EKOTOP at the Eco Expo Asia fair

The participation and nomination of the EKOTOP from Piła in the GREENEVO Competition led to many interesting meetings, training sessions, and trips, all vital to the company's development and promotion. At the invitation of Dragon & Eagle Sp. z o.o. – The Hong Kong Trade Development Council Consultant Office for Poland – EKOTOP was given the opportunity to exchange experiences at the Eco Expo Asia trade fair.

Below is a report by the laureate, the owner of EKOTOP, Dr. inż. Roman Sobczyk – from his stay in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is a small area of 1,103 km² located in the central part of China's southern coast, on the South China Sea in Southeast Asia. This area consists of a section of the mainland and 236 islands, of which 80 km² is accounted for by Hong Kong Island. To the north, it borders the Chinese province of Guangdong (including the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone). The journey to Hong Kong is an air expedition lasting over 11 hours from countries servicing this route, such as Germany, France, the Netherlands, Finland, England, or Russia.

Our flight route was planned from England, where we transferred at London Heathrow before continuing our journey on a massive Boeing 747. On the plane, it is worth sleeping through all or part of the journey to avoid the shock of the 6-hour time difference (jet lag). At the airport in Hong Kong, we filled out a short declaration, and immigration clearance proceeded very efficiently and without unnecessary complications.

What strikes you immediately upon arrival is primarily the modernity of the buildings and associated technical solutions, as well as the cleanliness and order. There are no cigarette butts, paper wrappers, PET bottles, or other "interesting" waste, such as the dog fouling so common in Poland.

Hong Kong Island is home to many interesting tourist, natural, and technical attractions. Financial institutions, government buildings, headquarters of major corporations, and most of the best hotels and restaurants are located here.

It is home to the most expensive real estate, designer shops, and trendy nightlife spots. We viewed the panorama of Hong Kong from the top of Victoria Peak. Examples of spectacular architecture include the Central Plaza skyscraper, the Bank of China Tower, and the International Financial Centre, one of the world's largest skyscrapers.

Hong Kong is also a wild, exotic nature, filling the spaces left free by modernity. It should be noted that only 25% of Hong Kong's surface area is built-up; the rest consists of parks and nature reserves. Furthermore, Hong Kong is the largest container transshipment port, which we had the opportunity to see while moving between the islands.

Thanks to an excellently developed transport network, getting around Hong Kong is child's play. Taxis are very popular and inexpensive, and the subway (MTR) network is also well-developed. Ferries run every few minutes between the island and the mainland. Bus terminals, subway stations, and cable cars – everything is thoughtfully designed, and transfers between modes of transport take place seamlessly within what is usually a shared terminal, mostly equipped with escalators, moving walkways, and other amenities to make life easier... and it is clean everywhere.

The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) is very modern. An interesting fact is that a ferry docks here, and a subway station is located right next to it; moreover, the location of the fair is so convenient that one can walk from many hotels in a dozen or so minutes. The exhibition hall is arranged with global panache. The HKCEC occupies over 84,000 m² of exhibition space; I will only add that it won the title of the Best Convention and Exhibition Centre in East and Southeast Asia (CEI Asia Pacific magazine readers' award 2007, 1st place in the Best Convention and Exhibition Centre in Asia Pacific ranking).

This year's edition of Eco Expo Asia coincided with the C40 conference on two key aspects of climate change solutions: energy efficiency in buildings and electric vehicles. A testament to Hong Kong's role as an international marketplace for innovative environmental protection technologies was the fair's main theme: "Business Solutions to Climate Change."

The grand opening ceremony of Eco Expo Asia in Hong Kong took place on November 3rd.

PRODUCT AND SERVICE CATEGORIES presented at the fair included:

Air Quality:

  • Air pollution and gas emission control

  • Air purification, filtration, and deodorization equipment and technologies

  • Monitoring of gas, smoke, and chemical pollutants, devices, and equipment

  • Desulphurization and dust control technologies, devices, and equipment

Energy Efficiency and Energy:

  • Energy-saving devices and products

  • Renewable and alternative energy sources

  • Machinery and technologies in alternative energy sources

  • Energy-saving applications in architecture

  • Energy-efficient mechanical vehicles

Waste and Recycling:

  • Solid waste – processing, recycling technologies, and equipment

  • Transport – waste collection and sorting

  • Wastewater – equipment and technologies

  • Biological treatment devices

  • Crude oil – recycling equipment and technologies

Environmentally friendly products:

  • Biodegradation and recycling of products and packaging

  • Biodegradation and ecological raw materials

  • Ecological materials in construction and furnishing

  • Products with alternative energy sources

  • Energy-saving products

  • Ecological products

During the fair, panel meetings and seminars were held on "green building," "reduction of carbon oxides and dioxides in Hong Kong," "green means of transport," "green technologies," and "issues of wastewater management and waste recycling."

According to statistical data obtained from Dragon & Eagle, 266 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions participated in the fair. Products and technologies were represented by companies from Macau, large cities and provinces from mainland China (including Foshan, Guangdong, Jiangmen, Kunming, and Shenzhen), France, the United Kingdom, and, for the first time, Japan, the United States, the Netherlands, and the Philippines.

Personally, I was interested in proposals from companies offering unconventional energy sources that can be successfully used in hybrid sludge dryers, both to power ventilation systems and lighting, as well as for the turner installation or automatic sludge distribution and loading systems. Meetings with companies dealing with biomass and biofuels proved interesting. The exchange of experiences will undoubtedly lead to the development of the offered technologies. Solutions offered by EKOTOP were also presented to a dozen or so exhibitors, who showed great interest. They can be successfully promoted in China and other Asian countries.

Participation in the fair in Hong Kong was a very interesting and horizon-expanding experience for us, not only from a purely professional perspective but also due to cultural differences, which were felt at every step. For instance, the exchange of business cards is interesting: we present it with two hands, thus showing respect to the other party.

In summary, it should be emphasized that the entire setting and organization of the fair were of the highest world-class standard. The solutions presented represent a global trend also visible in our country. As a firm in the industry, we are also at the forefront of introducing innovative technologies based on pro-ecological unconventional energy sources. During the fair, we took part in numerous seminars and presentations, held many interesting business meetings, effectively utilizing the opportunities offered by the fair organizer, and acquired plenty of valuable contacts and information, which I hope will bear fruit in the near future.

We used our free time to sightsee in Hong Kong, all the more so because autumn here is warm, sunny, and dry. Gastronomy in HK is very developed, and everyone will find something for their pocket and culinary tastes, ranging from wonderful local cuisine in small bars to exclusive restaurants.

I encourage readers of FE to visit EXPO ASIA. Impressions are guaranteed, and prices are quite similar to those at home.

At the same time, I would like to thank Mr. Zbyszek Krysiak from Dragon & Eagle for organizing the trip and stay. I also thank my colleague Jacek Witaliński for all his kindness and help during my stay in Hong Kong.

Author: Dr. inż. Roman Sobczyk

Keywords: EKOTOP Piła, Eco Expo Asia, Hong Kong, Green Evo, environmental trade fair, sludge drying, Roman Sobczyk, Dragon & Eagle, RES in Asia.