Interview with Dr Eder, Vice-President of the IWCEA and President of the VOEDKM, taken during the “wire & tube exhibition 2026” in Duesseldorf on April 15th, 2026:
At wire & Tube, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr Kurt Eder, President of the VOEDKM and Vice-President of the IWCEA. Dr Eder was involved in both the early days of wire & Tube and the founding of the international association IWCEA – International Wire and Cable Exhibitors Association.
About the person
Dr Eder is CEO of the engineering firm Eder Engineering GmbH. The company was founded in 1946, originally for the production of drawing dies for wire drawing and the manufacture of cables. The company exports 95% of its output to over 80 countries worldwide. He began helping his father in the business at the tender age of 6.
In 1988, he founded the Association of Austrian Wire and Cable Machinery Manufacturers (VOEDKM/AWCMA).
“All these Austrian companies have an extremely high export share. We always used to bump into one another at airports, but we never worked together. I wanted to change that,” said Dr Eder.
The VOEDKM currently represented 26 companies at the leading trade fair in Düsseldorf, which are also taking part in the international wire events: from 21 to 24 September 2026 in Shanghai, China, and from 30 November to 2 December 2026 in Mumbai, India.
How did the international association come to be founded?
Eder: “The idea of promoting cooperation and exchange, which also laid the foundation for the national association, led to the founding of the international association IWCEA in 1988.” This is where national associations come together, whilst the companies are organised within the national associations. The founding of the IWCEA is closely linked to the history of wire & Tube.”
You also played a key role in the development of wire & Tube. How did that come about?
Eder: “Originally, the trade fair took place in Manchester, England. From Manchester, it moved to London and then to Basel. As conditions in Basel changed and the space requirements grew ever larger, we looked for a new exhibition centre. That is how Düsseldorf eventually came into the picture.
There was a decisive phase in this process: an external party attempted to exert influence over the trade fair on behalf of the exhibitors. It was clear to us that the industry itself must determine where and how its leading trade fair takes place. Together with companies from Germany, Austria, Italy and France, we joined forces and took a clear stand. That was the precursor to the international association. Messe Düsseldorf understood this, and so wire &
Tube was established in Düsseldorf in 1986. Since then, we have been working together in a close and constructive partnership. That’s now been 40 years.
What is your connection with the IWCEA regarding wire & Tube?
Eder: “The international association has always been the advisory body for the trade fair. We have always enjoyed a good working relationship. In particular, back then, together with Dr Birkmann (former WAFIOS board member) and Dr Bartz (former WAFIOS board member and IWCEA Vice-President). Dr Birkmann was the ‘wall-breaker’, a real fighter, whilst Dr Bartz and I smoothed things over. We were a great team.”
What do you think makes wire & Tube special?
Eder: “wire & Tube is defined by the quality of the technology showcased by the companies exhibiting here. I often joke: anyone who doesn’t come to wire misses out on two years of technological development. “wire & Tube Düsseldorf” is roughly as significant as Mecca is for Muslims. The trade fair is a central hub where people find their bearings, network and develop further. Here, it becomes clear where technologies are heading and which solutions will be in demand in the future. The fact that we, as an industry, have helped build this place together through the IWCEA fills me with great joy and pride.”
When you look back on your time with the association – what do you remember most fondly?
Eder: “I have almost exclusively positive memories. The collaboration and the friendships that developed were particularly memorable. People like Dr Gerhard Bartz have left a lasting mark on the association and the industry. He was a brilliant lawyer who was always willing to compromise and navigated even difficult times with confidence. Such personalities are rare.
We have always acted in the interests of the industry: together, as partners and with a clear goal in mind. This harmony remains a great strength to this day, especially in a world that has become geopolitically uncertain!”
