| «LitEx-2008»: modernization – the key of the future for the founders of Ukraine |
On October, 7th-10th in the Cultural-exhibition centre "Meteor", Dnepropetrovsk, there took place the 3rd International exhibition of technologies, equipment and materials for manufacture of moulding "LitEx-2008". The organizer of exhibition is the Expo-center "Meteor", the partner is Open Company "Union-moulding".
64 leading companies from the CIS countries and Europe took part in this exhibition. 55 % of them are foreign exhibitors. Those are world leaders of branch in manufacture and deliveries of the equipment and special production for foundries: Ashland UK Limited (Great Britain), Carl Zeiss AG (Germany), DISA (Switzerland), Elkem (Norway), GUSS-EX (Poland), Heinrich-Wagner Sinto (Germany), I.M.F. S.r.l. (Italy), Kuenkel-Wagner (Germany), WEBAC (Germany) and others.
The exhibition total area has made 1271 sq. m. «LitEx-2008» was visited by more than 4 thousand experts. The atmosphere of exhibition and business dialogue on demonstration platforms of "Meteor" have shown that either consequences of world financial crisis, or political uncertainty of Ukraine – both cardinally do not affect the development of foundry manufacture in our country.
Oleg Vinogradov, technical director of Open Company "Union-moulding":
– We have successfully made it through the 90’s of last century when the quantity of foundry manufactures in Ukraine has decreased from 1450 to 750. Today I consider that the conversations about any kind of crisis of our foundry branch are groundless. "LitEx-2008" confirms that. After all, why the eminent foreign companies have arrived here? Because they have studied market situation beforehand, they have considered every possible risk and they have understood that the Ukrainian market of moulding is more than perspective. Yes, we do have certain problems related with unreasonable taxes, high prices for raw materials and worn out equipment for 80 %. But it is possible and it is necessary to solve these problems.
The exhibits presented on "LitEx-2008" have brightly illustrated tendencies of development of the domestic market: novelties in the sphere of manufacture of the power saving, forming, foundry equipment, measuring devices, equipment for processing of metal, rigging, binding materials for the foundry manufacture, new color-changing and anti-burn coverings. Here it was possible to receive professional consultations on the software and modelling of foundry processes, service and repair of the foundry equipment, high technologies and innovations.
Marjan Ivanov, candidate of technical sciences, chief of department of development, company Kunhel Wagner, Germany:
– The demand for moulding is constantly growing all over the world. But the competition from China, which has the newest equipment, is great. Today China alone produces more moulding than USA, Russia, Ukraine and Poland together. So the main task of the European founders, including Ukraine and Russia is to learn how to carry out all the orders in full, with high quality and in precise terms. The first step on this way is the participation in exhibition "LitEx", and the second is technical modernization.
Alexey Kremlev, DISA company director for Russia and the CIS countries, Denmark:
– Today in Ukraine there are many prosperous clients, therefore the prospects of deliveries of the equipment for foundry manufacture are very good. We participate in this exhibition for the first time, but we think that this participation will become traditional: many new clients, a lot of visits of partners with which we already keep in touch for a long time. At "LitEx" there are much more specialized Ukrainian enterprises, rather than at the exhibitions which take place in Moscow and which can be visited not by all the enterprises of Ukraine. Therefore we actively go to Ukraine ourselves, and "LitEx" exhibition helps us with that.
Evgenie Budanov, candidate of technical sciences, the representative of the company HWS sinto, Germany, in Ukraine:
– The reequipment of foundries comes to Ukraine definitively and irrevocably. When someone speaks from high tribunes about development of the mechanical engineering, it is necessary to understand that first of all it is a question of development of foundry manufacture, after all the majority of details in the mechanical engineering are made by means of moulding. Let’s take a car: it’s 85 % made of castings, gathered together. At the exhibition we were visited by both new, and old clients. Taking into consideration that the economic situation in the country is constantly changing, there also new customers, who come to us. Among them there are Lugansk foundry mechanical factory, Krivorozhsky factory of the mining equipment, and others. The exhibition "LitEx" is the best place for dialogue of experts-founders.
Pavel Kuznetsov, technical representative of company Ashland UK Limited, Great Britain:
– In my opinion, Ukraine today is the most rapidly developing foundry state. The majority of factories switch to or ready to switch to the new technologies, therefore at the exhibition "LitEx" we represent, first of all, the newest technologies and materials which are used in moulding manufacture. Here we seriously expand our client base and we support positive image of our company. After all, the exhibition "LitEx" had very active promotion campaign in mass-media. The representatives of almost each enterprise of the branch were interested, whether we are going to participate in the exhibition "LitEx" in the future. And here we are because the participation in "LitEx" is a serious image indicator.
Victor Jaroshenko, director of Open Company "Óêðëèòìàø", Dnepropetrovsk, affiliated firm of company GUSS-EX, Poland
– We participate in "LitEx" for the first time. Before that we took part in "Ukrindustry". As well as our main stand, we are as much as possible opened for the customers, and we are ready to discuss with customers any requirements. Here at "LitEx" there are also all our competitors present, therefore our main task at the exhibition is not simply to find our place in the Ukrainian market of moulding, but also to inform all the potential consumers with the message about our possibilities as supplier of the equipment for moulding. We organize active advertising campaign in Ukraine, and the exhibition "LitEx" is its integral part.
The results of questionnaire of exhibitors have shown that the main objective of foreigners is to offer to the domestic enterprises the newest equipment and technologies, which are successfully used by all the leading companies of the world. The Ukrainian founders are full of optimism not only to find their place in the market of Ukraine, but also to work outside of its limits.
Evgenie Zheleznjakov, director for marketing «Taurian foundry company "Talko", Melitopol:
– We annually visited «Ukrindustry», and, having visited it last year, we have made decision to participate in «LitEx» with our personal stand. I already now can tell that if this year there will be no radical political-economical changes in our country, in 2009 we’ll become the participant of this exhibition. For today «LitEx» is the most serious exhibition for the representatives of foundry branch. As for us, it is the best possibility to meet each other, to look at each other, to exchange opinions, to talk about plans and prospects, to analyze existing tendencies. The intuition tells me that «LitEx-2008» will bring us all those results, which we expect from it.
For creating of meaningful dialogue between the foreign and domestic enterprises there took place International business meetings covering the topic: «Mechanical engineering. Metallurgy. Moulding-Ukraine 2008» within the limits of exhibition «LitEx». Top-managers of 15 companies from the Western Europe met our compatriots there.
Olesya Rakova, investment director, Open Society «Melitopol factory "Avtotsvetlit":
– I have been pleasantly surprised by the structure of participants of business meetings of such rank. It confirms once again that Europeans are really interested in cooperation with Ukraine.
Anatoly Dabrundashvili, chief of foundry shop of Kerchensky ship-repair factory:
– The organization of business meetings took place at a very good level. Foreigners were really well-prepared: they have brought with them all drawings and all the necessary primary documentation.
Anton Sezonenko, candidate of physical and mathematical sciences, chief engineer of Private enterprise «SAS engineering company», Kiev:
– Such meetings are very favourable for both parties-participants. As a rule, their organizers are the embassies. So the Expo-center "Meteor" is moving in the right direction. Keep on going!
According to the evaluation of exhibitors and visitors, the exhibition "LitEx-2008" has confirmed its aspiration to be the central Ukrainian exhibition for founders. And it’s no surprise that the majority of large companies-suppliers have already today declared their intentions to participate in "LitEx-2009" (on October, 13th-16th, 2009) together with their clients, and together with them to present concrete equipment, technologies, materials for foundry manufacture and the most important thing – the production which comes as the result of their usage.
Expo-center "Meteor", phone +380562 357-357, litex@expometeor.com