PLASTEX 2022, the leading event in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) for plastic machinery manufacturers, will take place in Cairo from January 9th 2022.
This will be the first international exhibition in 2022 for WM Thermoforming Machines.
Ottavio Tonon, the area manager in charge, among other countries, of the MENA market, tells us about his experience in Egypt, and about the 4 successes in a row achieved in the last months: a new customer, the first machine in the Egyptian market, a successful remote start-up and testing, and the second machine sold.
A new customer and the first WM thermoformer in Egypt.
“WM’s interest in the North African area began a long time ago. Although we already had a direct presence with our agent in the area, the company ACIS, we still had no machines in the country. But 2020-2021 was a turning point.
At the beginning of 2020, during the first wave of the pandemic, we obtained the first order from an important Egyptian customer for our thermoforming machine model FC 780 HP.
“Although we had met in person on previous occasions during business trips to Egypt, we had never started a real negotiation. The opportunity occurred during the months of international restrictions and lockdown. We managed all the interactions completely remotely, and in a short time it went well,” says Ottavio Tonon.
Remote acceptance and startup.
“When the thermoformer was ready for shipment it was during the second wave of pandemic, and due to the travel restrictions the customer was unable to come to our facilities in Switzerland for the acceptance of the machine. We therefore arranged for a remote acceptance via video, and both teams worked together for the entire day.
We faced a similar situation for the installation of the machine at Customer’s factory. Due to travel restrictions still in place, it was not possible to send our technician in Egypt to install and start up the machine. We managed to carry out the operations remotely with the support of video tutorials prepared by WM engineers. Thanks to the combination of video tutorials and the remote video assistance of our specialized technicians, the customer was able to install and start the machine without the physical presence of our technician.”
The order for the second thermoforming machine arrives.
“A few days after the start-up, the customer contacted us with the request of a new offer, this time for a FC 780E, and confirmed the order right away. The machine was then delivered at the end of August 2021.
We are particularly happy with this result in the Egyptian market, especially because it was achieved in a particularly difficult time. We are even more motivated now for greater commitment in the North African area”, concludes Ottavio Tonon.
From January 9 to 12, 2022, WM will be at PLASTEX Egypt, with the participation Ottavio Tonon and our agent Mr. Emad Kishk from the company ACIS. Come and visit us at stand 1G51!
For more information: www.linkedin.com/company/3086594
