From 2nd-5th June, the Gran Via venue will host the 27th edition of Eurosurfas, the International Surface Treatment Meeting of Fira de Barcelona. In this interview, the trade show's director, Pilar Navarro, reveals the main new features of the most prominent trade fair event in the sector nationally.
First, can you tell us why Eurosurfas is taking place in June and not in October, as it used to?
Since its first edition, the organisation of Fira de Barcelona has always been attentive to the needs and concerns of the surface treatment industry. That is why, in response to a request from the main players in the sector, we have moved it to June, a more suitable month for its commercial, communication and marketing policy.
Moreover, we believe that Barcelona is a destination that offers numerous attractions in June for both exhibitors and visitors, which makes us optimistic about the next edition.
Speaking of attractions, what will Eurosurfas 2020 offer compared to the 2017 edition?
Can you tell us what Eurosurfas 2020 will be like?
Hall 2 of Fira de Barcelona's Gran Via venue will show how the surface treatment sector is still alive and kicking, with a subcontracting area to put large customers in touch with small and medium-sized suppliers and encourage business contacts.
And we will have a new edition, the tenth of the Eurocar Congress, the international meeting of the surface treatment in the automotive industry that, this year, is opening up to other sectors such as rail and aeronautics.
At the same time, we will offer leading professional visitors the opportunity to see the new items from the main exhibitors through eight sectoral routes in closed groups of 25 people according to their sector-specific application.
We will complete our offering with several days of discussions and seminars that will focus on three main themes: the circular economy, technology transfer, and digital transformation.
Will the Eurocar Congress be one of the great attractions of Eurosurfas 2020?
Indeed, with a total of 38 speakers, the tenth Eurocar Congress, which will take place on 3rd and 4th June, will be one of the best ever. In this edition, we will have the participation of prestigious professionals from leading companies in the automotive, aeronautical and rail industries from various countries.
The Eurocar Congress will be structured around four thematic blocks (materials, processes, best practices and environment) in which issues such as the new generation of finishes, new treatments with low energy consumption and innovations in painting plants will be dealt with, among others.
We are convinced that this year's edition will be of the highest level and the attendees will be able to get answers to all their concerns regarding the new trends in surface treatment in these application sectors.
What kind of actions has Eurosurfas carried out to publicise the 2020 edition among exhibitors and visitors?
We are aware of what the change of dates means for professionals in the sector, which is why we have drawn up a programme of actions to approach the market, listen to its concerns and encourage debate.
We have maintained an extensive agenda of contacts with the main associations and companies in the sector from all over Spain and in partnership with Fira de Barcelona's international affiliates to publicise what Eurosurfas has to offer, together with Expoquimia and Equiplast, in the international arena.
At the international level, we have designed an International VIP Buyers Program, focusing on the most accessible foreign markets such as North Africa and Latin America, which has enabled us to secure the presence of various reverse trade missions. In addition, we work closely with the Spanish Association of Paint and Printing Ink Manufacturers (ASEFAPI) to design an ad hoc agenda of professional meetings with their associates.
Finally, as director of Eurosurfas, what are the main challenges facing the plastics and rubber sector?
The sector must continue to work along the same lines as it does now in terms of its commitment to intelligent surfaces at a time when the sector has experienced a period of corporate consolidation. In this respect, I believe that the sector must open up to others in order to remain productive.