Geneva, 14th June 2024. EPHJ, the international high-precision trade exhibition, has closed its 22nd edition with an unprecedented attendance and a quality of Swiss and international trade visitors praised by the 765 exhibitors.
Selected by Shaniah Asha Gibson / @TRP, Public Relations Cabinet
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The doors of the world’s only show dedicated to high-precision watchmaking (92%), microtechnology (55%) and medicine (53%) have closed in a very positive atmosphere. “We exceeded all our historical attendance figures for the Show, with over 23,680 admissions, a significant proportion of which were international,” explains Alexandre Catton, EPHJ Director. “Despite a slowdown in the watch market and a drop in orders in certain sectors, exhibitors were very positive about most of their contacts, and they remain reasonably serene and confident about business in the medium term”.
Key figures: over 760 exhibitors from 11 countries, visitors up 8.72% from 51 countries
In the opinion of the exhibitors themselves, it was a good and successful edition. “We saw a lot of customers, especially foreign contacts,” says Jean-Michel Uhl, General Manager of Générale Ressorts. “Even if we sense a slowdown in the market, it’s essential to be at EPHJ, as we make very important contacts there”, explains Olivier Aubry, Sales Manager at Polydec.
Neuchâtel, the most represented Swiss canton
During his visit to EPHJ, Alain Ribaux, Neuchâtel’s State Councillor for the Economy, Security and Culture, emphasized the show’s essential role: “EPHJ is a unique event in the world. It is much more than a trade show. Every stand, every meeting, every discussion carries with it the potential for new ideas, new collaborations, new successes.“
A further sign of the show’s recurring dynamism was the 180 job offers on Friday’s Job Dating Day, compared with 200 in 2023, in partnership with JobWatch, which received many applicants for these positions. A further demonstration of the dynamism of this industry.
The program for this 22nd edition included several highly interesting round-table discussions. These included the initial debate, in which the European Union’s Ambassador to Switzerland emphasized the importance of current negotiations, the discussion on the traceability of gold and the contribution of artificial intelligence to medtech. The 1st Innovation Forum also showcased the innovations unveiled at the show.
The 2024 Exhibitors’ Grand Prix was awarded to Incaptek, a Jura-based company, for its cutting-edge new technology for producing ultra-resistant composite materials.
