ANEX (Asia Nonwovens Exhibition and Conference) 2024 is set to be held for the first time in Taiwan. This show is one of the world’s three major nonwovens exhibitions, along with INDEX in Europe and IDEA in the U.S., and has been held every three years. World’s leading nonwovens-related companies are exhibiting at this year’s exhibition. The All Nippon Nonwovens Association (ANNA) has set up the ANNA Pavilion for the first time. Twenty-four Japanese companies are exhibiting in this pavilion. Three other Japanese companies also have their own booths. (Refer to table.)
27 Japanese Companies Are Exhibiting in ANEX 2024
Japanese Pavilion Set Up for the First Time
ANEX has been held in Japan, Shanghai, China and Korea, and this is the first time ANEX is being held in Taiwan. The exhibition is organized by the Asia Nonwoven Fabrics Association (ANFA) and the Taiwan Nonwoven Fabrics Industry Association (TNFIA). Visitors are expected to reach 25,000. The main theme is “Sustainability Innovation”. In addition to Japanese companies, exhibitors number 140 companies from China, 58 from Taiwan, 12 from Hong Kong, 6 from Korea, 1 each from Malaysia and Thailand, 2 from India, 16 from Europe and 1 from the U.S.
Commenting on the background to the first exhibition in Taiwan, ANFA Supreme Advisor Hiroaki Kanai (President of Kanai Juyo Kogyo Co., Ltd.) says, “Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong had all expressed their interest in hosting ANEX, but Taiwan was selected because the exhibition has never been held there before, and Taiwan was quite positive about hosting this exhibition. TNFIA has also been increasing its number of members, and currently has the largest number of members in ANFA with 124 companies (Japan is the second with 87 companies). Moreover, Taiwan has made significant contributions to ANFA activities, and has held the ANFA Conference three times in the past.”
With the supply of nonwoven masks in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic being highly evaluated, the position of the nonwovens industry in Taiwan is increasing, and this is also a boost to the industry.
This year’s ANEX is also characterized by its focus on Southeast Asia, where demand for nonwovens is expected to grow in the future. At the Global Nonwoven Summit, where discussions on technological developments and marketing are being held, several countries are presenting production reports, and there are also discussions on the nonwovens industry in Southeast Asia.
ANNA has set up a pavilion for the first time. The purpose of the pavilion is to support Taiwan’s first exhibition. Since it is difficult for Japanese nonwovens companies to see Taiwan as a market, it was decided that it would be better to set up a pavilion than to ask each member to cooperate in the exhibition.
ANEX is an international nonwovens exhibition held every three years in cooperation with nonwovens organizations in Europe and the U.S. Although the next host country/region has not yet been decided, China, Hong Kong, Korea and India have already expressed their interest in hosting the exhibition. The next holding will be discussed at an ANFA meeting to be held during ANEX 2024.