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[January 2008]
European Ceramic Technology Suppliers Target Indian Market
ECTS – the European Ceramic Technology Suppliers working group which operates under the aegis of the VDMA in Germany – has pinpointed India as a key target market and has announced that it will formally participate in the country’s leading machinery, equipment and materials exhibition for this sector, Indian Ceramics 2008.
Recent good news for members of this influential group is that combined progress is being driven by a positive turn in the business cycle and that, as part of this, European manufacturers of ceramic machinery are currently enjoying encouraging order books.
Participants at the ECTS general meeting, which took place recently in Rome, reported that order books were full and that prices were no longer driven by buyers but by capacity. In addition to that, the report from the meeting was that the outlook seemed to be bright.
To add to successful ventures in what might be termed the ‘home market’ of Western Europe, many company representatives stated that enquiries were now also coming in from unexpected areas of the world. However, it remained the case that the principal stimulus was seen coming mainly from Russia, China, India and Turkey.
ECTS view the Indian market for its equipment as relatively small but, crucially, growing. Only recently, brick producer Wienerberger announced that the company would put into operation a new plant in India. The European ceramic machinery industry regards this as a signal for more business opportunities coming up for equipment suppliers in India. This is also why ECTS will participate for the first time in the Indian Ceramics series of exhibitions.
ECTS will itself exhibit at Indian Ceramics 2008 (11-13 March 2008, Mumbai, India) and has recently taken the decision to organise a symposium at the event. The ECTS/VDMA representative stand will occupy a space of 18 square metres and will be the contact point for Indian visitors.
Rajesh Nath, Managing Director of the VDMA Liaison Office in India, is already providing assistance on the ground in India to bolster ECTS efforts and will be a linchpin when it comes to enabling discussions and business with Indian ceramic industry visitors to the exhibition.
The ECTS symposium will take place on the show site at the Bombay Exhibition Centre and has been provisionally scheduled for 12 March 2008, the middle day of the show. The symposium has been titled ‘New Age Ceramic Technology to the Indian Market: Helping you to Boost your Profits!’.
The programme focuses on two major issues: the first part is devoted to fine ceramics, technical ceramics and silicon carbides while the second part centres on technology for the heavy clay industry. The symposium will give a comprehensive and precise overview about highly productive and energy efficient technical solutions adapted to local demands. It is in this area in particular that the Europeans have proved their knowledge and carried out a number of different projects in India.
ECTS was founded in 2004. Its main objective is to represent the interests of the sector vis-à-vis public authorities and institutions on both the European and international levels and to support its member companies in their world-wide sales activities. At the Rome meeting, working group members elected Jean-Jacques Wagner, the President of Keyria SA, as the new Chairman of ECTS. The other board members are Vicente Romeo, Commercial Director of Talleres Verdés and Paul Eirich, Managing Partner of Gustav Eirich Maschinenfabrik.
ECTS Member companies are: Beralmar Tecnologic (Spain); Machinefabriek De Boer (Netherlands); Bongioanni Macchine (Italy); Burton GmbH + Co (Germany); Maschinenfabrik Gustav Eirich (Germany); Eirich-Molaris (Spain); Händle (Germany); Keller HCW (Germany); Keyria (France); Lachenmeier (Denmark); Laeis (Luxembourg); Hans Lingl (Germany); Stafier Holland (Netherlands); Talleres Felipe Verdés (Spain); Tecton (Germany); and Teide (Spain).
ECTS – www.eu-ceramics.org
Indian Ceramics 2008 – www.indian-ceramics.com
ENDS