Good investment confidence at international industrial valves and fittings summit VALVE WORLD EXPO 2018 in Düsseldorf

Users, manufacturers, developers, service providers and retailers of valves and fittings can look back to a successful three days, full of innovative high-tech solutions. For the fifth time, this leading global trade fair and its accompanying conference took place at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre, from 27 to 29 November 2018.

The products and services at VALVE WORLD EXPO 2018 were primarily aimed at specialists from a variety of industries: oil and gas, petrochemicals, chemicals, food, marine and offshore, water and waste management, automotive, mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, medical engineering and powerplant engineering.

Throughout the world, investments have been rising in oil and gas, petrochemicals and plastics, leading to sales increases. In particular, a large number of German manufacturers and distributors are benefiting from increasing exports to the two major sales markets: the United States and China. Strong investments in Germany as well as good European sales have been adding a further boost to the industrial valves and fittings industry.

These positive circumstances were also reflected at VALVE WORLD EXPO. 650 exhibitors from 40 countries occupied 18,000 sqm in Halls 3 to 5, showing their latest technologies, components and systems for industrial valves, fittings and pumps.

Moreover, the event included the international Valve World Conference in Hall 4, cutting down on travel time and resulting in close integration between theory and practice.

After three successful days, Wolfram N. Diener, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf, was pleased with the event: “As on previous occasions, this leading global trade fair in Düsseldorf has encompassed the entire range of industrial valves and fittings, from fittings measured in metres for the chemical industry, through a wide variety of different ball valves for oil and gas, to the very smallest valves available.” He is confident about 2019, when VALVE WORLD EXPO will be held in China and the United States.

There was also a lively exchange of ideas between the 400 conference delegates and the exhibitors. As before, the conference was conducted by KCI Publishing from the Netherlands. Seminars, workshops and presentations focused on trendsetting topics concerning the selection of materials, the latest processes and technologies in valve manufacturing, and new forms of energy.

As always, VALVE WORLD EXPO 2018 lived up to its expectations by providing a platform where it was possible to meet new customers, develop existing business contacts, strengthen the international sales network and increase export opportunities.

The trade fair attracted 11,800 professionals from 86 countries, of whom over 70% were executives and decision-makers. Around 75% of all visitors came from outside Germany, demonstrating the high internationalism of the event once again.

Those who came – largely users, manufacturers and distributors of valves and fittings – awarded top marks to the trade fair. They were primarily interested in valves and fittings (78%), followed by actuators and positioners (42%), parts and components of valves and fittings (40%) and compressors (7%). Also, around 20% of visitors were interested in pump manufacturers.

The next VALVE WORLD EXPO and its conference will be held at Düsseldorf Fairgrounds from 1 to 3 December 2020.