The Korea Machinery Fair Shanghai 2013 (KOMAF Shanghai 2013), which took place at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNITEC) from July 2-5, made a strong showing. 

KOMAF Shanghai 2013, marking its eighth expo in China, attracted 106 Korean exhibitors, including Doosan Infracore, Yestool Co., Myungjin Machinery Ind., and Sechang International Co. 

The Korean mainstay machineries on display, including machine tools, end mills, dust collectors, and conveyor systems, received rave reviews from the roughly 100,000 buyers. 

The exhibitors held negotiations on $930 million worth of equipment and signed contracts and verbally agreed to the sale of $160 million worth, proving the event a valuable opportunity to boost the Korean machinery industry in China, Korea’s biggest export market.

Lots of spectators descended on an exhibition of power generation equipment and components hosted jointly by six Korean power companies in their efforts to make inroads into overseas markets, and they showed a keen interest in line with China’s economic growth. 

President Lee Jung-soo of Yestool, a Korean machine tool maker, who had participated in Korea Machine Fair Shanghai a few times previously, said, “Our mainstay products are drills and end mills, and in the past we depended on price competitiveness, but now we have to compete with good quality and services, too.”

President Chung Dae-geun, of the dust collector maker Myungjin Machinery Ind., which participated in Korea Machine Fair Shanghai for a second straight year this year, said, “I’ve recognized a surge in demand for environmental facilities in the Chinese market in keeping with the Chinese government’s strengthened environment protection measures.”

KOMAF Shanghai 2013 also coincided with an event designed to disseminate not only machinery technology but also hallyu, better known as the Korean Wave. A mini-robot developed with Korea’s own technology performed to showcase Korea’s robot technology as well as Korean music, mesmerizing spectators at an opening ceremony, an opening reception, and other diverse events, and contributing to raising the Korean machinery industry’s standing. 

Kim Young-oh, head of the Korea Association of Machinery Industry (KOAMI), Business Division, said, “At this fair, Gyeonggi-do, Incheon Metropolitan City, Daegu Metropolitan City, and Gyeongsangnam-do governments have provided support to exhibitors from their jurisdictions, and six power companies have organized an exhibition of power generation equipment and components to help Korean SMEs make inroads into foreign markets.”

KOMAF Shanghai 2013 took place at a time when negotiations on the Korea-China Free Trade Agreement are underway and bilateral industry development is called for. Exhibitors’ booths and public relations were installed to maximize exhibitors’ convenience and their exhibition effects, and a variety of events will be primed for KOMAF Shanghai 2014, Kim said. 

KOAMI will host the 19th Korea Machinery Fair 2013 at the first and second exhibition halls of KINTEX from Oct. 16-19.