R+T Asia 2019 Report

Green Embraces Comfort, Intelligence Guides the Future

The R+T Asia 2019 trade fair was officially the biggest edition ever. Held in Shanghai, Feb. 27 to March 1, 2019, the show highlighted the theme “Green Embraces Comfort, Intelligence Guides the Future. The event encompassed 65,000 square meters, showcasing the newest solutions for roller shutters, doors/gates, windows, and sun protection products. In all, 642 exhibitors, including 93 international companies, attracted professional visitors from 103 countries. Over 41,500 visitors came to the Shanghai New International Expo Center to see market innovations and to participate in educational events and networking workshops. 

The 2019 market offers massive, untapped opportunities to address climate change, increase prosperity, and clean up the environment. Buildings and construction contribute almost 40% of the emissions that cause climate change. A new Global Status Report warns the construction industry about the sharply rising energy demand for cooling systems and air conditioners. Energy use for ‘space cooling’ has already increased 25 percent since 2010, and there are now more than 1.6 billion air conditioning units in buildings globally. New initiatives address a wide range of climate issues, seeking to address policy gaps and accelerate the decarbonization of the buildings and construction sector. In China, where total construction stands at CNY 21.6 trillion (USD $3.2 trillion), green policy stresses the importance of applying sustainable solutions.

Exhibitors at R+T Asia 2019 featured innovative solutions that support sustainable policies. Sun protection products, which have major impact on environmental efficiency, were well represented by such international brands as Vertilux, Kirayteks, Forest, Recasens, Oba Perdesan, Dongwon Industry, and Daekyeong, expanding exhibiting space by 30%. The door/gate section rose by 20%, thanks to international exhibitors such as ASSA ABLOY, Doorhan, KOPRON, Cedes, and RP Technik.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a global development strategy adopted by China, sparks infrastructure development and investments in 152 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. BRI seeks "to construct a unified large market and make full use of both international and domestic markets, through cultural exchange and integration, to enhance mutual understanding and trust of member nations, ending up in an innovative pattern with capital inflows, talent pool, and technology database."

R+T Asia attracts a rising number of professional international visitors who are seeking new opportunities and cooperation with Chinese suppliers. The show’s Hosted Buyer program actively organizes delegations to visit the show from emerging markets and countries with mature markets. In 2019 the Hosted Buyer program attracted qualified buyers from Canada, India, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, and South Korea. All Hosted Buyers held scheduled meetings with selected exhibitors to talk about business opportunities.

The trade fair’s InnovAction Campaign seeks to highlight innovative products. At its InnovAction Hub, international leaders presented their most innovative products of the year. Interesting products belonged to Door/Gate industry leaders like EFAFLEX, Sommer, and MYDOOR, attracting many visitors to learn more about their innovations. In 2019, the 7th edition of InnovAction Awards showcased new and innovative products judged by a jury of domestic and overseas experts. The most innovative product awards went to Assa Abloy Entrance Systems and Burda Worldwide Technologies.

The home decoration market is expected to exceed $1.5 trillion USD. To meet rising demands for these products, Home Decoration Asia (HD+ Asia) was held concurrently with R+T Asia 2019. HD+ Asia showcased cutting-edge technologies, innovations, and design trends in the categories of soft decoration, future living, and outdoor furniture.

For the 7th time, the International Window & Door Summit (IWDS) hosted a valuable opportunity to hear and discuss the latest advanced technology and global trends. At the IWDS dedicated to the window and sun protection industry, attendees learned about “Near Zero Consumption Building & Sun Protection Facility” from Quinn Lu, Vice President of Werkhart Group. Thomas Schürmann, Chief Sales Officer of Elero, provided an interesting perspective on Smart Homes for special customer groups, along with everyday solutions for all. Fuchen Wan, the founder & Design Director of FC Design, explained the role of soft decoration in window covering and sun-shading products. This summit ended with a presentation by Anna Runof from Williz.info, providing an overview of the Russian market and some tips for companies interested in doing business in Russia.

The International Window and Door Summit for Doors and Gates was dominated by technical aspects. Sergio Colombi of ACMI, the Italian Association of Manufacturers of Technical Doors, Windows and Shutters, shared ideas on how to enter and sell products in the EU market, offering details about the quality and safety of technical doors in Europe. The presentation also covered details related to the CE standards in Europe, as well as manufacturers’ duties, documentation, and criminal liability. BAS.T, the German trade association for drive and control systems for doors and gates, provided the latest testing information for industrial and commercial garage doors and gates in accordance with EN 13241.