Exhibiting for the second time at the show, Stamford Tyres European trading division – Sumo Firenza reported a successful show with particular interest being shown in the Firenza range of tyres by visitors from both Africa and throughout the world.

Independently audited figures released by show organiser ECI International confirm a healthy six per cent increase in visitor numbers, up to 2,478 compared to the inaugural event in 2006 130 exhibitors occupied around 5,000 sq.m of exhibition space in the Sandton Convention centre, with a 40/60 split between domestic southern African suppliers and those from overseas. China, with 35 individual exhibitors, was the major presence, heading a truly international line-up made up of more than 60 different countries.

Overall, the show reflected a keen emphasis on OTR tyres for the important mining and construction industry in South Africa, although there was also a strong showing of passenger car and truck tyres. Retreading companies such as Leadertread, Imex, and Elgitread, recognised this trend by emphasising specialist materials for the OTR and earthmoving sector.
 
The workshop and depot equipment side of the business was better represented than in 2006, with a comprehensive presence from machinery and equipment suppliers including Leaderquip, Snap On, Wheelquip, Syco Machinery and Hofmann Megaplan.

The only consistent disappointment expressed by exhibitors and visitors was the absence of major domestic tyre manufacturers, who visited the show as delegates but did not feel able to support their industry by exhibiting.

Significant number of bookings received for 2010 show

Daniel Eng, senior manager for international distribution, commented: “Our stand was busy throughout the entire show and we met a lot of international buyers from such African countries as Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique, Lesotho, Swaziland, Morocco, Uganda and Zimbabwe plus many others from around the world. In my opinion this was a very good show that has helped to further endorse the Stamford and Sumo Firenza brands in South Africa and also promote the product base throughout the African continent that we can build on.”

Another of those to benefit was Danny Kirsten, sales director of South Africa’s Chemvulc Marketing, which celebrated 30 years in business at the show. He said: “Being able to meet visitors from Africa and the surrounding islands face to face was a big plus as in some cases we were not aware of their business ventures. Another factor was that we were able to meet and conduct business with a number of suppliers from counties as far as Canada, Vietnam, India, Japan and China, without having to go over our own shores.”

A further satisfied business was Imex Tyres, who commented: “Our attendance at the expo has brought us major enquiries relating to various exports opportunities as well as new business prospects for our markets. We’ll be back in 2010.”

Srinivasan Ramamurthy, head of international marketing for Indian retreader Elgitread added: “We were charged up on the second day of the show with quality enquiries from prospective customers and were able establish new contacts through this show. We look forward to participating in Tyrexpo Asia in 2009 to gain further mileage from ECI organised exhibitions.”

Dutch retreader and wholesaler Bandenmarkt is another company to have already confirmed that it will return for the next show, doubling its stand space for 2010. Representing the company, Leen van’t Hof observed: “Participating in Tyrexpo Africa was a pleasure. After a first, hesitating event in 2006, this exposition was better visited, especially with delegates from other African countries.”

Joaquin Gonzalez, chief operating officer for Tire Group Inc. of the U.S., said he hoped the show would help expand his company’s trading presence in the region: “The Africa show without a doubt was a complete success for us, due to the amount of new leads generated from it. This is a market we have done some on-and-off business but never on a consistent basis. Hopefully with this expo and the new leads generated, we can forge some great relationships and find some solid distributors to expand our brand.”
 
Rowena Suthers, sales director for ECI, believes that the exhibition is growing in stature after a second successful staging: “The general feedback from exhibitors and visitors was that the show was a good deal better than 2006 and certainly growing in stature. The second day proved the busiest and again exhibitor feedback recognised the quality rather than quantity of visitors, which is generally in line with our other events in the U.K. and Asia. (Tyres & Accessories/Staffordshire, U.K.)