By every measure, this year’s Domotex asia/ChinaFloor (DACF) trade fair was a resounding success, according to show organizers.

The number of visitors was up by just over 9%, setting a new record. 1,303 companies from 39 nations showcased the latest products and trends to an audience of 50,389 industry professionals from more than 110 nations at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC).

“These figures once again confirm the leading position DACF enjoys in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Martin Folkerts, director of global fairs at Deutsche Messe. “They are also a clear indication of the confidence that the big flooring industry players have in the show as the best platform at which to do business in the region. The feedback we received from our exhibitors this year was resoundingly positive, with many emphasizing the high quality of the visitors and buyers who attended the show. DACF has consistently grown both in terms of size and quality, and we are committed to ensuring this development continues.”

Visitors to this year’s fair discovered the latest technologies and innovations and were able to forge new contacts and conduct business in 12 exhibition halls. They were also able to take part in more than 30 conferences, events and workshops run by flooring professionals and designers on the latest practices, applications and challenges in the flooring industry.

This year marked the first time that a North American distributor delegation, consisting of 12 of the U.S.' most prominent industry representatives, visited DACF. The delegation also took the opportunity to visit a number of the local manufacturing plants of exhibiting Chinese companies.

As part of the Bamboo Flooring Hosted Buyer Program, an international delegation of bamboo flooring buyers visited the Anji Bamboo Pavilion, which occupied all of Hall E3, on the first day of the fair. The program is a joint project between the trade fair organizers and the Anji Country Commercial Bureau. Right after the show, the delegation was accompanied by DACF representatives on a three-day tour of Anji County to explore business opportunities with local manufacturers.

Another special hosted buyer matchmaking event put the spotlight on hand-knotted carpets. Also held on day one of the fair, this B2B networking event was hosted at the Design Carpet Salon in Hall W5. There, hand-knotted carpet exhibitors from India, Pakistan, Iran, Nepal and Afghanistan had ample opportunity to mingle with buyers from China and other countries.

Events such as the World Flooring Forum, co-organized by DACF and the China National Forest Products Association, shed light on the latest trends and developments in China’s wood flooring market. In addition, the China International WPC Development Forum 2016 provided domestic and international leaders in wood-plastic composites production, raw material supply, engineering, construction and research with a quality platform for wide-ranging dialogue on investment opportunities and industry trends and innovations.

This year, environmental protection and innovation once gain ranked among the keynote themes of the show—as reflected in programs such as the GreenStep Asia Awards and the InnovAction showcase. 

The fourth GreenStep Asia Awards gave flooring exhibitors a chance to showcase their contribution to sustainable development at all levels. The competition is open to all manufacturers worldwide who have manufacturing facilities in Asia. First prize in the “Green Pinnacle” category went to Weihai Shanhua Carpet Group, while Zhejiang Xingyue Carpet Industry took top honors in the “Green Product” category, and Zhejiang Kingdom Plastics came out on top in the “Green Process” category.

Each year, many companies use the InnovAction innovation platform to showcase their latest products and product developments to the global market. This year, a total of 30 companies were awarded for their innovative products, although only three made it to the very top of the list to take out the “Best of the Best” award: Wuxi Fuxing Carpet in the carpet category, Hangzhou Dasso Technology in the parquet flooring category, and Zhejiang Hailide New Material in the resilient floor coverings category.

This year’s fair also featured a number of co-located events where companies were able to sell products and services in fields allied to flooring and interior design, share knowledge, gather information and engage in cross-marketing and networking. 

The next DACF will be held March 21 through 23, 2017 21 to 23 March 2017, and around 63% of the available exhibition space already booked, according to organizers.

For more information, visit domotexasiachinafloor.com.