Environmental technology is booming in China, because less pollution and CO2 neutrality are key governmental goals. This is reflected in the record attendance at IE expo China, the leading trade fair for environmental solutions in the fields of water, waste, air and soil in Asia. The trade fair was held in Shanghai from April 19 to 21, 2023 - and numerous companies and organizations from IFAT's international trade fair network took part.
Despite the pandemic, IE expo China was able to further expand its leading position. In 2019, which was already a very strong year, 2,047 exhibitors took part; in 2021, the number was 2,157; in 2023, the number is now around 2,407 (up 12 percent). "For the first time, all 17 halls of the Shanghai New International Expo Centre are occupied," reported Jiang Gang, Managing Director of Messe Muenchen Zhongmao., "International participation returned powerfully, from a total of 24 countries and regions, and with country pavilions from Denmark, Germany, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, The Netherlands, USA." International exhibitors included among many others: Atlas Copco, Danfoss, Doppstadt, Eggersmann, Georg Fischer, HUBER Technology, SIDSA, Steinert, SUEZ, VAG, VEOLIA, WILO, Zenit Pumps.
The trade fair experienced a particularly strong growth of 30 percent in the area of environmental monitoring and measuring equipment: "The Chinese market is entering a new phase: It is increasingly also about achieving a higher technical level in environmental protection and intelligently linking measures from different areas," explained Katharina Schlegel, Head of IFAT Trade Fairs Abroad. "IE expo China is the central platform to drive this development. This is where the relevant regional and international market players come together."
Exhibitors meet the right visitors
Visitor numbers have also increased significantly compared with the last show, both from China and abroad: 91,007 visitors (2021: 81,957) travelled to the fair from 68 countries and regions. “IE expo China is a very good platform, as it gathers customers from different fields in the environmental protection industry. It contains very important business opportunities for us”, commented Xiao Lun, Marketing Director of Emerging Market of Wilo China. “We are really happy with our presentation at IE expo China”, explained Cao Yang, Head of Strategy Project China, Doppstadt Umwelttechnik, Germany: “The trade visitors were especially interested in our main attractions. We thus achieved our trade show goal and were able to place our processing solutions in this form on the Chinese market for the first time. This provides an excellent foundation to further expand our activities in this region.”
How Artificial Intelligence increases efficiency
Two new exhibition areas were added this year: The "Digital Intelligence Park" was dedicated to increasing efficiency, for example, based on Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT). AI was also used in the "Self-driving Sanitation Vehicle" show, for instance to increase work safety and reduce CO2 emissions. In addition, during the accompanying conference, international experts exchanged views at more than 30 forums, among other things, how water and wastewater treatment and waste management can support climate neutrality. For example, the following participated in the program: the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA), the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), the German RETech Partnership, the International Waste Working Group (IWWG), the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) and Tongji University.
Further IE expo trade fairs are on track: IE expo Chengdu from July 12 to 14, 2023 and IE expo Guangzhou, from September 20 to 22, 2023. The next IE expo China is taking place from April 18 to 20, 2024.
