At Cologne
Saturday 3rd saw a directors’ meeting take place, whilst the three-man set-up team walked to the exhibition halls to begin the task of setting up the stand. It was a full and long but productive day. We left having set up all display tools, the TWC Auto demo, the meeting rooms, the store room and the reception area. Only the polythene floor covering needed removing, which the contractors did. We depart to check-in at the boat, moored on the Rhine, aptly named Charles Dickens.
On Sunday morning a pair of us set off to do a final check and dress of the stand, prior to opening at 9am. This year our headline product is the TWC (Torque Wrench Calibrator) Auto. An impressive automated device that enables the user to perform torque wrench calibrations to the all-new ISO6789-2:2017 standard.
Our pneumatic tools are neatly spaced on one work bench, and our measurement devices are aligned on a second bench. The time and care taken in drilling the required holes and cut-outs was certainly worthwhile. Our range of torque wrenches adorn the inside of the red arch across the stand and the external walls of the two meeting rooms.
The timeline graphic which has been backlit works very well and helps to highlight the company’s 75th anniversary.
Levels of interest and visitors to the stand is at a good level. Sales managers and business managers were busy, and the TWC demo unit was a big draw from the off. Monday was a little quieter than the opening day, particularly the afternoon. The two meeting rooms worked well, hosting meetings with distributors, own brand customers and regular customers, each helping to justify the decision to have two meeting rooms. Tuesday picked up and was more like the opening day, the literature for the TWC is having to be regularly replenished which is encouraging and the product is performing well. It attracted consistent numbers of visitors keen for a demo and discussions around the new standard and the product.
Other products, EvoTorque®2, PTS™, Right Angle Gearbox and NorTronic® all prompted demo requests and conversations, and our range of measurement devices provided the basis for further demonstrations and conversations. Amongst others there did seem to have been a keen interest from parties exploring distribution opportunities in Egypt.
We returned home having seen a lot of new products, attracted an encouraging level of interest and with numerous leads to pursue. My thanks to all those that were part of the Norbar team and of course to all those that visited Norbar during the fair