Machines for electric cables and optical fibers
WTM, an assessment of the trade fair Wire China
We met Mr. Aldo Zanirato, sales manager of the Italian WTM of Padua, on the sidelines of the trade show wire China, held in Shanghai on September 24-27.
WTM S.r.l. operates on the wire and cable market since 1992. In more than 20 years the company earned a reputation as a specialist in designing, developing and manufacturing high-performance machines.
What kind of machines do you produce?
Taping lines, spinning machines, twisting equipment, heat treatment systems for tape and fiber sintering and sealing, mechanical testing equipment and special machinery for specific applications.
Did you have a good response at the wire fair in Shanghai?
The stream of visitors was significant, we have good prospects in this market.
Being a specialist in machines, how do you rate the production of your Chinese counterparts?
The quality is rising compared to previous years; they manage to be competitive, however, primarily thanks to lower safety and environmental standards, which are very distant from our own levels, and to lower labor costs.
What's your opinion regarding the organization of the fair?
It's definitely an interesting and well organized trade show, but I was surprised that exhibition spaces and services had higher costs in the international pavilion, W1, than in the other ones. And then I cannot help noticing that Italy, that always had in this sector a sales volume comparable to the German counterpart, does not seem to have the same, or at least a comparable, amount of subsidies and contributions for the participation in fairs abroad. That's a pity.
Was it the first time at Wire China? Would you participate in a new edition?
In fact it was the first time because in 2012 we were there as visitors, even though we had interesting encounters on that occasion as well. I think we will also participate in the next edition.
Is there a particular machine on which you are focusing on at this moment?
I believe that the trump card on this market is to be always technologically ahead, so we rely on machines for special cables with high technological content, that are particularly appreciated all over the world.
On which markets are you present?
Since we operate in a niche market, we are present more or less all over the world, and particularly in the Russian market which has given us and is giving us a lot of satisfaction.
What will be the next international event for WTM?
For now, we are participating in four trade fairs, which are a bit the “cardinal points” of the market: Düsseldorf, Shanghai, Moscow, Atlanta. Next year we will be at Wire Russia and Interwire.
