Fimec 2023 plans to gather more than 20 thousand professionals from the leather-footwear sector
Visitors from more than 35 countries are expected from March 7th to 9th, at Fenac, in Novo Hamburgo/RS (Brazil)
The only fair that brings together everything for the leather-footwear market is about to start. From March 7th to 9th, the cluster will meet at the 46th Fimec (International Fair of Leather, Chemicals, Components, Machinery and Equipment for Footwear and Tanneries), at the Fenac pavilions, in Novo Hamburgo, in search of the main trends and technologies of the sector. During three days and in the same place, visitors will be able to see innovations of the entire footwear process up close. From production to logistics, Fimec will present innovation in leather and fur, chemical products, components, machines, technology and innovation for different areas of the sector. Registration for the professional fair is free and is now open through the website www.fimec.com.br.
Already recognized as the largest fair in the sector in Latin America and the third largest in the world, Fimec 2023 stands out for the presence of visitors from abroad, totaling, so far, accredited professionals from 37 countries, including Brazil. “Fimec is an extremely important world fair for the leather-footwear sector, mainly for the leather and footwear clusters of the Americas, which are here. However, in this edition, it consolidates even more internationally, as we already have registered visitors from 37 countries, many from Africa, Europe and Asia. Thus, we are going to have a very international fair, bringing back the good times of our global incursion into footwear and leather”, explains Marcio Jung, CEO of Fenac.
In addition to visitors from different Brazilian states, Fimec will receive professionals from South Africa, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, Ecuador, Spain, USA, Ethiopia, Ghana, Great Britain, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Iran, Mauritania, Mexico, Nigeria, Palestine, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, Senegal, Somalia, Uruguay and Venezuela. “We expect to receive more than 20 thousand visitors in the three days of the fair”, projects Jung.
The internationalization of the fair also extends to the exhibitors of this edition, since Fimec will bring together 55 foreign companies from five countries, which will be: Argentina, China, Italy, Peru and Uruguay. In all, the fair will have more than 350 exhibitors, totaling 10,000 m² - an exhibition area 30% larger compared to last year.
Fimec Backstage - Fimec's assembly process is in progress and involves more than 40 assemblers that add up to 800 direct jobs. Around 120 professionals will be hired to work during the three days of the event, including security, cleaning, accreditation, customer service and civil fire services. In addition, to date, more than 1,900 exhibitor credentials have been issued for the event.
Exhibitors project good business
Among the exhibitors of this edition, the expectation is also positive. For Marcelo Cezario, director of Comelz, Fimec 2023 is the opportunity to introduce the brand's products to the market, in addition to boosting sales even more. “Fimec will serve as a ‘thermometer’ to understand how the year will unfold, helping us to finalize the strategies”, he anticipates. Comelz, which has already participated in Fimec with its own stand since 1998, will present in this edition the Plus Machines line, with more versatile characteristics for the industry, in addition to the CJ line for development sectors and small productions. When talking about the cluster scenario, Cezario explains that an above-average surge in terms of sales is perceived at the beginning of the year. “Businesses are mostly full of orders, some closed until May or beyond. In addition to this, in general, customers have problems with manpower, especially specialized ones”, he says.
Another company that will present news at Fimec is Maquetec. For the brand's commercial director, Gerson Luiz Lorscheitter, the fair gives visibility to the exhibitor to present its innovations. “Our expectation is to do a lot of business and forward others. We want to make this the best fair ever, as we are completing 30 years with the company”, explains Lorscheitter, noting that Maquetec has participated in Fimec since 2005. When talking about the sector's scenario, the commercial director points out that there is an opportunity to make this period the best ever. “We have visible possibilities in exporting and forming respected brands in the world”, he points out.
Concept Factory will have five production lines
For the first time in its history, the Concept Factory presents five lines of work at Fimec, with simultaneous production of children's, men's, women's and safety shoes. To make the project a reality, the Brazilian Institute of Leather Technology, Footwear and Artifacts - IBTeC, Fenac and Coelho Business Advising have partnered with Calçados Pegada (with the production of a male model of sneakers in knit and leather), Arezzo Co. (with a model of leather pumps), Calçados Conforto (with a model of safety shoes in fabric and knit), and Senai Calçados (with the production of a model of children's shoes for newborns and a men's sneaker in fabric and leather). The Concept Factory takes place in an area of 1,612 square meters, with the participation of 60 companies, including manufacturers and suppliers of raw materials, inputs, machinery, equipment and technology solutions. Around 2,500 pairs of shoes will be produced in the three days of the fair. To make production a reality, the project will have around 100 people in the operation.
CICB Sustainability Forum will address traceability
With the aim of gathering ideas, positive examples and innovations for the leather chain, the CICB Sustainability Forum will take place along with Fimec's schedule, on March 8th. With the theme “Paths for traceability”, the event will present new possibilities to professionals in the sector based on lectures given by market specialists. After two editions in online format, the event returns to the face-to-face version, bringing together five lectures and a panel in which tools, solutions, evolution and perspectives in the field of traceability will be presented. Geotechnology, automation, data reach and the main numbers of the current scenario of the leather industry will be on the agenda with specialists from Brazil and abroad. Registration is free and is now open at www.cicb.org.br/forum2023.
Fimec Studio brings inspiration to visitors
A project confirmed for Fimec 2023, Estúdio Fimec will present trends in consumption, behavior and technology. Known as a research environment, visitors to the site will be able to check closely the result of a broad study focused on the behavior that guides the product. This year, the space will bring together the concepts of sustainability, digitalization, thrift and comfort. Again, the space will be in a prominent location at Fimec, at the entrance to the fair, with exhibitors demonstrating products and materials, in addition to development software and spaces with information and content from the area.
