On the factory floor – Fimec 2016

On 15–17 March in the Fenac pavilions, Fimec was a showcase for new products, production and innovation processes related to the sector, bringing together about 35,000 visitors from 35 countries. Those who attend, see Fimec as a good time to update concepts and search for innovative ways to increase productivity.

“Innovation is one of the main points that Fimec will add to visitors and exhibitors, because we realised that this is a concept that has been changing the market and which brings opportunity to enhance productivity, a much needed item for Brazil to become increasingly more competitive,” explains Fenac CEO Elivir Desiam.

Around 900 brands presented their products and services through 575 exhibitors, and the machinery sector alone was responsible for 30% of the space.

Exports boosted at Fimec

In this edition, the highlight of the event was due to the large amount of international buyers visiting Fimec looking for technological innovations to produce footwear, handbags and finished goods. As a result, the event became a bustling arena for negotiation, receiving a significant number of visitors from Latin America, but with fewer foreign visitors since many had attended the IULCTS congress in November. “Fimec is a breather to the economy, as we gather a qualified public and a large portion of foreign buyers, ready to do business with the local industry,” adds Desiam.

Furthermore, this edition of Fimec was the first time exhibiting for 41 companies, where they took advantage of a stimulating business environment. Among them was Paramalhas, a representative of Stoll in Brasil, bringing technological innovations of rectilinear looms that produce whole uppers for shoes. With zero waste, flexibility of drawings and shapes, high productivity combined with a competitive price, the raw material of the machine is already being used by large companies. And now, through the exhibition at Fimec, they’ll begin to reach SMEs.

“This is a new product on the market, which generates curiosity in visitors. It is possible to make the whole product design in computer software, without any material waste. In addition, a single operator controls six machines at the same time,” says Paramalhas director Carlos Michelin.

Also with new features for 2016, Estúdio Fimec generated a buzz among visitors through fashion information, valuing and ensuring the application of materials from each exhibitor. Grupo Sinos, through Jornal Exclusivo and the Trends Lab platform, is the new partner of project coordinators Luís Coelho from Coelho Consultoria, and Christian Thomas from Studio 10, along with Fenac.

This year, exhibitors had access to the Grupo Sinos research tool, and with it they could develop their products based on fashion information centred on this year’s theme of urban consumers. The footwear will be manufactured by West Coast/Cravo & Canela. Around 20 suppliers, among tanneries and companies of materials and components for footwear, participated.

The Concept Factory

Visitors also had the experience of viewing the production of footwear in real time, as if they were inside a factory. This is the objective of the Fábrica Conceito (Concept Factory) project developed through a partnership between Fenac, Coelho Assessoria Empresarial and Brazilian Institute of Technology for Leather, Footwear and Related Products (IBTeC).

For this edition, partner industries for the production of 1,500 pairs were Zenglein and West Coast. With the addition of ten new brands, the project was participated in by 70 companies, including suppliers of raw materials, machinery and equipment.

For Fenac, Fábrica is an important tool for visitors. “It’s a great experience, especially for those who are looking for innovation and technology; two items needed for the leather-footwear market today,” continues Desiam, who added that “Fimec is the only fair in the world to have the appeal of a factory working in real time, which we believe is an advantage for our visitors.” ?

Brazlian market details

Raw/fresh skins: Slaughter in Brazil remains very low when compared with a year ago. The problems in the country’s economy has reduced beef consumption and JBS, the largest slaughterhouse, closed a number of plants so fewer cattle are being produced. Tanners complain that due to low slaughter in Mato Gross, Sao Paulo and Mato Grosso du Sul, raw hide prices have gone up as companies are more keen than usual to fill their drums with fresh hides. So they’ve had to raise prices even though the market might not accept it.

Wet-blue and crust: In Brazil, the sliding dollar, which pushes up fresh prices, raises questions for the country’s tanners in how to continue offering hides due to difficulties of even finding enough to tan, and then facing the uncertainty of currency fluctuations. Some have withdrawn offerings to see what will happen with the current Brazilian Government crisis and the direction of the dollar.

Many wonder what buyers are willing to pay for Brazilian wet-blue, and are hoping for some answers soon. Tanners’ asking prices are based far more on raw material costs and currency issues than on buyer demand for their wet-blue.

Source: hidenet.com