parts2clean 2018: First-class contacts, projects, and business deals

- Component cleaning is playing an increasingly important role in more and more industries
- Interest in automation and Industry 4.0 is growing
- Investment-ready and decisive trade visitors

The 16th edition of parts2clean has successfully concluded. From October 23 to 25, 2018, the 240 exhibitors transformed halls 3 and 5 of the Stuttgart exhibition grounds into an international hub for component and surface cleaning. The participating companies came from 16 countries, with a 26 percent share of international exhibitors. With around 4,500 trade visitors from 26 countries, the international leading trade fair maintained its high level. 21 percent of visitors traveled from abroad, of which 76 percent were from EU countries and another 18 percent from the rest of Europe. The strongest visitor nations after Germany were Austria, followed by Switzerland, France, Czech Republic, Italy, and the Netherlands.

“We are very satisfied with the course of parts2clean 2018,” says Olaf Daebler, Global Director of parts2clean at Deutsche Messe AG. “Many exhibitors reported that, from their perspective, the quality of visitors has improved once again.” Jens Emmerich, Product Manager F & E Surface Technology at BCD Chemie GmbH, confirms this: “At our booth, the quantity of contacts was somewhat less than last year, but the quality was significantly better. While conversations used to be somewhat superficial, this year they went very deep. We were able to discuss projects directly and arrange visits and cleaning tests. We will definitely participate again in parts2clean 2019.”

The information and procurement platform for decision-makers

The 16th edition of parts2clean also made it clear: component and surface cleaning is increasingly regarded in more industries and companies as an important, quality-determining manufacturing step. This was evident both in the very high trade visitor rate of 99 percent and in the high decision-making competence. Every second visitor holds a management position in their company, and 85 percent state they are involved in investment decisions. Visitors to parts2clean were also on an investment course. With 82 percent planning investments, the number was slightly higher than the previous year. Among them, 41 percent have investment volumes of more than 100,000 euros. Accordingly, they traveled to the international leading trade fair for industrial parts and surface cleaning with specific tasks in mind.

For the exhibiting companies, this resulted in first-class contacts, new projects, and even direct business deals. “We were able to generate high-quality contacts with potential new customers at this year's parts2clean and even concluded a large order quite spontaneously. This is unusual for investment goods fairs like parts2clean,” reports Carola Maurer, Market Development Assistant at Hobart GmbH. Peter Ruoff, Head of Marketing & Sales and member of the management at MAFAC – E. Schwarz GmbH & Co., also celebrated a successful direct sale of a newly developed cleaning system: “Compared to last year, parts2clean 2018 went better for us. And not only because we sold a cleaning system directly at our booth, but also because we received several inquiries from companies new to us. The trend toward higher cleanliness levels is clearly continuing. It involves removing particulate contaminants as well as filmic contamination.”

Similarly positive was the assessment of Raffaela Tessari, Sales and Customer Care at the Italian equipment manufacturer NOVATEC S.r.l.: “We have been participating in parts2clean for many years, and 2018 was again successful for us. Only trade visitors with specific tasks come to this fair, and we can take the time to discuss these in detail. parts2clean is always a great meeting point for establishing high-quality contacts with potential new customers as well as maintaining existing customer relationships and partnerships.” Elia Bosco, Sales, Everest Elektromekanik Makine Ve Sistemleri Sanayi ve Tic Ltd. Sti., Turkey, also sees parts2clean as the ideal platform for business initiation: “parts2clean is a fantastic opportunity to present our existing products and new developments to the right audience. The quality of international visitors is excellent, and we will also exhibit again next year.”

High satisfaction was not only among manufacturers of cleaning systems but also among providers from other areas of industrial cleaning technology, as confirmed by Sandra Gruber, Sales & Marketing at SensAction AG: “The number of visitors at our booth was similar to last year, but the quality of contacts was even higher. Therefore, we expect good post-fair business.” Hans-Jürgen Oberdiek, Sales & Marketing Manager at Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH, also shares this view: “Visitors came to us with very different tasks. It is clear that the demands on the cleanliness of components and surfaces are increasing. Accordingly, we were able to make many new contacts at parts2clean, which could lead to orders.” Florian Weber, Sales Director at Weber Ultrasonics AG, reports on a successful trade fair: “We are very satisfied again. The number of visitors and the quality of contacts were excellent. parts2clean is the only trade fair in this field, and we will participate again next year.” Tobias Jessberger, Managing Director of Dr. Jessberger GmbH, also confirms: “Due to the very high quality of contacts and the internationality, parts2clean has been firmly anchored in our trade fair planning for many years.” Similarly, Anja Wächter, Managing Director of Metallform Wächter GmbH, states: “Our trade fair appearance was again 100 percent worthwhile. The course of this year's parts2clean has also confirmed our decision to participate in the fair every year.”

Trends and future requirements in focus

The fact that parts2clean was not only about current requirements for the cleanliness of components and surfaces was also made clear by the tour of the leading trade fair. “We observed that topics such as digitalization and automation in industrial parts and surface cleaning are rapidly gaining importance,” summarizes parts2clean organizer Daebler. These areas were addressed not only through special formats but also through various exhibits. “This year, we hit the mark with combined solvent and plasma technology and digitalization, which many users are focusing on, especially regarding higher demands for filmic contamination and digitalization of cleaning processes. The response from visitors, customers, and partners dealing with these higher demands was excellent. We were able to send a clear signal about where the journey is heading,” reports Rainer Straub, Board of Management, Vice President Sales & Customer Service at Ecoclean GmbH. Andreas Rosenbusch, Business Development Manager at Stäubli Tec-Systems GmbH Robotics, shares this view: “With Industry 4.0, parts2clean has set a trend in industrial parts and surface cleaning. The digitalization of cleaning systems and processes, data collection, analysis, and utilization are major topics that will become increasingly important in the future, and we can offer solutions for them.” Whether full-surface or partial removal of filmic contamination—there still seem to be many open questions, as reports Karl-Hein Menauer, Senior Manager Sales & Technology at acp systems AG: “Compared to last year, we have about 30 percent more leads. These are contacts with companies from the automotive and supplier industry, aerospace, and electronics. Often, it concerns partial cleaning of filmic contamination, for which many companies still lack adequate solutions.”

Across industries and materials

Just as diverse as the tasks in parts and surface cleaning are the industries from which the trade visitors came to parts2clean. This year, the focus was on the automotive and vehicle industry with around 42 percent, followed by machinery and plant engineering, metal processing and manufacturing, electrical engineering and electronics, precision mechanics, optics, the pharmaceutical industry, as well as chemical and process engineering. The feedback from visitors to parts2clean is positive: the vast majority found the offerings almost complete. Nine out of ten visitors expect to attend the international leading trade fair for industrial parts and surface cleaning again. The next parts2clean will be held from October 22 to 24, 2019, at the Stuttgart exhibition grounds.