INTERVIEW

WIRE: Dr. Bartz, in 2007 the wire and cable industry could breathe a sigh of relief. What do you think 2008 will bring for this industrial sector?
Dr. Bartz: The wire and cable industry is embedded in the global economy wich has grown in 2007, like in previous years, by approximately 5%. This growth was considerably nurtured by Asian “boom states” like China and India whose gross domestic product has increased by 10 and 8% respectively. Europe has grown by approximately 2.5%. Germany reached in 2007 a growth rate of 2.5% which was slightly smaller than its growth rate in 2006 (+ 2.9%). The other up-and-coming states also presented good results. Especially Russia and the oil-producing countries have announced corresponding successes.
The IWF expects the global economy to grow by 4.1% in 2008. Thus the growth prospects for 2008 are positive, even though growth is predicted to be 0.3 percentage points under the growth of the previous year.
Merely the USA, which used to be the global economic motor for decades, is lacking behind. The many years of granting generous sub-prime mortgages in the real estate business triggered a financial crisis. The consequences have not only affected some banks of the industrial nations but have also had a negative impact on the financing possibilities for investments in general. The real consequences of the amortization rate now required by banks, pension and insurance companies will become clear when the balance sheets of 2007 are available.
Also the excessive foreign trade deficit of the USA and the weak US$ impede export into dollar countries.
Compared to the American business cycle, the German and European business cycle is self-contained and stable. The German export industry today delivers already more than 60% of their goods into European countries. An actual 90% of all exported goods are delivered to non-American countries. Compared to former times, we now depend a lot less on the “locomotive economy” of the US.
The wire and cable industry’s backlog of orders is quite satisfying for the spring 2008 quarter. The chances for selling our high-tech machinery at the wire show are good. The industry will be able to use newly developed machines for a more economic production. The omens are positive for a successful exhibition.
I am convinced that wire will once again be a platform for trading state-of-the-art solutions at competitive prices. Customers will reward these technological innovations by placing orders at the wire.
WIRE: According to news reports, there is an increased demand at home and abroad. However, only one or two years ago I was told by various suppliers that the German market is not really interesting anymore. What is your experience?
Dr. Bartz: It is true that the demand of German customers for wire processing machines noticeably increased in the past year. The motor for an increased propensity to invest was a growing demand in the automobile industry whose production activity was good although the domestic demand for new vehicles had decreased. The strong demand from abroad for German premium-class cars had compensated the weak domestic demand more than enough. Thus the wire industry, that delivers 50% of their goods to the automotive sector, was animated to make new investments.
WIRE: How do you assess the German market in comparison to international markets?
Dr. Bartz: In the past years, the German market consumed on average one third of all wire processing machines manufactured in Germany; another third was delivered to European markets. The last third was exported to countries in the rest of the world. In 2007, the percentage of wire processing machines that had been consumed by the German market was increased to 40%. This increase shows the attraction and the increased significance the German market holds for the wire and cable industry.
Moreover, the geographic proximity of the manufacturer, and thus the possibility to get immediate comprehensive support quickly to reduce production stops to a minimum, are of great importance. The German customer also expects top quality and assistance in the optimization of individual production steps in order to ensure a fully automatic production process.
WIRE: You call the past and also future wire Russia shows a highlight. What do you expect from the wire show in Düsseldorf, Germany? Are there crucial differences between the two venues?
Dr. Bartz: wire 2008 in Düsseldorf, Germany, is the Olympus of all trade shows for the wire and cable industry. It is worldwide the most important and the most attractive fair for exhibitors and visitors of this industry. wire Russia, however, is the number one fair of the Eastern wire and cable sector. It mainly addresses manufacturers from Russia and countries of the former CIS states.
The wire and Tube show in Düsseldorf has the global supremacy in the wire/cable/tube sector. Therefore, the fair in Düsseldorf addresses a broad, international audience that comes to Düsseldorf from all over the world. This is also reflected by the number of exhibitors. There will be 1086 exhibitors from 49 countries at the wire to present their exhibits. The exhibition space will amount to 53,400m². At Tube, there will be 1020 exhibitors (February 2008) from 44 countries exhibiting their machines on 41,500m². More than 37,000 visitors are expected to come to the wire and 29,000 visitors are expected for the Tube show.
34,000 visitors are expected to come to the METAV show which takes place at the same time. This fair has an exhibition space of 52,000m². All in all, the wire, Tube and METAV fairs feature a total exhibition space of 147,000m² and an expected number of more than 100,000 visitors. This enormous exhibition space and number of visitors demonstrate the global significance of this year’s wire show in Düsseldorf.
WIRE: In our last interview you mentioned that technological innovation cycles become shorter and shorter. What can we expect on that score in Düsseldorf and especially of the Wafios AG?
Dr. Bartz: My opinion has not changed since we had our last interview. The cycles of technological innovations become shorter. Technological highlights – even world firsts – will be presented at wire 2008. They are part of the current Wafios product range. But there will also be modifications and technological enhancements of existing machines. Wafios will exhibit


- CNC Single- and dual-head bending machines for processing wire and tube material
- Wire straightening and cutting-off machines with end-working
- CNC Spring coiling machines in different sizes and versions
- Double-blow and multi-stage headers for the coldforming industry
- Electronic CNC tube bending machines for the most diverse applications
A novelty will be the attendance of the Swiss Mewag AG at the Tube stand of the Wafios Group. Wafios AG has acquired a majority share in the Mewag AG in January 2008. However, it remains self-contained.
You can visit our stands and see for yourself how progressive and innovative the exhibited machines are. The Wafios booth has a completely new design and reflects the modern spirit of Wafios. But not only a visit to the stands of the Wafios AG but also to the stands of other leading manufacturers is highly recommended.
WIRE: Why do especially Asian manufacturers copy Western technology?
Dr. Bartz: The Asian efforts to copy our technologies can be attributed to the time and money they can save in the development of their machines but also to their traditional mental attitude regarding this topic. Confucius has told Asians for centuries to emulate their master but not to surpass him.
Therefore, Asians have no sense of wrong when copying Western technology. After all, they are just emulating the master. In fact, they rather expect us, who we have the technological leadership, to appreciate their selection of us. They deem our technology to be “supreme”. Thus their copying us is a virtual compliment to our innovative ability. However, this view is really alien to us and it is hard for us to comprehend this thought. We think of the time and manpower we had to invest in our “supreme” innovation.
WIRE: In Düsseldorf, an important topic will surely be the taking of pictures or the exhibition of plagiarism. How does the Association cope with this exasperating topic and what does the management recommend? How does Messe Düsseldorf support you in this delicate question?
Dr. Bartz: Piracy and counterfeiting is not only a topic in China but in Düsseldorf as well. The protection of intellectual property is of vital importance. The unlawful copying of machines saves plagiarists considerable development costs. But all exhibitors agree on one thing: Copycats that make pirate copies are not accepted. Everything needs to be done in order to protect intellectual property.
This means not only the theft of intellectual property by taking pictures of a machine. Frequently, already innovative ideas are copied which does a lot of damage to exhibitors. Therefore, piracy and counterfeiting is of particular significance.
The special meaning of our German inventive spirit is perfectly expressed by the world-famous slogan: Made in Germany.
At wire in Bangkok I have seen a Taiwanese exhibitor who promoted his products with the following slogan: “Product made in Germany, produced in Taiwan”
This shows the great significance our German inventions have.
You ask what we as an Association recommend our members to do agains plagiarists. First of all, we have agreed with Messe Düsseldorf that everywhere on the exhibition ground posters and signs will be placed that remind visitors of the ban on taking pictures. This ban will not only be placed at all doors to the different halls but is also printed on cards that will be distributed among visitors. Moreover, a certain number of uniformed guards (so-called “photo sheriffs”) will patrol the halls and make sure that the ban is obeyed. The uniforms shall have a deterring effect especially on foreign visitors. It is not yet clear to which extent also the police will patrol the halls.
Furthermore, the welcome packages which our exhibitors receive will also include a clear note on the general ban on taking pictures inside the exhibition halls and that visitors who do not observe this ban will be expelled from the exhibition grounds. This note will also be translated into Chinese language.
The Association has sent out to its members special stickers that show a crossed out camera. Moreover, each exhibitor can get more of these stickers from the exhibition management. These stickers shall be attached to each technological new development that needs protection. They are supposed to make it clear to visitors that the exhibitor does not wish his machines to be photographed.
In addition, each exhibitor is advised to make additional arrangements to protect his intellectual property against theft, especially while setting up and dismantling the exhibition booth or at night time. Messe Düsseldorf has offered specialized safety guards that can provide protection. We strongly recommend to accept this offer.
Ultimately, the following precaution should be taken at wire 2008: Innovations should not be visible on a photo at first glance. Already in the developing period, engineers have to make sure to include a “black box” which destroys the software program of the machine as soon as the machine is opened by plagiarists.
Nevertheless, plagiarists must not prevent us from keeping in view the actual goal of the exhibition: to be the world’s largest exhibition for the wire and cable industry where the latest developments are exhibited and to which not only exhibitors but visitors are attracted as well.

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