Historic FIMEC, with a large influx of Latin American visitors
Between March 12th and 14th, 2024, the 47th edition of the Brazilian supplier fair -FIMEC-, took place at the FENAC Exhibition Center in Novo Hamburgo/RS.
The event featured around 400 exhibitors, with 45% representing the footwear machinery sector, 40% to materials and components companies, while the remaining 15% was dedicated to leather and technology for tanneries. The total exhibition area was greater than 10 thousand square meters.
According to its organizers, it was the largest exhibition in ten years, confirming its recognition globally. For example, the attendance of Asian exhibitors was important, as they had the opportunity to meet with clients from Latin America at FIMEC, as well as Italian suppliers who occupied prominent spaces within the fairgrounds.
The fair was a space to discover new proposals in technology and innovations and a generator of commercial alliances between the local market and buyers from the region.
In this regard, the general director of FENAC -Márcio Jung- stated: "It is important to highlight that we have managed to attract a highly qualified audience, including a large number of foreign visitors." The data on visitors confirmed an attendance close to 20 thousand people. Among them, the presence of Argentine industrialists and entrepreneurs was emphasized, "with whom we managed to reestablish a relationship and bilateral trade," he detailed.
BRAZILIAN MATERIALS promoted the participation of buying companies from other countries. The program, which is a joint effort between ASSINTECAL and APEX-BRAZIL, achieved the visit of Curtidos ROMO and Grupo WYNY from Mexico; BATA, SAGA, and CALZADO 70 from Colombia; SCARPE from Peru; Curtiduría TUNGURAHUA from Ecuador; and MAROLIV from Portugal.
The groups of industrialists from the footwear and leather sector, which were part of the International Buyer Project, generated good business with Brazilian entrepreneurs. Luiz Ribas Júnior -international market manager of ASSINTECAL- reported that transactions exceeded US$ 12 million, between what materialized at the fair and in the future.
Sustainability in the leather-footwear industry was one of the pillars of FIMEC, which included the slogan "Innovation, technology, and a positive impact in the world" in this edition. In this sense, the exhibition reserved an area to learn about sustainable proposals, thanks to the reuse of sector waste.
In addition, the Concept Factory innovated by producing two types of bags under the LUZ DA LUA brand, beyond the traditional footwear manufacturing. Meanwhile, among Calçados RAMARIN, Calçados BOMPEL, and the SENAI Footwear School, casual and sports sneakers, sandals, and Personal Protective Equipment footwear were produced.
On the other hand, the CICB Sustainability Forum -Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry- proposed as a topic "Links to traceability," referring to Brazilian bovine leather. The talks were the meeting point for private companies, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock officials, and organizations related to the leather and meat industry.
The fair's organizers confirmed the holding of the 48th edition of FIMEC in 2025. The scheduled days are Tuesday 18th, Wednesday 19th, and Thursday 20th, March, maintaining its location in the FENAC pavilions in the city of Novo Hamburgo/RS.
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