Mir Stekla’2008

The organizers of this major glass industry event are Expocentre and the Russian Union of Architects.







The exhibition was held under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, with the assistance of the Moscow City Government and in cooperation with the Russian Union of Glass Companies.



In the summer of 1999 Expocentre launched the Mir Stekla International Exhibition, which immediately became Russia’s leading event for the glass industry. Over 10 years the exhibition has been expanding. Every year the number of exhibitors, including the industry leaders and blue chip brands, has been increasing.



The exhibition has played host to national expositions of Italy, Germany and China, and enjoyed attention of the most powerful and established associations of the world’s glass industry.



Mir Stekla is now the largest trade event in Russia, the CIS and Eastern Europe. It has become the most efficient platform for business networking and, as Expocentre’s other exhibitions, contributes to the development of the domestic industry and economy.







Mir Stekla’2008 Anniversary Exhibition enjoyed participation of 396 exhibitors from 24 countries who displayed their products on the floor space of 8 329 sq m net.



The total visitor attendance at Mir Stekla’2008 made up 9 508, 74% out of them were industry specialists.



The high international status of the show is recognized by foreign manufacturers (228 companies), actively participating in it, and is confirmed by UFI - the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry and RUEF - the Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs.



The 10th Anniversary Edition of Mir Stekla put on display a number of new projects, among which was a national collective exposition of Hungary, showcasing products by Hungarian glass manufacturers. The exposition was organized with state support from the Hungarian Association of the Glass Industry.



This year was the first for the Mir Stekla exhibition to feature a specialized exposition of the Russian leading research and development institutes, higher and secondary educational institutions grouped into ‘the Centre of Science and Education’. The participants of the exposition are V.G. Shukhov Belgorod State University, St. Petersburg State Institute (Technical University), D.I. Mendeleev Russian Chemical-Engineering University, Scientific and Research Institute of Technical Glass and Gus-Khrustalny Glass College.



Unlocking the full potential of the scientific and technological advance and demonstrating educational programmes for training specialists the Centre of Science and Education stimulated interaction between science and business.



To make exhibiting more effective the organizers of Mir Stekla’2008 launched a number of new free services, namely the ‘Effective Exhibiting’ Workshop, on-line MatchMaking System for arranging meetings, and on-line visitor registration.



This year Mir Stekla welcomed about 50 new exhibitors, among which were AJKA KRISTALY UVEGIPARI, SZILANK 2007, SZILANK GLASS, METALL GLAS, REFMON (Hungary), BDF INDUSTRIES, GIANCARLO PEREGO SPA, MARPOSS (Italy), CASTOLIN EUTECTIC (Switzerland), FINNTEMP, LAHTI PRECISION, SOFTECO (Finland), INHOM-98 (Bulgaria), MERKLE INTERNATIONAL (USA), OZONE ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTS (India), RUSPROJECT, RUSSERVICE, SHEPPEE INTERNATIONAL (Great Britain), SIA RIOM (Latvia), SIMTECH (Belgium), CTS GROUP, UTILITA (Ukraine), ALKOR, BALSTEC, VITRAKOM, ZAVOD LIT, GUARDIAN STEKLO RYAZAN, IV-LAK, POLTAVA DIAMOND TOOLS, RUGLASS, SARATOVTEPLOMONTAZH PP, STEKLO I PROEKT, SUKHOLOZHSKIY OGNEUPORNY ZAVOD (Refractory goods plant) (Russia).



Following the tradition the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized a collective exposition of glass manufacturers of the Vladimir region, namely STEKLOHOLDING, SIMVOL, F.E. DZERZHINSKIY GUSEVSKIY GLASSWORKS, GUSEVSKIY KHRUSTALNY ZAVOD™ (GUS-KHRUSTALNY CRYSTAL FACTORY), TEPLOAGREGAT.



KAMI Company put on display a stand of a record-breaking size. Their double-deck stand of 471 square metres with architectural glazing was located in the centre of the pavilion and was in the focus of the visitors’ attention. The stand demonstrated 17 exhibits by the world’s leading manufacturers of glass processing equipment, including an automated line for the production of double glazing units.



ART GLASS, the 3rd International Salon of Glass Art and Decorative Items, held in the Forum Pavilion became the aesthetic focus of the event. The visitors had an opportunity to view the art and decorative glass items in all their splendor. The exhibits encompassed bijouterie, glass beads, tableware, interior decoration items, as well as large-scale pictures, stained-glass windows and mosaic panels.



One of the key events of the show was the announcement of a deal to build a new float glass manufacturing facility in Russia. The value of the contract is $100 million, while the total amount of investment will make up $250 million. It has taken the EVROSTEKLO Company (Russia) and HENRY F. TEICHMANN, INC. (US) several years to arrange this deal. Their cooperation over these years has led to this unique project for Russia, second to none both in production volume and technology applied.



The third day of the show featured an award ceremony of the Mir Stekla International Exhibition Awards in the nomination ‘For Many Years of Exhibiting’. Prizes, specially produced and devoted to the jubilee of the exhibition, were presented to more than fifty Russian and foreign companies – regular exhibitors at the show. The nomination was sponsored by Tamglass-Bavelloni (Glaston subsidiary).



The Russian Union of Architects awarded the participants in the exhibition with special certificates in the following nominations: For the Architectural Merits of the Products, For the Individuality and Originality of the Exhibits, For the Artistic Merits, For the Perfect Stand Design.



To mark the opening of Mir Stekla’2008, the organizers gave a Gala Party that was held on board a ship. A cruise along the Moskva River, photos against the city landscape, friendly environment and relaxed communication helped to create the most enjoyable time for the guests.



Mir Stekla’2008 has made a significant contribution to the development of the Russian glass industry, helped to promote innovations and the best technological solutions to the domestic glass market. Four days of active work enabled the participants to achieve most of their goals, to make new contracts and receive new orders for their companies.



The next edition of the Mir Stekla International Exhibition will be held at Expocentre Fairgrounds on June 8-11, 2009.