On March 18, 2014, Appliance World Expo – Shanghai 2014 officially opened at the Shanghai New International Expo Center. Here, the best of what the Internet era has brought to home appliance manufacturers is displayed before the world.
Appliance World Expo (AWE), which is organized by the China Household Electrical Appliances Association, has over 20 years of history. Within Asia, the expo is unmatched in scale, appeal to industry members, and influence as a comprehensive home appliance exposition. AWE takes place over four days, this year’s exhibition area reached 60,000 square meters, an increase of 30% over last year. Participating companies numbered more than 500, an increase of 20% over last year. Domestic and international famous brands are all present.
A first-rate gathering of unprecedented scale
At AWE, over 20,000 new products were exhibited, including curved televisions, widescreen TVs, ultra-high definition screens, and more. These products represent the best of international consumer electronics, some of these appearing for the first time in China. In the white goods sector, companies are changing the traditional features of cooling appliances, integrating the Internet era’s “smart” trend. Taking Internet-connected objects as a starting point, they displayed smart products and other innovative new products. Air purifiers, water purifiers, and other environmental improvement home appliances appeared for the first time in a solo hall. This is a result of paying close attention to people’s welfare and sticking close to the market, and has already introduced and triggered widespread attention to the industry.In addition, numerous kitchen appliances, bath electronics, and lifestyle appliances, the most pioneering and trendy products within the industry, were on display. AWE has given the entire industry a rare opportunity to display everything in one place.
AWE’s exhibition spaces were located at Shanghai New International Expo Center’s E4-E7 halls. Hall E4 was dedicated to kitchen and bath electronics as well as small home electronics, displaying kitchen appliances, bath and hygiene appliances, solar appliances, heating appliances, personal care appliances, industrial design, etc. Hall E5 focused on environmental and health home electronics, displaying air conditioners, air purifiers, water dispensers, home cleaning appliances, and other products. Hall E6 was the consumer electronics and luxury products show, displaying smart televisions, multimedia electronic appliances, entertainment appliances, luxury home appliances, international brands, and more. Hall E7 was the white goods and accessories and parts exhibition, displaying all types of white goods, core components and parts, new materials, and accessories.
Name brands line up to release “smart” products
While the area of the exhibition increased greatly, AWE’s degree of brand concentration, internationalization, and industry recognition all reached a new level, China Household Electrical Appliance Association’s secretary-general Mr. Xu Dongsheng expressed. Samsung, LG, Sharp, Bosch, Siemens, Panasonic, Hitachi, Whirlpool, Daewoo, A.O. Smith, Ariston, 3M, Karcher, iRobot, JURA, Nilfisk, Vorwerk, Austin and many more brands appeared at AWE 2014. Amongst these, Samsung and LG’s exhibition areas both surpassed 700 square meters.
While foreign-funded companies are turning heads, Haier, Gree, TCL, Hefei Sanyo, Hisense, Aux, Meiling, Galanz, Aucma, Xinfei and other comprehensive home appliance brands, Fotile, Robam, Vanward, MACRO, Supor, Joyoung, Stiebel Eltron, Sunrain and other kitchen appliances brands, Qinyuan, Angel, Canature, Aibote, Cleansui, Pentair, Lexy and other environmental appliance brands, Airmate, Smal, Flyco, Superman, Cuchen and other small-appliances brands, as well as Embraco, Jiaxipera, EGO, GMCC and other core parts brands all made an appearance onsite.
Worth mentioning is that the home appliance industry’s recognition of AWE has risen. The organizer has not finalized its numbers, but AWE 2014 was the platform for over 20 new products releases.
Events’ highlights focus on change
During AWE 2014, a number of related events were held including the fourth China Household Electrical Appliance Development Summit, the first China Environment & Health Household Electrical Appliance Summit, the 2014 Distributors Forum of China Household Electrical Appliance Industry and “CHINA APPLIANCE AWARD”Ceremony, and the 2014 China Smart Household Appliance Innovation Forum.
China Household Electrical Appliances Association’s director general Ms. Jiang Feng expressed: “AWE upholds its position as a guide for consumers, striving to show consumers the most current technologies, the most fashionable concepts, and the most innovative home appliance trends. With no doubt, over some years of breakthrough developments, China Household Electrical Appliances Association and AWE’s brand image will improve within the industry. Without a doubt, AWE has already become the annual event for the industry, reflecting all aspects of the industry’s developments. Also, it has become the best place to go for insight on the industry’s development trends.