BLECH sheet metal event expands into China

EuroBLECH, the world's largest sheet metal working event, will have a Chinese sibling in 2013, with BLECH China slated to launch in the Yangtze River Delta hub of Suzhou on May 14-16. BLECH China joints similar spinoffs in India and Russia as regional sheet metal shows for key growth markets. All three are being held in 2013, the alternate year to EuroBLECH held in Hannover every two years.

China's interest in, and importance to, the industrial laser sector is clear and growing. One estimate pegs China's laser industry at RMB 7.0 billion ($1.1 billion) and growing 15% annually. In the key end market of automotive, for example, produced more than 14 million cars in 2012 -- in a low-growth year for auto sales in that country -- out of the ~60 million cars produced worldwide.

Like the other BLECH events, BLECH China 2013 will allow suppliers to showcase their equipment, technology and services across all sectors of the sheet metal manufacturing process: metal-forming and bending, stamping, pressing, automation, flexible manufacturing systems, metal supply, cutting, punching, joining/welding, tooling, laser technology, CAD/CAM, finishing/coating, quality assurance, and material handling.

More information on BLECH China is available at www.blechchina.com.