NEWS
Smart Furniture Solutions Vietnam returns for the fifth edition Organised by Binh Duong International
Furniture Association (BIFA) JSC, Vietnam Confederation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), and Pablo Publishing & Exhibition, the Smart Furniture Solutions (SFS) Vietnam 2024 will take place from 27-30 Nov 2024 at WTC Expo Binh Duong International Exhibition Centre. After four successful seasons, SFS Vietnam 2024 returns to one of the busiest furniture centres in Vietnam, Binh Duong, introducing advanced solutions in the field of digital technology and smart manufacturing, helping to increase speed, efficiency and quality in the furniture production process. Through the exhibition, businesses will gain deep, practical insights of Industry 4.0 and explore automated technologies in the production process of panel furniture, solid wood furniture, wooden boards, doors and floors, and more. The wood and woodworking trade exhibition is expected to gather nearly 300 booths of more than 180 exhibitors from countries and territories with more than 10,000 visitors. The exhibition aims to bring opportunities to Vietnam’s furniture manufacturing industry, and hopes to continue developing and make a mark in the domestic and international markets. Binh Duong is an ideal meeting place for Vietnamese furniture brands to connect, exchange and cooperate with potential partners, to expand business networks and increase sales. To boost such networking opportunities, SFS Vietnam 2024 will also organise seminars and specialised events, helping businesses exchange and connect to learn in-depth experiences from experts and successful businesses in the industry. The main exhibition products at SFS Vietnam 2024 are diverse, including five main categories: raw materials such as solid wood, wood panels, veneers, and cladding; woodworking tools such as saws, blades, hand tools; machinery and equipment including CNC machining centres, edgebanders, drillers,
Tran Ngoc Liem, general director of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry – HCMC Branch (VCCI-HCMC), speaking at SFS Vietnam 2024 press conference
tenoners, sanders; surface treatment and finishing chemicals like adhesives, resins, paints, coatings; and lastly — adhering to the show’s raison d’etre — computer technology such as IoT solutions, furniture design software for CAD/CAM, MES, ERP, automation systems, among others. WHY SMART SOLUTIONS The first half of 2024 for Vietnam saw an increase of 22.1% in wood and wood products exports to around US$5 billion compared to last year. The main export groups are the US, Europe, and China. As of July 2024, wood and wood products export reached US$9.36bn, hitting around 60% of the industry’s export target for the year. In spite of the positive signs, challenges will continue to plague Vietnam’s furniture industry. Amid global political strife that will disrupt the
economy, the industry also faces domestic problems, including rising labour costs from not only increased minimum wage, but also because of the furniture industry competing for manpower with the electronics industry. “It has been proven that using Industry 4.0 solutions, such as automated machinery and digital software, can substitute around 45% of repetitive, manual labour, thereby increasing productivity by at least 30-40%,” said William Pang, managing director of Pablo Publishing & Exhibition, and co-organiser of SFS Vietnam 2024, during the exhibition’s press conference in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. “This means higher output and quality at a shortened production time. Labour costs have also been increasing, leading to a shortage of labour — which can be solved with semi automation, replacing two to three persons with just one machine.” P
10 PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA | SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024
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