More than 2,800 visitors entered the BITEC exhibition centre on the first day of Victam, Fiaap and Grapas Asia in Bangkok, Thailand. More than a third of the visitors came from outside Thailand and from 66 countries in total, said Victam Managing Director Henk van de Bunt. In total 166 exhibitors from 29 countries, of which 12 from Asia, welcomed the visitors. Alltogether they acquired 30 pc more space inidividually and built larger stands. The BITEC exhibition centre is better equipped for machine manufacturers who want to expose their larger pellet mills and extruders in full, due to fewer weight restrictions on the exhibition floor. Also for the first time exhibitiors showed their innovations in an Asian show, something that was rarely seen in previous editions, due to a fear for copying of equipment by competing Asian manufacturers. But the market seems to have matured and copycats better realise that it is not only price that is determining a sale but also the quality aspect has become an issue, especially in the fast growing market in Southeast Asia.