Steel division reports successful trade fair and event results

Dortmund, 22.04.2024 | Trade visitors from all over the world come to Düsseldorf for wire & Tube. In order to make the most of this important industry gathering, the NORDWEST Steel Division was present for the first time as an exhibitor at the world’s leading trade fair for the tube and wire industry from April 15 to 19 – at the joint stand of the BDS (Bundesverband Deutscher Stahlhandel). In addition, NORDWEST organized a get-together with trade and supplier partners on an event ship on the banks of the Rhine.

The Steel Division’s assessment of this year’s Tube trade fair is very positive and confirms the decision to participate as a co-exhibitor for the first time. The BDS trade fair stand, where the NORDWEST steel team could be found, attracted many interested trade fair visitors throughout. There were numerous opportunities for productive discussions with trade and industry and for making new contacts.

Claudio Kemper gives his conclusion of the trade fair

Claudio Kemper, Head of the Steel Division at NORDWEST, said at the end: “Thanks to our presence during the entire five days of the trade fair, we were able to make intensive use of this important international stage to present NORDWEST, the PHOENIX steel association and our European purchasing cooperation astedis with all their benefits, services and advantages, while at the same time exchanging information on a wide range of industry topics. We look forward to returning to Tube as an exhibitor in two years’ time.”

Get-together on “Fischer’s Kahn”

The highlight of the trade fair week was the sociable industry get-together, to which NORDWEST, invited specialist retailer and supplier partners. Around 150 guests accepted the invitation to “Fischer’s Kahn”, an event ship on the banks of the Rhine in Düsseldorf. The guests spent the evening in a great atmosphere and engaged in extensive discussions on various steel topics and trade fair innovations. CEO Jörg Simon summed up the evening: “NORDWEST has once again proven that we stand for partnership and respectful interaction with specialist dealers and suppliers. We are therefore delighted that, despite the poor economic conditions in the industry, we have succeeded in creating a framework here at Fischer’s Kahn to strengthen existing contacts and explore new business opportunities. This is the basis for our continued joint success.”

Positive feedback by the evening’s participants

Alexander Stier, Head of Sales and Logistics at Stahlwerk Thüringen GmbH: “This meeting has a lot of added value for us and is an important event, because we have a customer network here that already trades in some of our products. NORDWEST is one of the most important German customers for us and I have the opportunity here to hold important and profitable discussions – discussions of understanding in the direction of the German steel industry in the current political and economic environment, with the challenges that we have to overcome together in the steel production sector. In this respect, this is a very good opportunity to engage in a valuable and informative exchange without having to travel a lot.”

 

Eberhard Frick, Managing Director of Friedrich Kicherer GmbH & Co. KG: “It’s great to meet lots of colleagues here, to be able to discuss the current situation, to be able to talk about the further development of the market and not just with other specialist retailers, but also with suppliers. The many opportunities for personal dialog are simply great. It definitely helps us in business terms and even further. That’s why I definitely wouldn’t want to miss this networking event.”

 

Ralf Schilling, Managing Director of Feralpi Stahlhandel GmbH: “NORDWEST is always a wonderful location for maintaining contacts and making new ones. News from the market are communicated and categorized. It is therefore a profitable pleasure to take part in this very good event. There is always an informal and pleasant style here that brings specialist retailers and suppliers together.” 

About NORDWEST Handel AG

NORDWEST Handel AG, headquartered in Dortmund, has been one of the strongest-performing companies in the production connection trade (PVH) since 1919. It has a total business volume of EUR 4,801 million as of 2023. The core tasks of the association to support the approximately 1,255 specialist trade partners (from the steel, building trade industry and sanitary and heating technology (building services) sectors) lie in the bundling of purchasing volumes, central settlement, a strong central warehouse and comprehensive services. NORDWEST is also active in Europe, particularly in the key countries of Austria, Switzerland, France, Poland and Benelux.

(Source: Nordwest Handel AG/2024)