We should be welcoming around 750 plus companies and over 30,000 business visitors.
Igor Palka, CEO, Bauma Conexpo India
Bauma Conexpo India 2016, the fourth edition of the international trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines and construction vehicles, is gearing up to be a fantastic feast of the industry. In an interview with B2B Purchase, Igor Palka, CEO, Bauma Conexpo India talks about the preparation of this mega show. Excerpts:
Could you brief us on the recent market scenario for construction equipment?I think we are witnessing for a few months now a slight upwards trend build upon the positive sentiment and an increased demand in certain sectors like the road equipment industry. Forecasts predict an increased demand in earthmoving equipment, concrete equipment, material handling equipment and a modest growth of around 6 per cent in terms of equipment sales and up to 10 per cent growth in revenue terms.
Can Bauma Conexpo India 2016 set the ball rolling?As exhibitions are usually the mirror of the industry our show will certainly grow with the respective sectors and therefore welcome more manufacturers, leading to an increased number of component manufacturers and suppliers and eventually potential buyers or contractors. I think that Bauma Conexpo India by the end of 2016 and shortly before an even more positive 2017 will be at the right time and witness a fantastic feast of the industry.
With a new name and a new venue, what’s new you are expecting from the forthcoming edition?Now, after three successful trade shows held under the name of bC India, we have agreed on a new name for the event – Bauma Conexpo India. By doing this, Messe München and AEM are establishing a joint brand with consolidated brand management for their cooperations Bauma Conexpo India and Bauma Conexpo Africa.
For the upcoming Bauma Conexpo India the new dates and the new venue have now also been decided upon. This fourth edition of the international trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines and construction vehicles takes place from 12 to 15 December at the HUDA Ground, Gurgaon/Delhi and we expect it to be bigger than ever before.
What is the number of exhibitors and visitors you are expecting?Looking at the current forecasts and increase in sales and revenues by the manufacturers, I do also expect an increase in the numbers of participants. We should be welcoming around 750 plus companies and over 30,000 business visitors.
How is the response so far? What about the overseas participation?The first few dozen companies have already applied for the exhibition in December this year.
We also expect a higher participation from abroad, although we already had a very high number of international exhibitors. In addition to our previous country pavilions from China, Germany, Italy, Spain, USA, UK and Korea, we do expect an increase number of participants from countries like Japan, Canada, Sweden, UAE and Turkey.
Are you getting enough support from the concerned authorities and industry bodies?Absolutely! I believe that the strongest global brand in terms of international construction machinery shows is with its Indian chapter Bauma Conexpo India very well established and known to all industry players, associations and even the government. I do remember my meetings with Nitin Gadkari and Manohar Parrikar visiting Bauma Conexpo India last year very well and hope for such a continuation and close cooperation with the ministries.
How different the forthcoming edition is going to be from its earlier ones?Having the exhibition in a very central located area, we will be witnessing a very good response. For that we are planning a few ideas which will be seen for the first time, but especially the exhibitors will have the chance to present newest technologies, product developments and newest launches.
For the first time we are introducing a loyalty bonus applicable for our past participants and we are also planning for the first time a huge demonstration area, where the exhibitors will be able to showcase and compete with their newest machines and technology.
Now, you got a new venue, but why Gurgaon? Is it going to be the permanent home for your event?It is located much closer to the domestic and international airport, has numerous hotels in very close distance and is very well connected by road and public transportation as it has the metro station IFFCO Chowk just next to the ground.
Similar to the editions in Mumbai in 2011 and 2013 at BKC, where we had the event on a plain field in temporary structures with non-existing infrastructure beforehand, we will again be planning and building everything from the scratch at the venue in Gurgaon. Whoever has seen the earlier editions of bC India can assure that we have managed to transfer a huge lawn area into an organised exhibition venue. We are occupying in Gurgaon an area of 1,50,000 square metres and have the big advantage of planning the venue individually as per our requirements.
We will remain with the Bauma Conexpo show in the North of India and in Delhi, in future hopefully without any changes of the venue anymore.