Beyond bauma

Asia is one of the world’s hotspots for economic growth. China and India are two global giants that are reengineering their countries with industrial sectors, commercial and residential construction and massive infrastructure projects (from roads to water to sewers). To help mobilize this economic construction, the fine folks at bauma (one of the world’s leading trade fair companies) is readying their largest Asian trade event yet — bauma China.

For the last bauma China, in 2008, the run-up-to-the-fair capacity was extended several times, both hall space and outdoors, to meet the strong demand.

“In the end, at bauma China in November 2008, we managed to find slots for 1,608 exhibitors, 906 of them from China, 702 from outside the country,” said exhibition director Collin Davis. “Judging by initial discussions we have had with exhibitors for bauma China 2010, it looks like our space needs will be expanding still further.”

As of the official application deadline in mid-February, bauma China 2010, the International Trade Fair for Construction Machinery, Building Material Machines, Construction Vehicles and Equipment, was booked to capacity. The fair will actually have some 215,000 sq m of exhibition space, and some 1,700 international exhibitors will present their products at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC) from Nov. 23-26.

One of the new aspects of the upcoming edition of the fair is close cooperation with the North American Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), which is organizing the American Pavilion at bauma China for the first time ever. All around there is good reason to be optimistic. The success of bauma China 2008 was an impressive 40 percent larger than the previous event in 2006, in terms of both exhibition space and the number of exhibitors and visitors. Another reason lies in the fact that the Chinese building industry is confident it will benefit from the infrastructure measures that are being funded as part of a $570 billion economic-stimulus package passed by the Chinese central government in November 2008. A positive impact is also expected from the economic packages of other Asian countries.

In a recent interview, Eugen Egetenmeir, member of the Management Board of Messe München GmbH (the minds behind bauma), detailed his thoughts on the upcoming event.

“The effects of the global economic crisis on the construction machinery industry have varied in different continents,” he said. “Many Asian markets, led by China, have continued to grow. Similar development has been experienced by the Indian subcontinent, and also Turkey, for example. As the organizer of bauma in Munich, which has been the leading trade fair for the international construction industry for five decades, we have succeeded in transferring our concept for success into growth markets.

“Messe München alone has put on seven successful events in the Chinese market since 2002. Of all the trade fairs, bauma China is the one that requires the most space. Four more halls will be built by 2011, completing the complex that will then have a total of 17 halls with 200,000 sq m of exhibition area and an additional open-air exhibition area comprising an extra 120,000 sq m. With a total of 320,000 sq m, there is enough space available for bauma China to continue to grow.”

For companies interested in exhibiting or attending, visit bauma China online at www.bauma-china.com.