INDUSTRY NEWS

Boucherie at 28th Fakuma Trade Fair: October 17-21

Boucherie, a leading innovator in brush machine manufacturing, cordially invites industry professionals to visit their booth at the upcoming Fakuma trade fair, scheduled to take place in Friedrichshafen, Germany, from October 17 to 21, 2023. Fakuma has solidified its reputation as a premier event in the field of industrial plastics processing in Europe, attracting over 1500 exhibitors for its 28th edition.

At this prestigious event, Boucherie will proudly showcase its latest advancements in injection mold technology, alongside a diverse array of applications harnessing this groundbreaking technology. Boucherie will be exhibiting at Booth # 5125, located in Hall A5. The Boucherie team is eager to provide visitors with insights into their innovative solutions and engage in meaningful discussions.

William C. McHenry Elected to IHA Board Of Directors

William C. McHenry, president and CEO of Widgeteer, Inc., has been elected to the board of directors of the International Housewares Association (IHA), the full-service trade association for the housewares industry. His three-year term begins October 1, 2023 and ends Sept. 30, 2026.

Also elected were new board officers:

  • Chairman – Neal Asbury, president & CEO, The Legacy Companies
  • Vice Chairman/Chairman Elect – Paul Cosaro, CEO, Picnic Time Family of Brands
  • Treasurer – Michael Otterman, president & CEO, Lodge Cast Iron

WEBINAR: Introduction to the Untapped Talent Learning Community

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association introduces the Untapped Talent Learning Community – a community supporting manufacturers, industry sector partnerships, and workforce professionals interested in hiring and retention best practices. These communities will offer information, discussions, resources, best practices, and tools aimed at improving recruitment, training, and retention of untapped talent. The webinar will be held Thursday, October 19, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (CT).

Bed Bath & Beyond/Overstock CEO Jonathan Johnson at Chief Housewares Executive SuperSession (CHESS)

Bed Bath & Beyond/Overstock CEO Jonathan Johnson will meet with a conference of housewares executives for the first time since relaunching the homegoods retailer in August when he appears during the keynote session at the International Housewares Association’s 2023 Chief Housewares Executive SuperSession (CHESS) Oct. 3 & 4 in Rosemont, Ill.

Overstock acquired the Bed Bath & Beyond brand after BBB filed for bankruptcy earlier this year and rebranded under the Bed Bath & Beyond name in August. In this special “fireside chat” presentation, Johnson will outline the relaunch of Bed Bath & Beyond and his plans for expansion in home and housewares. Attendees will be able to direct questions to Johnson about the new Bed Bath & Beyond and the company’s expanding home-centric transformation. HomePage News Editor-in-Chief and CHESS facilitator Peter Giannetti will moderate the discussion with Johnson.

2023 IBC Global Forum Offers Educational Sessions on International Sales Issues

Veteran housewares executives looking to grow their global sales and suppliers new to the international arena will benefit alike from the 2023 IBC Global Forum, Oct. 3-4 in Rosemont, Illinois. The annual meeting of the International Business Council provides a platform for attendees to learn from key retailers, key distributors and industry-savvy specialists discussing relevant export topics and providing education on market entry, global product development and marketing strategies.

Overviews by key housewares buyers and distributors covering Canada, China, Eastern Africa, India, Ireland, LATAM, Spain & Portugal, and the United Kingdom along with sessions on opportunities in key markets around the world fill the agenda of the two-day meeting.  

Wire Filaments: Filament Supplier Update Part II

istockphoto/EkaterinaZakharova

PART II: Wire Filament Suppliers

By Bob Lawrence

Ask anyone outside the brush industry what wire brushes are used for and most will cite menial tasks such as grill cleaning, having no realization that they’re essential in most major industries producing products and services ubiquitous in their lives, from aerospace and automotive to agriculture and telecommunications. As such, it’s a high-growth segment of the brush industry, according to a July 2023 Business Research Insights analysis of the global wire brush market. The findings: it’s expected to grow from over $553 million (USD) now to $784 million at a compound annual growth rate of six percent by 2028.