This year’s IFAM international trade fair of automation and mehatronic, held in the Celje Zlatorog venue in the beginning of February, is hardly a trade fair. As a matter of fact, its specialised content makes it more of a “meeting of experts”. IFAM evidently knows the recipe for a successful specialised event, since it has managed to increase the number of visitors by 130% - from 650 in 2006 to ca. 1.500 in 2007.

At a first glance, this number may seem small, especially when compared to the number of visitors at the International Trade Fair or Forma Tool, where they are expecting 15.000 visitors in 2007. However: does the quantity also bring quality? Considering the 1.500 visitors to IFAM, they seem to be exactly the right public in these fields. The visitors fulfil two main criteria necessary to make business with competence: they are experts as well as decision makers. And this is exactly the profile of visitors, desired by the exhibitors. All of the 40 exhibitors at this year’s IFAM have also booked their space for the next year.



To summarise a couple of reasons which have attracted the right people to this year’s IFAM: a good location (in the center of Slovenia), high-level presentations of companies (the exhibiting space provides for a multitude of possibilities), specialised lectures of domestic and foreign experts (to accompany the event). The exhibitors, lecturers and visitors knew what to expect and what they were going to get. And here within also lies the answer to the ever harshest battle with one’s competitors – in the field of fair activities and the economy as well. It is the well defined competitive advantage, attracting a well-profiled target group. Only through narrow specialisation will the Slovenian economy be able to penetrate the global market.

Darko Švetak
Editor-in-Chief IRT3000

P. S.: The editorial board of IRT3000 magazine advocates specialisation, too. After one year in the market, we have established a clear target group of leaders. The test period has passed and we will stop sending free copies. You can subscribe at www.irt3000.si or by telephone 01/600 3000.

From the content:

Mag. Davorin Kramar, dr. Mihael Junkar

The basic purpose of scanning (digitalisation) is to create a digital copy of a product. Firstly, a product has to be digitised, and then the geometry data is used to obtain a CAD model or set the tool path. The article describes the procedure of coordinate measurement and its specialities.




Thematic unit:

Hofmann Innovation Group have developed a new way of cooling mould cavities: instead of individual cooling ducts they have used surface structures. The structures are made in an additive fabrication procedure called Lasercusing.

Frankfurt has hosted the 13. Euromold (Moldmaking and Tooling, Design and Application Development), the world’s most important trade fair in the field of toolmaking, manufacturing of moulds for injection moulding of polymers and application development. At the so called international crossroad of the industrial sector, the exhibitors have presented products, services and technologies, which will be demanded by the market in the near future.

Gregor Cerinšek

Family company SIBO G. d. o. o. from Škofja Loka, which employs more than 130 people, is strengthening its own program and developing its presence on the demanding Western European market. The company is organised into three related divisions – manufacturing of complex plastics, manufacturing of packaging materials and an internal toolshop.

Sonja Sara Lunder, Foto: Blaž Košak

The award ceremony at the end of 2006 concluded the pan-Slovenian action titled Innovation and entrepreneurial spirit among the youth. Pupils of elementary and secondary schools as well as students have competed for awards in a number of categories. The first one, “Eureka 2006! ideas of the young”, involved an original concept solution for a common problem, and the second one “Eureka 2006! innovation of the youth” aimed to stimulate innovation among the youth.

Sonja Sara Lunder

Sonja Sara Lunder, Foto: Blaž Košak

We spoke to Eduardo Beira, the general manager of International Special Tooling & Machining Association ISTMA. Beira has emphasised some important topics: Europe has an important role in the global toolmaking industry, EU being the third largest producer and internal market (after USA and Japan) and the second largest exporter (after Japan). China only poses a threat to those in the lower segment of the toolmaking market. Small countries often find their ways to penetrate the global market, provided they are able to establish the necessary business contacts and knowledge base. The operations of Slovenian toolmakers are increasingly moving abroad.

Siegfried Paise

Dr. Tomaž Perme

The companies can only stay competitive with constant improvements and automation/informatisation, involving the implementation of modern technologies in the production as well as business operations, which calls for large investments. Due to the complexity of modern systems, making quality and reliable decisions in order to ensure the optimal use of money and time spent can no longer be based only on knowledge, experience and inspiration.