For the Construction Industry, it’s Real Boom Time!
In April 2019, the Munich exhibition centre will host BAUMA 2019, the biggest construction and extraction machinery fair in the world. Visitor number are expected to exceed even those of 2016, proof that the sector is in rude health. Investment is also growing in Italy.
di Silvia Crespi
3,500 companies on show, 600,000 visitors, 614,000 sqm of show space, 18 pavilions: these are the numbers that make up BAUMA 2019, the construction and extraction machinery fair which will open its doors on April 8th 2019 in Munich. A show that will be even bigger this year thanks to new pavilions – two more than 2016’s edition – meaning more show space too. “The success of the event reflects the booming nature of the sector around the world – confirmed Klaus Dittrich, Chairman and CEO of Messe München – the organizers who held a press conference for the event in Milan in September -. The show has undergone a rethink, both in terms of external and internal space, making the experience for companies present as well as visitors even more appealing”. One change is immediately clear: the area dedicated to construction and extraction machinery now covers not four but five pavilions plus an outside area next to the pavilions themselves. Components will also be on show in five rather than four pavilions.
There is growth in mining product constructor presence too reaching a quota of 20% of companies on show, with 24% of visitors also coming through this sector.
The construction machinery industry reflects society’s megatrends
Digitalization, efficiency, sustainability, these are the megatrends of the sector. BAUMA 2019 will be focusing on key topics like remote management, connected building sites, electric mobility and emissions questions, automation and its tele-management. Construction materials will be equally to the fore at the event, not forgetting recycling and work place safety, subjects that are universal to all industrial sectors.
Italian construction machinery sector performance
BAUMA is a real barometer for industrial sector performance. During the press conference, Italian results were looked into, with clear signs of investment growth being present. Optimism is unquestionably showing through for the years ahead as well. Public investment is expected to be €100bn over the next 15 years.
While Germany remains the main exporter of construction machinery towards Italy, Italy itself remains a major player in the construction of both machinery and components.
Italian companies on show at BAUMA stand at 464 as this goes to press, with many others on the waiting list. The number of visitors coming from Italy is also on the increase.
Components are an increasingly important aspect at the event; here, there are the power train and endothermic motor divisions, meaning visitors can approach their field of interest more easily. A survey among Italian operators reveals that the growth in automation during production phases is at the top of company needs. When questioned on the most important areas for the development of the domestic market, digital connection in systems and production came out top of the pile (Industry 4.0), followed by digital connectivity for vehicles and non-production machinery (remote controlled or “connected construction site”). The survey took into account the human factor too and the difficulty in finding sufficiently qualified staff to successfully face this transition.
Canada is Partner Country for 2019
Canada is the world’s seventh biggest market for construction machinery and among the top five producers for practically any mined resource. The construction and extraction sector makes up 15% of Canada’s PIL. Estimated growth in the sector is 3% year on year, up to 2020. These impressive figures are proof enough of this country‘s choice as partner by bauma, Messe München and the VDMA, the German machinery and plant construction association. Johann Sailer, President of the VDMA construction machinery and construction materials division, as well as bauma expositor President, said: “Canada is an important producer of raw materials. On top of this, we have the CETA agreement, the free trade deal between the EU and Canada which will add fresh legs to bilateral trade. For these reasons, we want to make the most of bauma and the Partner country formula to strengthen relations between industrial blocks.”