The 15th annual Domotex Asia/Chinafloor exhibition held March 26-28 in Shanghai expanded on every front in 2013. The total number of visitors rose to 42,165 from 39,856 in 2012. Of those visitors, 11,379 came from 107 countries outside of China, a 14 percent increase from 2012.
"It seemed like there were more Western faces as attendees and exhibitors," observed Jim Gould, president of Floor Covering Institute LLC. "With Asia growing so rapidly, it is clearly the No. 1 target market for manufacturers from around the world."
The show floor grew by 10,000 square meters and 10 exhibitors compared with last year, for totals of 1,122 exhibitors on a 130,000 square meter floor.
Four Companies-Midwest Hardwood, Graf Brothers Flooring Inc., Hill Wood Products Inc. and P.J. Lumber Company-exhibited on the National Wood Flooring Association and American Hardwood Export Council Pavilion.
This year, the show set up a special InnovAction exhibit that highlighted 150 new and innovative products. Exhibitors could submit a product for display at no cost and have it displayed in the Innovation Center. The center drew a large crowd and lots of media attention, according to Gould. "I spent nearly an hour in this section," he said.
