News 
The world of high precision will once again open its doors in Geneva next June. Preparations for this unique fair are well under way. The show, which aims to serve its exhibitors, offers year-round support through a range of tools. The 2024 edition was presented in Biel/Bienne, but also in Delémont, Bern and Geneva.
While due to take place in six months’ time – from 11 to 14 June 2024 – it is already on track. The 2024 edition of the EPHJ was presented on 21 November in Biel/Bienne by the show’s director Alexandre Catton. The guest of the day, Jean-Daniel Pasche, President of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, provided a detailed look at the economic situation in relation to the industry.
Attended each year by a large international community, the EPHJ in 2023 brought together some 750 exhibitors (up 7% on 2022) from 16 different countries. The companies present were versatile, working for the watchmaking-jewellery (91%), microtechnology (54%) and medtech (50%) sectors. Last summer’s show attracted 22,000 visitors from 58 countries on five continents, whether to discover machines, spot the latest innovations, meet suppliers or make new contacts.
The EPHJ show, which aims to serve its exhibitors, strives to improve its services with each edition. It now offers companies much more active support throughout the year, with the opportunity to communicate regarding their new products on a regular basis rather than just at the time of the show. The fair’s communications department will then promote them via the website, the dedicated app, an address book with over 30,000 contacts, campaigns via the Linkedin professional media and on social networks. The show also maintains ongoing links with the trade press, to which it sends regular press releases. Close ties are likewise cultivated with the industry’s umbrella organisations. All exhibitors can therefore take advantage of this rich network to disseminate their latest information or expand their contacts.
At the next show, round tables on a range of topical issues, the Show Daily – a magazine in which new products are presented each day – and the Exhibitors’ Grand Prix awarded to the best innovation of the moment, will all be back.
The traditional job dating day will also be held on the last day of the show. In response to the difficulties encountered by companies in recruiting staff, the organisers, in partnership with Job Watch, have decided to focus the last day of the show on this theme. Job dating sessions are being organised to facilitate contacts between employers and talented watchmaking and microtechnology professionals. Each firm can list its open positions and give them to the job specialist, who will then make the connection. On this day, the human resources managers of the companies concerned are also present on the booths. These incomparable moments of rich exchanges are a great success every time.
Last but not least, the Exhibitors’ Breakfast, for companies attending the show for the first time, and the Exhibitors’ Evening, for all exhibitors, provide a great opportunity not only for conviviality, but also for networking. The Watch Medtech Challenge, which promotes the transfer of technology from watchmaking to medtech, is also on the agenda for 2024.
As a showcase for expertise, the EPHJ aims to serve its exhibitors and is already encouraging them to use the tools at their disposal to communicate. To ensure each edition is a success, close collaboration between the organisers and the exhibitors is essential and that starts now.
December 07, 2023