Over 20,000 Visitors at MEDICAL FAIR ASIA & MEDICAL MANUFACTURING ASIA 2018

September 11, 2018

With its largest edition to date, the concurrent staging of MEDICAL FAIR ASIA and MEDICAL MANUFACTURING ASIA 2018 in Singapore was a resounding success: more than  14,000 trade visitors from 72 countries took part in MEDICAL FAIR ASIA  - a 16 percent increase compared to 2016, while  MEDICAL MANUFACTURING ASIA 2018 registered some 6,000 visitors from 56 nations – a 12 percent growth from two years ago.

While 40 percent of the visitors came from outside Singapore, the majority were from Asia with neighboring ASEAN countries particularly well represented.

A total of 1,220 exhibitors from 62 countries showcased their innovations.

MEDICAL FAIR ASIA and MEDICAL MANUFACTURING ASIA are part of Messe Düsseldorf’s  MEDICAlliance network of medical trade fairs organized worldwide, including the No. 1 international event for the medical sector – MEDICA, held annually in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Confirming its position as the region’s leading business platform for the healthcare and medical sector, MEDICAL FAIR ASIA 2018 featured 23 national pavilions and country group exhibits – more than ever before.

The Shvabe Group was part of the Russian Pavilion and according to its Managing Director and Chairman, John T.C. McGough, the company was very pleased with their participation and made many useful contacts with potential distributors.

He said, “Asia is the future and this is where growth will be in the next decade. Singapore, with its strategic locale, is the gateway to the region and we will definitely be back in 2020 with a bigger booth.”

The Russian Pavilion was among the nine new country pavilions at MEDICAL FAIR ASIA 2018.

The positive market outlook for the medical and MedTech sectors was well-reflected by the number of high-quality visitors seeking cutting-edge solutions among the more than 10,000 products showcased at the exhibition, ranging from medical manufacturing processes and machinery to finished products and components. 

According to Huang Tinlan, FREE Bionics Group’s Head of Business Development, the new Community Care zone was the perfect location for their first time participation at MEDICAL FAIR ASIA: “At this exhibition, we made new contacts, including doctors and therapists from rehabilitation centers as well as neurological departments from Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Tan Tock Seng and Sengkang General Hospitals. The event was a good platform to present our products and we will definitely be back in 2020.”

New technology and digital health solutions were big draws at both exhibitions, with the new Start-up Park gaining much interest as a dedicated showcase for young companies to present themselves to top decision makers and seek potential investors.

For Dr. Anand Govindaluri, Founder and Managing Director of Govin Capital Pte Ltd, the Start-Up Park was an ideal setting to listen to new product pitches and see digital health solutions up close: “This is my first visit to MEDICAL FAIR ASIA and I am particularly impressed by the Start-Up Park concept and Future for Health (FTR4H) digital health lounge.”  

At MEDICAL MANUFACTURING ASIA 2018, companies with new innovation approaches also took center stage, which was underlined in the opening speech by Dr. Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry. He emphasized the growing trend of medical technology companies moving up the value chain and the need for new a methods and greater collaboration.

Long-time exhibitor AMT Pte Ltd, experienced the development of MEDICAL MANUFACTURING ASIA  over the years: “The exhibition has been improving over the years and visitor traffic is much better now than before with even more quality visitors who are knowledgeable about the products on the show floor,” said  Marketing Director Mr. Zulkefli Zainal.

Strengthening their positions as sourcing and procurement platforms, both exhibitions welcomed visiting delegations and VIP buyers from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Dr. Prapa Wongphaet, Director, S. Medical Enterprise Co Ltd, who led the Thai Medical and Wellness Tourism Association delegation, was impressed by the isolation tank from a UK-based company: “This is the first time we have seen something like this and it is exactly what we need. We can now use this tank to isolate patients in case of an epidemic. Visiting the exhibition with my team gave us a lot of information and I am excited to bring these best practices back to our hospital.”. 

“The exhibition was vibrant with a lot of interaction between exhibitors and visitors on the show floors. It is trade fairs like these that benefit the industry as they pave the way for people to meet and discuss business,” added Mr Christophe Marque, Chairman of the Association of Malaysian Medical Industries.

For Swiss machining solutions manufacturer Willemin-Macodel SA, MEDICAL MANUFACTURING ASIA 2018 proved to be the ideal gateway to introduce their manufacturing solutions to the Southeast Asian market. “Although this is our first time here, the response has been very good and we have been busy with many requests looking for medical manufacturing solutions in Malaysia, Indonesia and even high-precision manufacturing parts from Singapore,” commented Mr Philippe Zürcher, Head of Business Development.

Ancillary program complements the exhibitions

Complementing MEDICAL FAIR ASIA and MEDICAL MANUFACTURING ASIA 2018 were a series of industry-focused conferences, seminars and workshops covering a wide array of topics such as sports medicine, wearable technologies, robotic surgery, community care and MedTech. These events attracted 700 international attendees.

   The next concurrent staging of MEDICAL FAIR ASIA and MEDICAL MANUFACTURING ASIA will take place from September 9 – 11, 2020 at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. 

 

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.