EoW March 2010

The International Magazine for the Wire and Cable Industries

Looking back…

looking forward

Two years ago, when I was anticipating my first visit to wire Düsseldorf, the credit crisis was in its infancy. Northern Rock had just been nationalised. It was to be July beforeFannieMaeandFreddieMacneeded rescue, and after these two financial giants threatened to topple it seemed banks across the globe were poised to fall like ninepins. Before long industry in general, and manufacturing industry in particular, was shaky from the aftershocks. In April 2008 I was struck by the optimism of many of the exhibitors I met. There was certainly a view that, though recession was a possibility, it was as likely that industry would talk itself into recession as be pushed. Of course, we know how the situation spiralled, and many businesses were forced to look at streamlining, shrinking and shedding to survive. Some haven’t survived, and it would be intriguing to know if those who sounded so very optimistic in 2008 were simply in denial. I hope not: I prefer to believe that an optimistic outlook and positive thinking will win through. Either way, the reality is that the UK, at least, has just been declared officially out of recession. Within the cycle of wire Düsseldorf we’re coming out on the other side, and while the actual shape of the recovery has yet to show itself (the debate continues as to whether it’s V, W, U or L-shaped) there’s evidence that faith in the future is alive and well. What leads me to believe that? This issue’s wire Düsseldorf feature. It was with some trepidation that I awaited editorial submissions confined to new products and technology for 2010. I needn’t have worried. The R & D departments of manufacturers from all sectors have been busy and there will be a healthy crop of new machines and ingenuity to see at the show.

* US$33 purchase only * Front cover courtesy of Sikora AG.

For more details please call Sikora on +49 421 48900 0, or email sales@sikora.net Website: www.sikora.net

E DITOR : ....................................... Gill Watson F EATURES E DITOR (USA) : .........Dorothy Fabian E DITORIAL ASSISTANT : .................Christian Bradley D ESIGN /P RODUCTION : ................Julie Tomlin P RODUCTION : ..............................Lisa Benjamin S ALES M ANAGER : .......................Paul Browne S ALES & M ARKETING : ................Giuliana Benedetto ( I NTERNATIONAL )

Italian speaking sales Hendrike Morriss German speaking sales Linda Li Chinese speaking sales Jeroo Vandrevala Indian sales

A DVERTISEMENT C OORDINATOR : ............................Liz Hughes A CCOUNTS M ANAGER : ................Richard Babbedge S UBSCRIPTIONS : ..........................Liz Hughes P UBLISHER : ..................................Caroline Sullens F OUNDER : ....................................John C Hogg

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Although the UK’s quarter growth of 0.1% doesn’t tempt me into believing it’s the beginning of theendof recession, it’s a move in the right direction. For now we just have to stay positive, and productive.

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Gill Watson

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