RailLog Korea 2017 concluded on a positive note, encouraging active involvement from the entire industry

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The eighth edition of the Korea Railways & Logistics Fair, or RailLog Korea 2017, recently drew to a succssful close after welcoming quality attendance from across the industry. From 14 – 17 June at the Busan Exhibition & Convention Centre (BEXCO), RailLog Korea 2017 welcomed 18,470 visitors (2015: 15,125 visitors) and featured 163 exhibitors from 22 countries and regions, which is a slight increase from the previous edition (2015: 161 exhibitors from 21 countries and regions).

Hosted by the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), Busan Metropolitan City, the Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) and the Korea Rail Network Authority (KR), RailLog Korea 2017 encouraged active involvement from the entire industry, and welcomed a large number of leaders, engineers, technical experts and distributors from the domestic and international rail sector. Many of Korea's major railway organisations, such as KORAIL, KR, Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI), Busan Transportation Corporation (Humetro), the Korea Railroad Association (KORASS) and the Korea Rolling Stock Industries Association (KORSIA), all sponsored the show with their own booths.

Amongst the leading domestic rolling stock manufacturers at the fair, Hyundai Rotem introduced the Hong Kong Shatin Central Line (SCL) EMU, as well as a high-speed train with a distributed traction system, and a Seoul Metro Line 5 signalling and bogie system for sharp curve driving. Meanwhile, Woojin Industrial Systems exhibited its APM (Automated People Mover) rolling stock mock-ups, a mini-tram and an electric bus which features eco-friendly transportation properties. Daewonsys, which is scheduled to supply 200 cars to the Seoul Metro Line 2, also promoted its latest technologies at its booth. In addition, LS Cable, Hyundai E&C, SK E&C and Sampo Railway participated in large independent booths to showcase the highest level of technology from within the industry.

The names of the many global players at RailLog Korea 2017 included Alstom, Knorr-Bremse, Ricardo Rail and Schaltbau. What's more, the Austria National Pavilion was organised once again by the Commercial Section of the Austrian Embassy in Korea, and was twice the size of its appearance at the 2015 edition.

Michael Steinkogler, International Sales Manager of LINMAG GmbH from Austria, commented: "For LINMAG, it was the first time to attend RailLog Korea and I have to say this event was a great platform to receive a first impression of the Korean market and to meet new contacts in the local Korean railways. This exhibition was the right platform to introduce our products and technology as well. If we can continue successfully in the Korean market, we will be surely back in 2019."

Tsuyoshi Nakahara, Sales Manager of HARADA CORPORATION from Japan, said: "It was the first time for us attending RailLog Korea and the fair was as good as we expected. We made contacts wth Korean railway companies such as Korail, as intended."

Roland Muth, Vice President Sales & Marketing of duagon AG, a Swiss company, said: "Participating in RailLog Korea 2017, a really well organised trade fair, gave us a much better understanding of the Korean railway market."

Elsewhere, many domestic trade visitors and global buyers attended the fair. Michael Boback, Head of Deutsche Bahn International Procurement Office Asia, stated: "We are a global provider of transport and logistical services, with high levels of market share within our industry. To extend our supplier network in Asia, we are looking for qualified suppliers in Korea, and visiting RailLog Korea was a good opportunity to do that. We gained a better understanding of the market for rail vehicles and spare parts, including who the biggest companies are, what they aim for, and potentual future partners for us in the short, mid and long term."

"Although it is a rather small fair, RailLog Korea is a very good show as it provides quality, short passages between the exhibitors, conferences, and surrounding programmes. Depending on the development of our activities in Asia, I would recommend colleagues to attend in the future, and we will join again as visitors, " Boback added.

Collaboration with key industrial conferences offered stronger opportunities for fairgoers
By collaborating with key industrial conferences such as the Global Smart Rail Conference (GSRC), RailLog Korea 2017 created a synergy effect by bringing together key stakeholders from various countries and regions, international organisations and private sector in the railway industry.

The first edition of GSRC, which was organised by the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, was held concurrently with RailLog Korea for two days. The conference introduced major railway projects from various countries and regions, including Thailand, Indonesia and Egypt. It also offered up-to-date knowledge on smart rail technologies for rolling stocks, operation and maintenance. These were presented through in-depth expert presentations and discussions under the themes, 'Smart Rolling Stock Technologies, ' 'Standardization and Certification of Rail Technologies, ' 'Smart Rail Operation and Maintenance, ' 'Future of High Speed Rail, ' and 'Future Transportation System (1, 000 km/h), Hypertube (HTX).'

In addition, the TAR (Trans-Asian Railway) Working Group Meeting for the UNESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) was also held concurrently with the fair, where around 50 international experts from 30 countries and regions participatied.

A wide variety of fringe programme events were also on offer to visitors at this year's fair. These included various seminars and forums covering a comprehensive range of key industry topics, such as the Global Project Plaza hosted by KOTRA, and the Job Fair supported by KORAIL, KR, Humetro and Busan Economic Promotion Agency.

Last but not least, during the second Annual Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which was also held in Jeju Island during the same period of RailLog Korea 2017, South Korea's President Moon Jae-in proposed a new Silk Road by connecting the South and North railways. With the government expressing its commitment to the inter-Korean railway connection, the next edition of RailLog Korea is expected to be held on a larger scale, as Korea's only and Asia's predominant event dedicated to the latest advancements in the railway industry.

The next edition of RailLog Korea is scheduled to take place in June 2019 in Busan, South Korea.

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