wire & Tube 2024 Review

 Michael Sanzenbacher, Sales Director, Laserteile4you – Online-Shop, Leutenbach, Germany

Laserteile4you was founded as a brand in 2010 and is part of the traditional metalworking company Kaysser from Leutenbach. Michael Sanzenbacher explains the development: "In order to position ourselves digitally both internally and externally, we have created our own brand world. The Laserteile4you business unit is consistently digitally process-orientated in order to meet customer needs in terms of delivery time, quality and price." The acceptance of an online shop is growing steadily: "We are noticing that a new generation of buyers in companies is taking responsibility and accepting our digital offering. We were also lucky with the timing, as the coronavirus crisis has boosted online retail."

Dongwei Chen, CEO and Qing Fu, Sales Manager, FDK Rohrleitung, Eibelstadt, Germany

The special thing about FDK Rohrleitung GmbH are Chinese roots. Dongwei Chen provides information: “Our production is in China. We have founded our own company in Germany, which is primarily used for logistics and storage. That brings us closer to the European market. Our goal is to be regionally close to our European customers.” The promising young company was founded in 2015. Maintaining personal contacts is important for the agile team. Qing Fu adds: “As an internationally oriented company, we use wire & Tube to acquire new customers. Our target customers come from the petroleum and chemical industries, paper industry and water treatment plants, to name a few.”

Dott.ssa Marta De Vivo, Sales Manager and Mario De Vivo, Managing Director, GEM S.r.l. Torino, Italy

Gem S.r.l. is an Italian company specialising in the development and manufacture of components and machines for resistance welding. Typical customers come from the automotive industry, the security sector and the household sector, such as manufacturers of ovens and dishwashers. Marta De Vivo emphasises the importance of the trade fair stand: "Our presence at wire & Tube shows that we are successful because our customers perceive us as a brand." Mario De Vivo talks about customer service: "Our recipe for success is that we provide customers with long-term service and advice. We respond to their individual needs." Both emphasise the importance of a diversified corporate strategy in order to compensate for fluctuations in demand caused by crises.

Claes Johansson, Sales Manager, Quick-Set AB, Bredaryd, Sweden

The Swedish manufacturer produces louvre plugs, protective caps for external and internal pipe sealing and glazing blocks for the installation of insulating glass. Claes Johansson is satisfied with the trade fair: "We generate 85% of our turnover from exports, which is why we meet many business partners at wire & Tube. Our focus is the automotive industry, which has been subject to fluctuations in recent years. However, the trend in orders is currently positive." The niche provider and hidden champion is also benefiting from the shift towards electromobility. The sales employee is pleased: "We are showing our machines here and are getting a positive response. The trade fair is also successful for us this year."

Jerry L. Bupp, Vice President Sales Operations & Marketing, National Machinery Group of NM Group Global, Tiffin, USA

National Machinery is a major exhibitor at wire & Tube and has been a regular exhibitor from the very beginning. The international group is a global leader in metal forming and develops and produces machines for cold and warm forming. Jerry L. Bupp summarizes the trade fair positively: "We are very satisfied and have made many successful customer contacts. Things are going better than two years ago. Especially against the backdrop of a cautious European economy and global challenges such as high material costs, our result is a success". The Vice President cites two reasons for the good business development: "We are helping our customers to produce regionally. This has been a strong trend since corona. And we are focusing on global sales markets to compensate for temporary fluctuations in demand."

Nicolas Sevigny, Sales Manager and Chantal Chamberland, MAGNA INOXYDABLE ET ALUMINIUM, Montreal, Canada

The Magna company specializes in the trading and processing of metals, especially aluminum and stainless steel. They offer a wide range of metal products and services including cutting, heat treating and ultrasonic testing. They invested a lot of time in preparing for the trade fair so that they could keep their scheduled appointments and still have time to find out about innovations.The visitors are looking forward to the week-long stay at the trade fair, as Nicolas Sevigny explains: “Since the trade fair is very large, we need the entire duration to meet new and existing business partners. To make the journey worthwhile, we want to use the time well. This also includes exploring Düsseldorf a bit.” 

 Sotirios Vasilopulos, Deputy Manager for Cenergy, Raw Materials Category, Athens, Greece and Hellenic Cables ICME ECAB, Pop Nicolae, Purchasing Manager, Bucharest, Romania

The visitors work in different companies but belong to the same company group. Sotirios Vasilopulos is delighted to meet his colleague and explains: "We are often in contact via telephone and the internet. We use the trade fair to exchange ideas in person and look for suppliers together." Pop Nicolae talks about wire & Tube: "We've already had successful meetings. Finding the right contact person and decision-makers quickly is a great advantage of the trade fair. We were able to scrutinise suppliers from the USA and Asia and are very satisfied. Our focus is on basic materials for cable production and every relevant company is present here in Düsseldorf."

Katrin Heidbreder, CEO, DIGIBOX GmbH, Düsseldorf, Germany

wire & Tube is a highlight for the Düsseldorf native. She explains: "My agency specialises in technical companies, which is why a visit is worthwhile every time. We broaden our horizons for our customers in terms of innovations, processing methods and technologies." Mrs. Heidbreder had appointments with existing and new customers. She is optimistic about the current problems in the industrial sector and explains: "I believe that companies will be able to overcome the challenges of our time. I see my agency as an important building block, because we provide support for successful communication.

Lukas Wisniewski, Betriebswirt VWA, Einkauf und Disposition, Thomé Maschinenbau GmbH, Hermeskeil, Germany

The mechanical engineering expert from near Trier has just arrived and describes his first impression: "I recognised a lot of big names straight away." Lukas Wisniewski is looking for products with special requirements for his company. He is the first of his colleagues to be at the trade fair today. Later, they want to discuss the trade fair topics together. He explains: "The pipes have to be produced seamlessly and fulfil other individual specifications. We are demanding because we have had bad experiences in the past. At wire & Tube, I am able to discuss my topics in detail with others on the same basis, so that we come a little closer to our goal during the trade fair." Thomé Maschinenbau was founded in 1990 and has around 60 employees.

David Thiele, Züblin AG, Stuttgart, Germany

David Thiele works for one of the largest construction companies in Germany. Züblin AG specialises in civil engineering, turnkey construction, tunnelling and other specialist civil engineering projects. He is at wire & Tube for one day and has a specific order. He explains his mission: "We will soon be starting a new major project. We need a bracing concept for a 38 metre deep excavation pit. To put it simply: It means that everything remains stable and nothing collapses." The site manager is looking for competent pipe producers for this task. He adds: "At the trade fair, I'm particularly interested in innovative solutions. It's about approaches that do justice to the project and optimise our current approach."

Moacir M. Fernandes, Madiba Metals, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Madiba Metals is specialises in the import and distribution of special alloys. The company also offers project consulting and engineering services for applications with special metallic materials. This is the Brazilian's second time at wire & Tube in Düsseldorf. He is impressed by the size of the trade fair and describes his impressions: "In the limited time I have at the trade fair, it is almost impossible to do everything I would like to do. The extensive programme is overwhelming." His goal is to find suppliers. His core business is the distribution of pipes in North America. He appreciates the friendly people in Germany: "Düsseldorf is a very nice city and I like coming here," he says.

Michael Duchesneau, Process Engineering Manager, Buld Wire Operations, KALAS, Lancaster and Denise Duchesneau, Pennsylvania, USA

Kalas Manufacturing is a leading manufacturer of copper wire and cable and has been supplying products to various industries including automotive, marine and construction since 1958. Michael Duchesneau is accompanied by his wife. She wants to gain an insight into her husband's work and the two of them meet business partners together, such as SAMP. Denise Duchesneau is delighted: "We come from the USA and also use the time for private excursions. But it's still interesting to visit the trade fair as non-specialists." The engineer has only been working in the industry for two years and is exploring the trade fair for the first time: "I'm amazed at how many exhibitors there are. In addition to the well-known companies and existing business contacts, I get to know many unknown but important suppliers."

Monika Kruse, Axel Ensminger, Dennis Duda, Indapp GmbH, Anröchte, Germany

The team from Anröchte have chosen today, Friday, as the day of the trade fair and are meeting with suppliers. Monika Kruse explains: "We don't have any fixed dates, but we have made a precise plan in advance of who we want to visit. On the last day of the fair, it is often possible to visit stands spontaneously and talk to the people in charge." Dennis Duda adds: "We are here to keep up to date with the latest technology. wire & Tube showcases innovations that will set standards in the future." Axel Ensminger is still quite new to the company and is attending for the first time and says: "I'm looking forward to my first impressions and the international trade fair feeling."