China International Medical Equipment Fair (CMEF 2006 Autumn) and the third International Component Design Manufacturers Show, has been recognized by over 3,000 participants as the second most important event after Medica. This year's 56th edition of the CMEF 2006 Autumn version saw over 500 new product launches and a conference attended by over 1,000 delegates.
The fair held at the Zhengzhou International Convention and Exhibition Centre between October 31 and November 3, 2006 was viewed a platform of information for not only medical devices manufacturers, but hospital and medical professionals who had a view of the current status and future development of the medical devices industry.
The overall reaction by participants was that this year's event displayed high quality displays, excellent interactions which are expected to be converted into potential business orders.
Both visitors and participants opined that CMEF was an important event in their calendar and upheld it as the best in the Asia- Pacific region serving the entire value chain for the medical equipment market. There were many participants who went on to rate the event as the best in the world.
China has around 10,000 medical devices manufacturers in the country, CMEF is the display destination for an overall view of the market in the region, said NG ChuanYong, marketing director, International Sales and Marketing Dept., ReedSinopharm Exhibitions.
Viewing from a larger perspective, the event was also an opportunity for the Western and other Asian countries to assess the manufacturing and research and development strengths of the manufacturers in China, stated a section of officials.
The quality of products, and expertise of R&D at CMEF provided the much-needed response and we will return every year for more such events in China. This is an age of mergers and alliances. Companies from the West can ink pacts with Chinese companies to strengthen their penetration into global markets, stated participants who were overwhelmed not only at the response.
In terms of product displays and educated visitors, CMEF is now a much sought after event for companies in Europe, stated Mark Rollane, a medical device distributor from Europe. .
According to Dr. Zeng Zao, a medical practitioner in Shanghai, CMEF provided a one-stop show for medical technology displays. Through this exhibition, hospitals in China are able to know what is available to deliver the fastest diagnosis and quick treatment options for the scores of patients in the country.
The show portrayed the quality and range of medical devices from manufacturers in China, stated a source from Beijing Medical Equipment Distributor.
With medical insurance expected shortly to be embraced by the Chinese population, events like CMEF is the best way to tap the potential hospital visitors, stated an official from ZhengZhao.
At CME big names like GE, Siemens, Philips, Toshiba, Hitachi, Kodak, Hitachi, NeuSoft, Mindray Co., Shinva, Aloka, Johnson & Johnson vied with a huge representation from China whose manufacturers like XinAoMDT Technology Co., Hefei Curestar Laser Devices BengberNuantong Purification Equipment, Shanghai QD Electromen, Beijing Medical Company Limited, Beijing TRS Medical Co., Wang Sheng Medical Co., Beijing Yu Jian Rehabilitation Medical Devices Company, Henghua City Medical Apparatus,, Ningbo Cheche Micro Surgical, Symptop Instruments, Derun Tech, Chengdu Xinsheng Electric Appliances,, Zangjinag City Meijan Medical Co. Chi Lin Technologies to name a few made their presence felt with the top quality products at reasonable pricing and manufactured at the most advanced plants.
The general visitor profile encompassed hospital administrators, distributor-agents, medical institution management teams, procurement heads of hospitals, equipment manufacturers, medical engineers and government agencies. The event also served as an opportunity to seek job openings for some in companies.
The best displays included advanced-latest versions of MRIs, surgical-emergency devices, optical, ENT, ophthalmology and ortho devices, imaging systems. The key product categories included electro medical, laboratory equipment, radiology devices, laser products, ambulances, surgery and hospital furniture, dental and optical instruments.
The exhibition also became a learning centre for device manufacturers and medical experts. There were also several instant orders made as many devices could be operated and their reliability was displayed by the exhibiting companies.
"We acknowledge CMEF is vital to make purchase decisions and keep abreast with technology innovation. More such events are needed to offer a single stop shop which displays quality and the price offers", said an official from EPS Biotechnology Corporation.
In China, the medical equipment industry is valued at $60 billion growing annually at 14 per cent where 10 percent is contributed by global players and the remaining four per cent by Chinese medical devices manufacturers.
It is the "opening-up" policy by the Chinese government which has enhanced the development of foreign economic and technological cooperation, stated Dr. Jianyu Lian, general manager, XinAoMDT.
"We intend to capitalize on this opportunity through CMEF to portray the technology capabilities of the Chinese medical manufacturers," informed a source from Aloka. .
Traditionally China has been known for its excellence in Chinese medicine which is now a treatment option adopted not only in the country and Far East but the Western world. The country has the diligence, maturity and the astuteness for adopting advanced manufacturing technology. Medical devices was a vital sector to offer quicker, easy and affordable diagnostic options patients in the 1.3 billion China population, stated a senior government agency official.
According to Anhui Medicine High Technology Development Company the show allows us to display our design and development capabilities. This made CMEF a consultation platform for experts.
The event was co-sponsored by Ministry of Commerce, PRC, US Department of Commerce., China Association of Medical Devices Industry and China National Medical Equipment Industry Corporation.