The Italian association GIMAV has the largest national presence at glasstec,as usual.Its distinctive carpeting and signage dominate one complete large hall here in Dusseldorf.Its member companies occupy a total exhibit space of 15.000 square meters with 55 companies represented.
GIMAV's president Cinzia Schiatti says,"We are optimistic.We think that things will be good here at glasstec and that we will be able to do business."
"We have been seeing lots of people and they are hoping for better times.Certainly,conditions are better here at the show than they were two or four years ago,"adds former GIMAV president Dr.Dino Fenzi.It's logical.You have cycles and there's no way you can't have a good cycle after a bad one."
GMIAV director Renata Gaffo points out that the countries where growth was only partially slowed by the downturn(China,India and Brazil,most prominently),or the area showing the first signs of recovery(starting with North America),will be the core focus of attention for a global recovery.
"We want to be optimistic,"she explains."2011 was a good year after two difficult years,and 2012 started well,through May;but,by September there was a slowdown and now we think it will pickup by the end of the year."The main problem,she says,is money."Particularly small companies have problems getting loans from banks.And this is true around the world.With the lack of buying for two years,we think it is time for customers to start purchasing."
Getting specific,she says,"Russia was a big market for us and it has slowed down,except for the big companies which can still get money."She points out that luckily,"our companies are export-oriented,so when one part of the world is down,another part is up."
The U.S.is"moving well,"she says."In the last year,month by month,the market is growing again and we hope it is not just a move before the presidential election and that we will continue to see growth after the election.
