“Quality” Visitors

    The second annual RechargExpo 2008 was held in beautiful Singapore this past June 25-27. While the fact that Recycler Publishing and Events scheduled their Remax Zhuhai show for the week immediately preceding the previously-scheduled RechargExpo Singapore and an “un-named media source” circulated rumors that the show was cancelled definitely impacted attendance, word on the show floor by exhibitors was that the caliber of visitors was definitely of a “higher quality”.  By “higher quality visitor”, exhibitors explained that even though the actual number of total attendees was less than expected, they were still able to conduct significant business with visitors who were “serious about purchasing” and not “merely wanting to look around and collect goodies”.

Acknowledging that RechargExpo Singapore’s location is central and therefore key to bringing industry participants of all levels together from all over the Southeast Asian region, exhibitors and attendees cited hope and confidence in the overall growth potential of the Southeast Asia consumables industry; especially in countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand, for example. Indeed, the landscape of the remanufacturing industry in this region is rife with opportunity. Presumably because of this, all of the largest, premier booth locations have already been booked for next year’s show.

Singapore:-a beautiful, central venue in the heart of South East Asia

    Singapore, from the Malay words Singa (lion) and Pura (city), was chosen as the venue for RechargExpo because it is considered a prized destination for all travelers. It is the most central, most accessible, most ethnically diverse, and safest location in the Asia Pacific region. Additionally, it is the world’s fourth largest foreign exchange trading center after London, New York City and Tokyo and has been ranked as the most business-friendly economy and among the safest cities in the world. All of this makes doing business in Singapore an obvious selection.    

With this location, RechargExpo Singapore is viewed by many as a unique recharger trade show bringing together visitors and exhibitors from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Middle East, the Philippines, Thailand, the United States, and even Kenya and Nigeria, among others. It affords toner and ink jet ink manufacturers, raw material producers, distributors, dealers, and buyers of compatible supplies an opportunity to participate in a gathering of their colleagues and competitors from distant lands. Further, it gives them the chance to network, to learn, and to update their perspective on the imaging industry. Most of all, it is a golden opportunity to do business in this enchanting city.

    Furthermore, many exhibitors and attendees commented on how well-organized the Show was and how “easy” it was to be there. From the logistics company, Kingsmen, to the friendly RechargExpo staff, the atmosphere was one of dedication to first-class customer service helping to do it all: view new products, explore new service offerings, learn about the latest industry innovations, experience amazing Singapore, forge new relationships, discover new opportunities and open new channels to market their products and services. Whew--what a mouthful!#p#副標(biāo)題#e#

Pre-show Asia Imaging Forum (AIF)

As in any field, the continued growth of imaging businesses begins with their key executives keeping abreast of what’s going on in the industry. Recharge Asia’s pre-show Asia Imaging Forum （AIF） brought together industry leaders to deliver innovative ideas and successful strategies for dealing with what lies ahead in the consumables remanufacturing realm, as well as the tools needed to implement and achieve these goals. Featuring 10 sessions and a Keynote Address, AIF provided networking opportunities blended with information-packed materials from an elite group of industry experts. These prominent speakers and their topics, geared toward arming participants for success amid emerging market trends, included the following:

 ●Steve Weedon, CEO of SCC Europeans Operations and Executive Vice President of SCC, Inc., spoke on “The Impact of Color and New Technologies on Remanufacturing Businesses”
 ●Atsushi Sakurai, Ambassador of SC28, International Standards Organization, spoke on the “ISO’s International Supply Yield Standards. Why are these standards better for the Industry?”
 ●Hyun-Nam Yoon, President & CEO of DPI Solutions, Inc., spoke on “Chemically Prepared Toners: Why They Must be Used in Certain Aftermarket Applications”
 ●Edward O’Connor, Partner, Trial Division of The Eclipse Group LLP, spoke on “Beware the trap of the International Trade Commission and Jazz Photo. ”
 ●Yukio Yamamoto, President of Data Supply Inc., spoke on the “Current Situation of the Worldwide Photoconductor Market and The Japanese Recycle Cartridge Industry”
 ●Iwansja Gunawan, Owner & Managing Director of PT Veneta Indonesia, spoke on “Toner & Ink Jet Cartridge Remanufacturing Markets in Indonesia”
 ●Jian-Sheng Huang, R&D Manager of Trend Tone Imaging, spoke on “Rounded Toners: A New Economic Spin on Colored Toners for the Aftermarket”
 ●Mr. Prashanth Kumar Makam, Managing Director of QP Print Networks Private Ltd, spoke on “The Toner & Ink Jet Cartridge Remanufacturing Market in India”
 ●Graham J. Galliford, Director of Galliford Consulting & Marketing (GCM) and AIF 2008 Conference Chairman, spoke on “Europe’s REACH Program: What Remanufacturers Exporting to Europe Need to Know and Do”
 ●John Shane, Director of InfoTrends, spoke on “Toner & Ink Jet Cartridge Remanufacturing in North America and Europe--Industries in Flux”.
 ●Art Diamond, President of Diamond Research Corporation (DRC), spoke on “The Perfect Lure: Utilizing the “Green” Angle in Recycling and Remanufacturing”

On-site education

  RechargExpo Singapore also hosted a series of on-site education classes offered by leaders in the industry. The following classes were held on the show floor and offered practical and useful information:

◆Peter Liu, General Manager of Ascend Office Accessories Ltd., presented their PCR Technique and reviewed the use and applications of Ascend’s new products.
    ◆Javier Gonzalez, Technical Specialist of UniNet Imaging, Inc., taught two technical sessions including:
  △Remanufacturing the HP1006 cartridge and
  △Remanufacturing the Okidata C3400 toner hopper and drum unit 
 ◆David Wong, Technical Specialist, and Jeremy Lee, Head of R&D at EOP21 illustrated their paper transport system in printers & copiers#p#副標(biāo)題#e#

Southeast Asian Consumables Association (“SEAC”) inaugural meeting

    The organizational meeting of the newly-formed Southeast Asian Consumables Association (“SEAC”) was held on day two of RechargExpo Singapore.  The SEAC was established to promote the industry in Southeast Asia, to help members become more competitive in color and monochrome cartridge remanufacturing in regional and world markets, and to help the industry “Go Green” in concert with the global trend toward sustainability. Read more about the inaugural meeting of the SEAC in this issue’s “SEAC Holds Inaugural Meeting at RechargExpo Singapore 2008”

Gala Dinner

    Marking the close of AIF and kicking-off RechargExpo Singapore was a Gala Dinner held at the beautiful, luxurious Carlton Hotel in the heart of downtown Singapore.  Shuttle buses transported guests directly from the Show to the dinner where they dined on a scrumptious array of regional delights from traditional Malaysian mainstays to almost every type of sushi imaginable.

    Graham Galliford, Director of Galliford Consulting & Marketing and AIF 2008 Conference Chairman, entertained the audience with interesting industry anecdotes and market data and forecasts.  Their stomachs filled with regional delicacies and their minds filled with valuable information, guests then dispersed into the beautiful Singapore night.  Only to have a repeat performance, albeit on a smaller scale, the following evening at a copious cocktail reception graciously hosted by Magnetone at Singapore Expo’s Jazz Bar.

Overall, between the pre-show Asia Imaging Forum (AIF), the on-site education classes, the gala dinner, the cocktail party, and the inaugural SEAC meeting, all amid the unique backdrop of Singapore’s beauty and ease, RechargExpo Singapore guests enjoyed a multitude of networking opportunities in which to trade both ideas and wares with old friends and new, “quality” contacts alike.