India is often likened to a giant elephant, difficult to move but with a significant impact once it does. While the global economy is in a downturn, India is effectively leveraging all resources for growth. Recognizing this opportunity, Weldcom embarked on a journey to explore this market within the framework of the Steel Construction Expo 2023 (Mumbai, India).
With 18 years of development, Weldcom proudly stands as a leading technology and service general contractor for top steel structure enterprises in Vietnam. The 10-day business trip to India (December 10-20) marked the first time Weldcom showcased its branded products and Bruco manufacturing technologies to international customers.
December 10, 2023: Departure
At 2 AM on December 10, the Weldcom delegation completed all cargo and personal item check-in procedures at the airport. All members were ready to board the 3 AM flight to India. Opting to produce all exhibition materials in Vietnam rather than printing them in India, the cargo included brochures, catalogs, and particularly sample products, totaling up to 100 kg. Though the transportation was arduous, this being our first international exhibition, we chose the safest option.
December 11, 2023: India
Upon landing, we swiftly proceeded to visit and work at the headquarters of our Indian partner. During this visit, both parties shared experiences, visions, and future development strategies. At the end of the meeting, representatives from both sides signed the “Principal Partner Agreement” (PPA), affirming a close and sustainable cooperation between the Vietnamese and Indian mechanical engineering companies. This partnership agreement opens up opportunities for Weldcom to continuously enhance its product and service quality while gaining insights into the mechanical engineering market in India – a country expected to become the “world’s number one workshop” in the near future.
December 12, 2023: Preparation
As soon as the Jio World Convention Centre, the venue for the event, opened its doors, the Weldcom team was present at Booth No. 317, working diligently to prepare for the exhibition scheduled from December 13th to 15th. Accompanying Weldcom at this event was a representative from Dai Dung Corp—the leading pioneer contractor in Vietnam and the region, which has been involved in over 4,000 steel structure projects and exported to more than 50 countries and territories worldwide. Weldcom and Dai Dung have been strategic partners for many years on various fronts in Vietnam. The event in India not only reinforces the strong partnership between the two companies but also demonstrates their shared aspirations and commitment to expanding in this promising market.
While waiting for the staff to prepare the background, we organized and moved brochures and sample products into the booth, arranging them according to the layout. As the formex panels were placed on the wooden shelves, the booth construction was completed and inspected. As evening fell, everyone was tired but ready for the next three days of the exhibition.
December 13-15, 2023: Steel Construction Expo 2023
Beyond our expectations, the Steel Construction Expo 2023 was organized with remarkable professionalism, featuring over 150 leading companies in the steel construction industry. The exhibition was divided into seven distinct areas based on different display themes: Construction Steel, Steel Processing Technology, Lightweight Steel Structure Technology, Fire Protection Technology, Metal Roofing Solutions, Stainless Steel, and related products such as screws and cranes.
On the opening day, many high-ranking officials from India, experts, and leaders of top global companies in the steel structure field attended the event. The day featured seminars and discussions on industry trends, with notable experts and steel structure contractors sharing insights on exemplary projects.
Throughout the exhibition, Weldcom had the opportunity to connect with thousands of steel construction businesses from countries such as India, Australia, Singapore, the United States, and more. Bruco’s most advanced products, technologies, and solutions attracted significant attention and received positive feedback from attendees due to their high applicability and practical effectiveness.
In particular, customers expressed interest in projects where Weldcom serves as the “Technology and Service General Contractor,” providing comprehensive turnkey solutions for businesses in construction, wind energy, and other fields. While we were proud to receive such attention from clients, we were also regretful that by the end of the second day of the exhibition, all our materials, business cards, and USB gifts had been exhausted. We had to resort to handwritten notes and requesting customer information to send digital copies later.
December 16, 2023: Not the End Yet
After the exhibition concluded, we dedicated a day to compile customer information and explore the country—its culture and cuisine. The food here was quite enjoyable, and we embraced the local custom of eating with our hands.
On the same day, we were invited by an Indian customer to visit their factory and provide consulting services. Due to this unexpected schedule change, the three of us had to book a flight to Vadodara instead of taking the train to meet with the customer.
December 17-19, 2023: Opportunity
During our visit to the new customer, we were guided and quickly started working on the main tasks. The customer expressed their desire to build a smart steel structure factory, investing in a production line layout with optimal capacity and reasonable costs. We gathered the information and provided preliminary consulting directly at the production site, confident that the challenges presented by the customer would not be difficult for Weldcom’s engineers to solve. We will begin our research and send the customer a detailed and accurate design as soon as we return to Vietnam.
December 20, 2023: Laying the Foundation
Pleased with our work ethic and the solutions we presented, the customer agreed to visit Weldcom and the Bruco factory in the near future. After completing our meeting with the new client, we began preparing to return to Vietnam after a 10-day business trip. The successful trip to India, marked by positive news, signals a promising step towards establishing Weldcom’s representative office in India.
Concluding the trip to India, Weldcom has achieved another memorable milestone at 18 years old on its journey to win over international clients. Weldcom and Đại Dũng continue to affirm their strong partnership by co-exhibiting at the Steel Construction Expo 2023. Ultimately, the trust of our customers is a tremendous motivation for us to continually enhance the quality of our products and services, bringing significant value to businesses both domestically and internationally.
Please take a look at some photos from the trip:
