Organised by HKJJA Exhibition Services Limited, the exhibition arm of Hong Kong Jewellery & Jade Manufacturers Association (HKJJA), the second edition of METS – Machinery, Equipment, Technology and Supplies for Jewellery & Watch Industry was successfully held at Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre (KITEC), Hong Kong between 24 and 27 June 2015. The four-day professional show recorded a momentous attendance of quality buyers from Asia (excluding Hong Kong), which accounted for 35 percent of the total number of buyers, almost doubled the figure last year. The brand new format of METS in 2016- ‘T-GOLD + METS PAVILION’ will be held at Hong Kong Trade Development Council(HKTDC) Hong Kong International Jewellery Show in March.
Apart from a wide variety of equipment and technology for modern jewellery and watch making, METS 2015 launched several programmes such as free onsite diamond and jadeite testing services, and special offers on selected exhibits on the last day of the show, in order to appeal to a broader audience.
According to the organiser, METS 2015 witnessed a notable surge in the number of visitors from Asia by nearly one-fold over last year. “Excluding Hong Kong, 35 percent of buyers came from Asia where a vast majority of jewellery and watches is manufactured. The encouraging figures have proved the success of our painstaking marketing and promotion campaigns ever launched,” said Ken Lo, vice-chairman of HKJJA and chairman of the METS Exhibition Committee.
“This is the first time our company attends METS and enters into the jewellery industry. Even though the visitors’ flow is not that satisfactory, we still acquired some potential customers who are interested in our 3D printers,” said Brian Leung, sales executive of Praise Technology Limited, a Hong Kong-based 3D printer manufacturer. The company’s WiseMaker HD 3D printer can be used to produce wax-like patterns for lost-wax casting or investment casting applications. Leung stated that the company looks forward to next year’s METS which will become part of HKTDC’s jewellery exhibition in March where the visitors’ traffic is secured.
Pinky Liu, marketing executive from Myndar, specialised in IoT (Internet of Things) solutions for the retail environment, expressed the same feedback to Hong Kong Jewellery. As a solution provider, Myndar’s main target of participating in METS 2015 was to use this channel to build and strengthen a deeper bond with buyers, and market their brand and products. She said that they have met some potential buyers and arranged follow-up meetings and conversations with them. “We would like to join the next edition of METS and hope the organiser would increase the exposure of this promising fair,” she added.
“I am so impressed at METS this time. There is a lot of valuable information related to machinery and technology which is a best chance for industry practitioners to exchange updated information and learn new trends,” said Sufair Hu, sourcing supervisor from Achieve Jewellery Limited.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of HKJJA and the 10th anniversary of the ‘Adopt-A-School’ Project (AASP) this year, a grand banquet was held on the first show day, 24 June. Carrie Lam, HKSAR’s chief secretary for administration inaugurated the event, and recognised the effort AASP has made to increase the scope of beneficiaries. The event was well-attended by global industry leaders and trade association representatives from Thailand, Malaysia, Mainland China, Israel, Sweden, etc, government officials, and international media friends.
Starting 2016, METS, under the new format of ‘T-GOLD + METS PAVILION’, will become an integral part of HKTDC’s Hong Kong International Jewellery in March, one of the world’s largest jewellery marketplaces. Ken Lo said: “We are honoured to co-organise ‘T-Gold + METS PAVILION’ with HKTDC at such an esteemed trade fair thanks to the longstanding and cordial relationship between HKTDC and HKJJA, as well as our dedication to serving the Hong Kong jewellery industry. I believe, with such a strong backing, we can be more focused on sourcing the most suitable, advanced and cost-effective manufacturing solutions for the world’s jewellery and watch makers.” The show is scheduled for 3-7 March 2016. Visit www.METS.hk for more information on ‘T-GOLD + METS PAVILION’.
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