At FIMEC optimism and good businesses won
Carried out in a period of high sensitivity due to the advance of the sanitary crisis caused by the coronavirus, FIMEC was once again ratified as one of the largest events dedicated to the leather-footwear-manufactures sector of our continent.
From a meticulous program previously outlined by FENAC authorities, the Health Secretariat of Novo Hamburgo/RS, Health Surveillance and the participation of the renowned infectologist Renato Cassol, exceptional measures were established that allowed the control and health foresight of the fairground and the people who entered the fair.
For example, in front of the FIMEC entrance, a sanitary container was located where people who had made trips abroad in the last 14 days were evaluated following security protocols. As a complement, inside the facilities there were permanent disinfections at the points of greatest concentration and alcohol-based gel were freely provided to the audience.
Date and place: March 10, 11 and 12, 2020. FENAC fairground, Novo Hamburgo/RS, Brazil.
Exhibition area: 30 thousand m2.
Products exhibited: Leather, skins, synthetic and textile materials, supplies and components, chemical products, accessories, machines and equipment, and various services.
Number and origin of the exhibitors: 500. Local 95%, foreigners 5%.
Number and origin of visitors: 18,000. Local 97%, foreigners 3%.
Next edition: March 9, 10 and 11, 2021
Due to the prevailing sanitary conditions due to the coronavirus, the FIMEC organization previously agreed on the non-attendance of Chinese exhibitors and visitors to the event, so the absence of these participants was notorious. As a counterpart, this generated the search for alternative suppliers to the eastern ones, where companies from the region benefited.
The health situation in Europe also caused a decrease in visitors of that origin. In the case of exhibitors, their stands were attended by local representatives.
This was what organizers and exhibitors confirmed, pointing out a greater degree of professionalization of the fair. The expression of the director-president of FENAC, Marcio Jung, of “empty corridors and full stands” corroborates this characteristic.
However, the number of visitors, in these special circumstances, was considered to be very good, and especially the best volume of business achieved. In this regard, it is noteworthy that at the time of the fair, a devaluation of the Brazilian Real against the dollar was operating, making the offer of products from this country more competitive.
In addition to the majority of local visitors from the main shoe areas of the country, the presence of industrialists and entrepreneurs from Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala and Argentina was important, invited by FENAC through agreements with colleagues entities from those countries, such as CALTU of Ecuador, ACICAM of Colombia and CIG of Guatemala.
For its part, the Buyer Project, implemented by ASSINTECAL (suppliers of materials and components) and ABRAMEQ (suppliers of machinery), with the support of APEX (official export promotion agency), managed to bring 18 buyers from Germany, Colombia, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Russia and Africa.
From this last origin, the presence of Clement Shoko, from Zimbabwe, general manager of Global Tanner stood out, dedicated to leather, footwear and manufactures, who confirmed the purchase of machinery and chemical products.
A space dedicated to professional updating, knowledge and networking, where conferences and debates were held by renowned specialists, who developed topics of interest to the sector. Among them, Christine Williams of SATRA of the United Kingdom, referred to the functionality of leather in the comfort of footwear. Another panel that generated convene was about family succession in companies in the sector, which was made up of managers and businessmen, who related their respective experiences. They were accompanied by specialists who helped interpret them, plus the technical-professional contribution.
In its 11th edition, the operating factory occupied 1,100 m2 with 6 production lines, 132 machines and equipment, and 90 operators. Of these, 50 were contributed by 2 important factories in Brazil, and 40 by the Shoe School of SENAI. During the 3 days of the fair, 3,500 pairs of 17 models were produced.
As usual, visitors come to the place en masse, where they have the opportunity to see footwear production in real time, with the corresponding application of materials and components, and their technological processes through machines and systems, which were provided by exhibiting suppliers.
The initiative of technology specialist Luis Coelho and FENAC, reissued its success again.
An area for innovation, creativity and to think about the future of fashion. Depending on new products, their applications and consumption behavior. On this occasion, given the rise of digitalisation and playful activity, the topic of "gamefication" was discussed, projected in fashion in a "pocket palestras" system.
