CPCA Show – Day one

Another ribbon falls…I arrived in China yesterday (Tuesday), having flown back from the USA to Europe just one week before. It is difficult to know which time zone I am in, but not difficult to know which market. This is China, where growth is the norm and the recovery in the rest of the world is merely acceleration of growth.This show, like every Asian show, started with the traditional cutting of the ribbon. Wang Longji, Executive Director of CPCA, who welcomed a list of dignitaries from the world’s PCB associations, introduced the 13th CPCA Show. Those in the line up included Bob Nevis, for IPC and Paul Waldner for EIPC, as well as the heads of all the Asian PCB associations including HKPCA, KPCA, TPCA and JPCA. The Guest of honour was a government minister. For seasoned members of the press like Dan Beaulieu of Printed Circuit Design and Manufacture and Roy Sakelson of CircuiTree, such events are not a novelty, but for some they clearly are. As the members of the press chatted on the steps of the Shanghai Mart Exhibition Center, many visitors excitedly had their picture taken in front of the stage where the ribbon would later be cut.As I look at the people I recognise at the opening, I am minded of the fact that those who visit China seem to come back year after year. This is not sentimentality. This is because they are getting something out of it. It is because they understand the importance of China in the world’s PCB industry and they see the size of the opportunity that exists here.One of my first visits today is testament to that proposition. I visited the stand of Vitech International, a company founded by two brothers from the Netherlands, who, a couple of years ago, saw the potential in the Chinese market. Having seen that potential they did a little better than just coming annually to the show - they invested here in China, employing locally and opening an office. Now that commitment has gone one stage further with the purchase of land to build their own premises. Vitech International sell and support used equipment in the PCB sector world wide. "This business needs a lot of investment - that means people and space to store, re-build, service and demonstrate our equipment" Leon Moreau, managing Director, explained. "In China we feel it is important to provide a complete service, right through to training people to use the machines" Leon added.I can see that Vitech International is absolute in its commitment to China, as a result I expect them to succeed in this market. Perhaps this level of commitment is difficult for other companies to contemplate, but I am certain it is the only way to maximise the opportunity that exists here.Europe is well represented at the show this year. Companies from Italy and Germany seem to have particularly grasped the nettle and their booths seem to grow each year. When I first visited CPCA, many of these companies were only here with their local representatives. Now many come in their own right bringing more machines that they take to European and North American events. I do not see such a strong presence from US companies.The equipment market in the PCB sector is an extremely good opportunity for European suppliers. This is not volume production and is therefore no so interesting to local companies. The Chinese also have a great deal of respect for the expertise developed in Europe over the last 30 years of PCB production. Although some locally made and branded equipment is on display here, it is clear that the international booths are attracting the greater interest.The show floors were busy today and visitor seemed to get to most corners of the event. CPCA is in two building this year, just a two minute walk apart. The challenge, as a westerner, is to avoid those selling Rolex watches from the sidewalk when moving from hall to hall.More tomorrow…