First IA show in Vietnam

Vietnam’s first international show dedicated to the industrial and building automation sectors, Industrial Automation Vietnam 2008, attracted 61 participating companies and an audience of 4,570 visitors over three days (Sept 17-19) in Ho Chi Minh City.

According to organizer Hong Kong Exhibition Services, part of the Allworld Exhibition Alliance, the strong response reflects the opportunities automation offers to manufacturers to assist in maintaining cost and quality control and overcoming shortages of trained personnel.

Vietnam has experienced high growth rates (in excess of 7.5 percent) in recent years, and foreign direct investment (FDI) pledges totaled US$46.3 billion in the first eight months of 2008. Relocation of manufacturing operations from China is another factor driving opportunity for suppliers of industrial automation solutions.

Companies exhibiting at the show included Autonics, Camozzi, EPlan, Festo, IDEC, Phoenix Contact Siemens, and Rittal. For Profibus South East Asia, Volker With over 60 companies exhibiting at the first ever IA Vietnam, the show is set to return next year, this time in combination with PIA Vietnam. Schulz, Secretary, noted, “Industries in Vietnam are moving from no automation to high end automation to improve quality and efficiency and acceptance of international standards. It is the right time to use digital bus communication with Profibus and Profinet. Profibus is there to support its members and products independent of automation vendor.”

In response to the strong demand for an annual event, the organizers have announced the dates of the second show to be 16-18 September 2009. This time, the event will be held in conjunction with PIA Vietnam, the exhibition for process engineering, instrumentation and laboratory equipment. The venue for the combined event will be the brand new Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC).

Commenting on the attendance at the 2008 event, Manuel Huesken, Director International Sales, Rittal & Co said, “We have been very busy and have distributed all 2000 brochures in the first two and a half days of the show. We are very pleased with the response and look forward to participating in Industrial Automation Vietnam 2009.”