cens logo

Taiwan Exhibitors Upbeat with Results from Their Participation in IHF 2018

2018/03/21 | By Alan Lu

With over 2,700 exhibitors from 55 countries and 80 percent of them from outside Germany, International Hardware Fair Cologne 2018 (IHF 2018), held on March 4 through 7 in Cologne, Germany, again lived up to its reputation as the world's most influential show for the global hardware industry.

To assist Taiwan-based hand tool makers further tap overseas markets, Taiwan's Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) of Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), jointly with Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), headed a group of 63 Taiwanese hand tool companies, and set up Taiwan Pavilion at the venue.

In addition to TAITRA, Taiwan Hand Tool Manufacturer' Association (TTVMA), Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei, and Taiwan Industrial Fasteners Institute, also organized exhibitor groups to promote Taiwan's innovative hand tool products.

With 354 domestic firms being present at IHF 2018, Taiwan turned out to be the second largest source of foreign exhibitors of the trade fair.

On the exhibition ground, Taiwan Pavilion occupied 11 halls with a total area of over 140,000 square meters, and displayed the island's outstanding products and services regarding to hardware, fasteners, industrial products and home maintenance tools.

Also notable is that, to further boost the presence of the hand tool industry and product images of Taiwan, TAITRA also built a semi-open Taiwan Excellence Pavilion, showing multiple products and systems with impressive features like the AL-AMS manufacturing managing system made by Kilews, an industrial electric screwdriver maker; and light-weight caulking gun launched by Siang Syuan Fu, a professional caulking gun supplier, most of which proved well-received by global visitors at the show.

Receiving orders worth over US$10 million during the exhibition, Tang Chou Ind. Co., Ltd, an engineering solution provider in the hand tool industry, said IHF has been an effective platform for the firm to explore the European market, and the firm will continue to join the exhibition in the years to come.

Meanwhile, YOKE Industrial Corp., a leading maker of industrial safe lifting parts in Taiwan, said that mainly on steady economic recovery in Europe, local market demands are very likely to witness significant growth in the near future, so now is a good point of time to explore the European market.

Jenn Feng Group, a professional electric power tool manufacturer, stressed that the exhibition has its target audience, which could help exhibitors meet professional buyers much more easily. Besides, Germany has come a long way as the largest marketplace for hand tools in Europe. The advantages said above have made the show an important entry gate to the European market.

several celebrities from Taiwan, including H.C. Yu (second from left), chairman of THTMA, came to jointly gave support to the Taiwan exhibitors (photo provided by THTMA).
several celebrities from Taiwan, including H.C. Yu (second from left), chairman of THTMA, came to jointly gave support to the Taiwan exhibitors (photo provided by THTMA).