REPORT ON RUBBER BOARD S PARTICIPATION IN THE TRADE FAIR GERMAN RUBBER CONFERENCE 2012 - DKT2012 NUREMBERG, GERMANY. From 2 nd to 5 th July 2012. By Dr. Thomas J Rubber Production Commissioner & Gopalakrishnan Chellaton Deputy Director (Excise)
REPORT ON RUBBER BOARD S PARTICIPATION IN THE GERMAN RUBBER CONFERENCE 2012 DKT 2012 AT NUREMBERG, GERMANY EQUIPLAST 2011- THE INTERNATIONAL PLASTICS AND RUBBER EXHIBITION - HELD AT NUREMBERG, GERMANY FROM 2 ND TO 5 TH JULY 2011 Introduction Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, had approved Rubber Board s participation in the trade fair German Rubber Conference 2012 DKT 2012 at Nuremberg, Germany. Nuremberg, is a city of the German State of Bavaria in the administrative region of Middle Franconia, Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine Main Danube Canal, it is located about 170 kilometres north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. Nuremberg is an important port on the Main Danube Canal. Nuremberg, once a free city of Holy Roman Empire, with rich culture, a long history, a lively present and a promising future. Nuremberg is often referred to as having been the 'unofficial capital' of the Holy Roman Empire, particularly because Reichstage (Imperial Diets) and courts met at Nuremberg Castle. The Diets of Nuremberg were an important part of the administrative structure of the empire. The increasing demand of the royal court and the increasing importance of the city attracted increased trade and commerce to Nuremberg. Nuremberg was probably founded around the turn of the 11th century, according to the first documentary mention of the city in 1050, as the location of an Imperial castle between the East Franks and the Bavarian March of the Nordgau. From 1050 to 1571, the city expanded and rose dramatically in importance due to its location on key trade routes. Germany has a long trading tradition. The city is well connected with major German cities and many European destinations. The city's location next to numerous highways, railways, and a waterway has contributed to its rising importance for trade with Eastern Europe. About 3.5 million people live in metropolitan area. In the nineteenth century Nuremberg became the "industrial heart" of Bavaria with companies such as Siemens and MAN establishing a strong base in the city. Nuremberg is still an important
industrial center with a strong standing in the markets of Central and Eastern Europe. Items manufactured in the area include electrical equipment, mechanical and optical products, motor vehicles, writing and drawing paraphernalia, stationery products, and printed materials. The city is also strong in the fields of automation, energy, and medical technology. Siemens is still the largest industrial employer in the Nuremberg region but a good third of German market research agencies is also located in the city. The Nuremberg International Toy Fair is the largest of its kind in the world. The city also hosts several specialist hi-tech fairs every year, attracting experts from every corner of the globe. German Rubber Conference DKT organized by the German Rubber Association (Deutsche Kautschuk-Gesellschaft e.v DKG), aimed to exchange information with customers and business partners about the latest developments in the rubber market and in rubber technology. Parallel to the exhibition there was an extensive programme of conference presentations, traditionally a magnet for many expert visitors from all over the world. The main objective of the German Rubber Conference DKT 2012 is a one to one dialogue between the rubber experts in corporate enterprises, science and research, trade associations and editorial work and those who will be the future experts with a benefit for all from the interactive communication and information exchange in the exhibition halls. In the frame of the exhibition, German Rubber Society offered an educational symposium, which provided an opportunity of an extensive overview on the diversity of the rubber industry in the subjects, raw materials rubber, TPE, fillers and there properties as well as essential process technologies such as compounding, vulcanisation, rubber extrusion and die-casting. This was mainly of interactive type and provided ample opportunities to questions and to discuss the different subjects in great detail. At the German Rubber Conference (DKT) 2012, there was a Technical Exhibition with access restricted to trade visitors. More than 200 participants of the supplying industries displayed their products (raw materials, adjuvants, testing and analytic equipment and apparatus as well as special industry software) of an exhibition areas of more than 9500 Sq. Mts.
DKT 2012 aims to provide opportunities of conversation to help reactivate the rubber industry in Germany through the concept of Reverse trade missions. The reverse trade missions involve groups of business people from foreign countries who are interested in exploring opportunities for doing business in Germany through meetings or by attending trade fairs. Organisations and Industrial Establishments from countries all over Europe, Chaina, Egypt, Japan, South Africa, Thailand, USA etc. had participated in reverse trade missions The fair, venue & Organisers The fair was professionally organized by Deutsche Kautschuk - Gesellschaft e.v DKG (German Rubber Association), Frankfurt, Germany. The venue was Hall No. 12, Nuremberg Convention Center NCC West, Messe, Nuremberg, Germany. It had about 200 direct exhibitors. The fair drew about 55,000 trade visitors. These include visitors from most of the countries of Europe, China, Egypt, Russia, Turkey etc. The exhibition was held for 4 days from 2 nd to 5 th July 2012. The Stall was at 12-445, Hall No. 12, Nuremberg Convention Center, Messe. The Timing of the exhibition was 9 am to 6 pm for 2 nd to 4 th July and for 5 th July, from 9 am to 4 pm. Deputation of Officers Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India had approved Board s participation in the German Rubber Conference 2012 DKT 2012 at Nuremberg, Germany vide communication F. No.11/17/2006-Plant C dated 11 th May 2012. Apart from Board s officials, one exporter of Natural Rubber nominated by the Rubber Board participated in the fair. The composition of the team is:-
1. 2. Dr. Thomas J Rubber Production Commissioner, Rubber Board, Kottayam Sri. Gopalakrishnan Chellaton, Deputy Director (Excise), Rubber Board, Mumbai TEAM LEADER TEAM MEMBER 3. Exporter s representations:- Sri Denny Thomas Malethusseril M/S BOAAZ GROUP, Kothamangalam, Kerala. TEAM MEMBER Dr. Thomas J and Sri. Gopalakrishnan Chellaton had joined at Kottayam on 30 th June 2012 and proceeded to Kochi International Airport for onward journey to Nuremberg via Mumbai, Amsterdam. They reached Nuremberg at 10.00 hrs on 1 st July 2012 and reached their camp one hour later. We proceeded to the Nuremberg Convention Centre on the same day of our arrival ie., 1 st July 2012 and met the organizers. After completing necessary formalities of our registration, we proceeded to our stall and took possession of it. The stall consisted of 16 sq. Mtr. Size of area. We displayed various vinyl posters of Rubber Board. In the stall, we also displayed specimens of various grades of RSS Sheets, Technically Specified Rubber (ISNR) and Centrifuged Latex. Various broachers of Rubber Board and exporter firm were also displayed in the stall. We completed the stall arrangements and placed the tables, chairs etc in position by evening itself. Sri Denny Thomas Malethusseril (Exporter s representative) proceeded to Frankfurt from Bangaluru International Airport via Dubai on 2 nd July 2012 at 4.20 AM and reached Frankfurt at 1.00 PM and made onward journey to Nuremberg by train. He reached Nuremberg at 4.30 PM on the same day. Summary of the Exhibition The Exhibition commenced as scheduled on 2 nd July 2012 at 9.00 hrs. The visiting time was from 9 am to 6 pm on the first three days and on the closing day, it was from 9 am to 4 pm.
The Exhibition had about 200 direct exhibitors of the supplying industries displayed their products (raw materials, adjuvants, testing and analytic equipment and apparatus as well as special industry software) of an exhibition areas of more than 9500 Sq. Mts. The fair drew about 55,000 trade visitors. These include visitors from most of the countries of Europe and China, Egypt, Russia, Turkey etc. Our stall drew huge crowd each day, and the response from the visitors are very encouraging. Feed Back We would like to classify the visitors to the Rubber Board stall into (1) manufacturers of rubber products interested in import of rubber from India, (2) Agents and dealers in rubber, chemicals and other additives to import rubber from India and supply to industry, (3) businessmen exploring possibility of starting rubber business importing rubber from India and market in European and Middle East countries (4) Corporate officials, (5) Academicians, Scientists, Students in polymer studies related to academic and research institutions (6) and curios visitors to get first hand information about natural rubber. It is worthwhile to note here that the visitors consist of nationals not only from Germany but also from other European countries, China, Egypt, Russia, Turkey etc. The idea of branding of natural rubber by the Rubber Board encouraged many industrialists and businessmen to focus on India for sourcing rubber. Traditional importers of rubber from other rubber growing regions had reservations on quality aspects, but we could ally their fears citing stringent measures formulated by the Board to ensure the quality of the Natural Rubber marketed under the brand. We emphasised further that the procedure brand certification is accurately framed to conform the quality of each and every bale/bundle inspected. Samples of RSS sheets and INSR blocks packed in polythene cover with Rubber Board logo were supplied by us to those who had shown keen interests in importing rubber from India. Some business deals were struck at the venue itself. Many prospective importers initiated their process for import of rubber from India. The Board s participation in the exhibition was a huge success, as it helped us to
popularize natural rubber from India in the brand name Indian Natural Rubber among the industrialist / entrepreneurs of many European countries and countries like Egypt, Turkey etc. A selected list of business cards, photographs etc are attached along with this report. Acknowledgement We place on record our sincere thanks to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India for giving us an opportunity to participate in the exhibition. We also place on record our sincere thanks to the exporter representative who had participated in the exhibition for his co-operation and assistance. Dr. Thomas J, Rubber Production Commissioner, Rubber Board Gopalakrishnan Chellaton, Dy. Director (Excise) Rubber Board.