Glasstec 2012 winds up today in Dusseldorf and,as a once popular song asks,"What's it all about?"the answer is a lot.
Talking to both visitors and exhibitors,there was optimism,and excitement in the air on the trade show floor.The consensus was that things are better than they were two years ago and a hope/longing that they will continue to improve.
Don Friese,chief executive officer of C.R.Laurence,said from his company's booth that they was having a good show and that they had seen a reasonable number of people from the U.S.
"It's the bigger companies,of course,but they're here and they're interested,"noted Steve Brown,Salem Machinery."The amount of traffic has been very encouraging."
"Of course,one of the advantages of being here is that you find out what's going on back home,"he added with a smile.
Mike Kelly,Tristar Glass Products,Catoosa,Okla.said that for him,glasstec is"always spectacular and when you come here often it becomes a social event and any business you do is icing on the cake."What is the biggest thing he has noticed at this year's glasstec versus 2010?"Ergonomic equipment is everywhere,such as lifting equipment.It used to be people wanted that sophisticated lifting equipment.Now,you can't live without it,"he said.
So,glasstec started out on Tuesday with sunshine and 70 degree temperatures(not typical weather for Dusseldorf)and ends today with clouds,damp and 50 degree temperatures(typical glasstec weather).
And the word in the aisles is that the dates for glasstec 2014 have been set and it will be in October,but the dates have not been released because the management is still deciding whether to return the show to five days or keep it at four.That decision,they say,will be based on the feedback from exhibitors.
