Global Challenges Face Material World/SPESA Buyers
More than 12,000 buyers will be on the lookout for the latest in fabric, technology and machinery during the May 18–20 run of the Material World trade show in Miami Beach, Fla. For the first time, the show will run alongside the SPESA Expo (Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the Americas) machinery show and the Technology Solutions software show at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
Aside from figuring out what shows to attend, buyers will also face challenges regarding the evolving global economy, scheduled to be free from trade quotas in seven months, and new technology mandates, namely those involving radio frequency identification (RFID) hardware that some retailers are requiring from their vendors. Manufacturers are placing great importance on the upcoming shows to find solutions for the changing marketplace, said Benton Gardner, SPESA executive vice president.
“Our challenges are no different than those that our customers are facing,” Gardner said.“That is, keeping business in this hemisphere and adapting to full-package production.”
While Material World has typically catered to U.S. and Central and South American visitors, the Asian influence is gaining on the vendor and buyer side. Twenty-four Asian companies will show products this year, a 40 percent jump from previous shows.
Preparations for a world without quotas have already begun, said Marshall Gordon, apparel industry executive for Atlanta-based software company SAP America.
“In the past 18 months, we’ve seen a spike in Asian apparel software implementation,” Gordon said. “Asian businesses are becoming more sophisticated and realizing that technology helps them to better supply businesses and overcome these geographical barriers.”
Gerber Technology Inc. and Lectra have also boosted their technology offerings in Asia. Gerber is building cutters and other equipment within Asia specifically for the Asian market. The company anticipates this will help reduce freight and manufacturing costs and keep unit costs competitive.
In the domestic market, manufacturers continue to worry about RFID as retailers Wal- Mart Stores Inc. and the Target Corp. move closer to implementing RFID on a big scale. The wireless technology helps retailers track incoming and outgoing merchandise via radio chips.
A number of vendors will be showing RFID products. The Avery Dennison Corp. will show its 64-05 RFID Printer. RFID scanners and chips will also be prominent in the exhibit halls.
For information, visit www.spesaexpo.com, www.techsolutionsexpo.com and www.materialworld.com.
—Robert McAllister
