For some people, getting to Intertraffic 2022 in Amsterdam involved a complicated trip. But delayed planes and missed connections are put into perspective by the journey that one exhibitor has had to get here: Avtovin is based in the city of Chernivtsy - in Ukraine.
The country was invaded by Russian forces in February, and it would have been understandable if Avtovin, which is in the licence plate business, had cancelled its trip to the Netherlands. But the company was determined to come and staff – plus executive director Natalia Bitsukova’s two young children – travelled with equipment in a bus and a car, with one trailer.
“We don’t want to stay home – we don’t want to hide,” Bitsukova says. “We’ve wanted to do this for five years. We want to find new connections. We hope to develop the economy of our company – and our country. It was very difficult but we managed to get here.”
Avtovin manufactures blanks, including the frames for them, and is displaying three types of embossing press at Intertraffic. When the show is over, the staff will be returning to Ukraine. “We’re going back; we hope to find clients who won’t worry about working with us,” Bitsukova adds.
Chernivtsky is 50km from the Romanian border. “For now it is safe,” she says.
For Daily News coverage of Intertraffic 2022, click here
