorf for the first time, they also want to visit the city and enjoy the old town. But the business goals have priority. Hendrik Lukk states: "Our growth has been 50% lately. As a result, we are looking for suppliers, which is why we are in Düsseldorf the entire week and take a lot of time." Both are proud of the successful record. Sten Lukk says: "Despite many negative external influences, we have made the right decisions and made our business crisis-proof."

Gerd Ritter, Managing Director, Intertrade & Service GmbH, Germany
Vita Barasova, FTM Technology SIA (LLC.), Latvia

The two long-time business partners use the wire&Tube for a personal reunion and visit some stands together. The German manager says: "I am looking for potent manufacturers. Recently, the market has cleared up. Companies have disappeared or merged. What is important to me is know-how for large pipes for gas and oil pipelines." Ms. Barasova states, "I use the fair to expand my international network. In turbulent times, flexibility is very important. I hope that the markets will calm down soon."

Marija Neskovic, Procurement Director, Slavko Munitlak, Executive Director of Kraljevo Branch and Vujica Samailovic, Procurement Manager Inipromet, Serbia

On the way to the next appointment, we meet the team from Unipromet. The trio is in a good mood and has been very successful so far. Mr Samailovic states: "We were able to keep all our appointments. Everything here is very comfortable and well organised. The fact that it was not so crowded on the first day of the fair is not a bad thing for us." The two colleagues agree and add: "Besides wire&Tube, CIPE in Beijing is another must-attend event." Founded in 1989, Unipromet is a private family business specialising in the manufacture and installation of safety fencing for roads, noise barriers, folding tubes and various steel structures.

"Die Bedeutung unserer Branche ist nach wie vor groß. Die letzten Jahre haben gezeigt, welchen hohen Stellenwert die Druck- und Papiertechnik im täglichen Leben einnimmt: Ohne Druck wird nichts versendet oder verpackt. Die Industrie entwickelt sich weiter und arbeitet kontinuierlich an Verbesserungen, wobei die Themen Digitalisierung und Nachhaltigkeit ganz oben auf der Agenda stehen.

Wir alle vermissen die persönlichen Treffen, die auch in unserer Branche so wichtig sind. Die drupa ist als lebendige Präsenzmesse unverzichtbar, um gemeinsam Ideen zu entwickeln und durch einen produktiven und kreativen Austausch die Branche voranzutreiben.

Ich freue mich auf die drupa 2024, wenn sich die Druckindustrie wieder in Düsseldorf trifft."

Baher Mousa, Managing Director and Momen Mohamed, Senior Sales Manager, Umsco, Egypt

Both work for Umsco company from Egypt. Their main focus is on overhead cranes and heat exchange systems. This is their third time at wire&Tube and their second day at the trade fair. Baher Mousa talks about the journey and how he has perceived the trade fair so far: "Düsseldorf is easy to reach for us. We were able to come here by direct flight. The journey was relaxed. We have been able to get a lot done since yesterday. We appreciate that the halls are not yet crowded again and that we can consistently pursue our business." Both say goodbye from the warm midday sun to get their next appointment.

Dominik Herring, Trader, Steel Department, Hanwa CO., LTD., United Kingdom

Dominik Herring works as a trader for a British company. The holding is based in Japan. He visits wire&Tube together with his international colleagues. He states: "We are a group consisting of English, Dutch and Asians. Business is very good at the moment. The demand for Asian products is increasing." Since this is his first visit to Düsseldorf, he has no comparison to other years. But compared to other trade shows, such as SSW in Holland, he finds wire&Tube impressively international.

Ludovica Vittoria Viotto, Marketing und Communication Specialist, Elettromeccanica Viottro Srl, Italy ans Lara Pirollo, Marketing Specialist, Pirollo Danilo srl, Italy

The two Italian women roam Hall 2 of the Tube together. When they look at their business cards, it is obvious that they do not work for the same company. Ms. Viotto states: "We are good acquaintances and got to know each other at another trade show. Today we are using the day to see each other again and to find new customers. Those are our priorities." Ms. Viotto works in marketing, and her companion, Ms. Pirollo is studying supply chain management in parallel to thier work at Pirollo Danilo. For is especially important to gather new impressions.

Abhishek Mukherjee, General Manager (Operations & Projects) Wire Devision und Raghuchandra Rao, Director and Blue Nile Rolling Mills LTD., Kenya

The Blue Nile Group from Kenya is, among other things, a cable producer. The two colleagues have come the long way to spend a day doing business at wire&Tube. Mr. Raghuchandra tells: "We want to learn about the latest technologies in manufacturing processes and, at best, see machines and how they are used." Abhishek Mukherjee is pleased with the size of the show: "We've been in three halls so far. To justify traveling so far, we need a lot of input. That's exactly what we find here."

Carlos Martinez, Project Manager, Piecsa Equipo y Consumibles, Mexiko and Mauricio Ramirez, RC Alambres, Mexico

Both are unerringly on their way to a certain stand on the wire. The special thing: Mauricio Ramirez is a visitor and at the same time a customer of the Piecsa company. They need a third party to solve a complicated task in the field of wire cutting machines. Mr. Ramirez says: "I find it very great that we can respond so spontaneously to my needs as a customer here. Short distances, competent contact persons who are able to make decisions make this possible. That's what makes a trade show so special." Mr. Martinez confirms the positive impression and the quality of this year's contacts.

Ivan Tér, Strategic Purchase Manager, Prakab Prazska Kabelovna, s.r.o., Czech Republic
Ivan Tér paraphrases his trade show plans: "Today is the second day and tomorrow I'm already going back. Planning is very tight, which is why I couldn't attend any conventions, unfortunately." The Prague-based manager is dealing with supply bottlenecks. He elaborates, "We are currently in a dilemma. The market in Europe is currently very expensive. And unreliable. However, it is also difficult to switch to Asia. Container costs are going steeply up." Nevertheless, he chalks up his stay as a success, because somehow a solution can always be found, Mr. Tèr says optimistically.