GlassTech Asia 2005, the First Time in Thailand, Earns More than 600 Million Baht of Sales

Date: 30 January 2006

GlassTech Asia, the 5th International Glass Products, Glass Manufacturing, Processing & Materials Exhibition and Conference, gave Thailands and the regions glass makers convenient access to relevant glass making technology and equipment from all over the world.

The event was organised by Conference & Exhibitions Management Services (CEMS) and Singapore Glass Association at the new Challenger Hall of IMPACT from 30 November 2 December 2005. The event was also hosted by the Thai Glass Dealers Association and strongly supported by Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB).

The three-day event had total of 5,835 local and international visitors paying an interest at the exhibition booths of 352 companies and organizations from 30 different countries. All of them showcased their latest technologies on a 10,000 sqm exhibition area. This was also claimed as the first time the organiser invited university students from the field of engineering, architects and interior designs to learn about technology related to their academic course.

The organisers had also put into the hosted buyers programme for overseas business people to meet and discuss business possibilities.
During the event, it could generate more than US$15 million (600 million baht) of revenue for the sales of glass equipment and machines related to glass from both Thai and international buyers such as industry leaders, engineering experts from as far as Europe, USA as well as many buyers from South Asia and Indochina. Some of them also made business contracts for product purchases. They also promised to visit the show in the future as well.

Mr Edward Liu, Managing Director of Conference & Exhibition Management Services Pte Ltd (CEMS), said, The demand for flat glass around the world is set to increase by 3.9 percent annually to more than 44.1 billion square feet in 2006, while the flat glass production is forecast to increase by some 4.4 percent a year to 41.7 million metric tones in 2006. The situation is excellent for exhibitors and trade visitors of GlassTech Asia to seize this opportune moment to do business. GlassTech is the largest glass exhibition in ASEAN.

Mr Peerapong Oeusoonthornwattana, Director of Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), explained Thailand is one of the preferential locations for automotive and building industries. This has resulted in the increasing demand for the glass reinforcement market. The first staging of GlassTech Asia 2005 incorporating HollowGlass Asia 2005 to Thailand will be another broad platform for manufacturers and distributors of flat glass and other specialist glassware to meet global suppliers of glassmaking plant, equipment, and consumables in a-business-to-business environment.

The role of TCEB is to bring into Thailand conferences and exhibitions to help further promote Thailands trade, investment and economy as a whole. Supporting such event to be staged in Thailand is also in line with the Thai governments effort to actively promote the country as an international hub for conventions and exhibitions, Mr Peerapong said.

Mr Gan Chee Siong, Chairman of Singapore Glass Association, said GlassTech Asia 2005 is the 5th presentation and by far is the biggest and having best format in its entire admirable seven-year run. HollowGlass Asia is incorporated with GlassTech Asia 2005. The two events allow the showcasing of the glass industry in its full entirety, from flat glass to hollow glass.