bauma CONEXPO INDIA 2018 is all set to provide industry players an effective platform to unveil new innovations and launch new products; this time around even stronger, according to Bhupinder Singh, CEO, bC INDIA.

With finance companies offering exciting finance schemes in partnership with various OEMs that would draw buyers looking to source equipment’s onsite, the expo is likely to drive better communication and augment business prospects for the construction equipment (CE) industry.

How has CE industry in India evolved in terms of technology? How can quality control in the sector shore up to global standards?
The equipment standards and features in India are matching up with global standards. Customers are becoming demanding thereby driving new innovations in the equipment planned for India. Advanced telematics, IOT, predictive maintenance, etc. are being introduced and accepted into the market. For instance, the recent Bharat stage IV norms have brought new emission technologies and going forward, we may see alternate eco-friendly fuels in the construction vehicles and earth moving machines. Some of the companies also have their manufacturing facilities in India which cater to the export market; with India as its exporting hub. This has a positive impact, bringing in global standards, expertise and know-how to the India market.

How is bauma CONEXPO INDIA 2018 likely to add value to the CE industry and the exhibiting companies?
bauma CONEXPO INDIA is a platform to showcase new innovations, launch new products and a way for participating companies to communicate with their customers. Our objective as an exhibition organiser is to ensure and maximise the reach of our exhibitors to their existing as well as new customers. In the process, we see business being discussed and negotiation taking place onsite at various levels. Finance companies will be offering exciting finance schemes in partnership with various OEMs that should be interesting for serious buyers looking to source equipment’s onsite. In short, platforms such as ours facilitate and help foster and multiply business. Sometimes the results are instant, sometimes it takes a few months or quarters which looking at the high value stakes is understandable. Our focus is constantly to ensure better ROI and ROTI which eventually results in an essential positive boost to the CE industry.

Can you share statistics on how bC India 2018 is shaping up?
This year we have already secured a 30 per cent growth compared to the last edition. bC India 2018 is a reflection of the market and has shaped up well. The overall market mood is upbeat and reflects a positive trend. We are happy to have country pavilions from Germany, China, Spain and North America and exhibitors from over 30 countries. This gives an international flavor and adds variety and innovation to our platform. We have delegations from over 60 countries registered for the event.

Discuss about your initiatives to draw more visitors – nationally and internationally. How much of international participation do you see this time?
Bringing the right mix of exhibition is only the first step and the vital move is to attract relevant delegates, buyers and industry stalwarts. I must assure you and the industry, that this is our top priority and our efforts to accomplish this, both in quality and numbers is well underway.

We are travelling across the country with our bauma CONEXPO India roadshows, reaching out to the key buyer segments including contractors and end users; decision makers and purchase managers of our exhibitors. We have also visited Sri Lanka, met important associations for the construction industry and expect strong delegations.

Our bauma network with its worldwide offices will bring in international visitors to the show with an aim to drive country delegations. Thanks to our representation in countries outside India that promotion in international markets is accessible.

Please talk about the conference and concurrent programs in the expo this year.
Conference programs at the expo are planned to cover various themes and sectors. For the first time, we shall be organising a conference on transportation infrastructure, covering the themes on roads sector, urban transportation and railways. These sectors are currently driving the demand for the CE sector and the conference will deliberate on the latest trends and challenges and focus on the way forward. Currently the renting industry is undergoing a transformation with heavy demand and scope; this topic shall be addressed by, Construction Equipment Rental Association (CERA). Overall, we will have more than half a dozen concurrent events aligned with the fair. Along with Infrastructure Equipment skill (IESC) Council, we are also organising skill development workshops addressing the industry’s need for skilled manpower.

What initiatives are you taking this year for the exhibition?
I’d like to specifically point out an initiative we run in all our exhibitions in India, the Buyer Sellers program. It has been successful and appreciated by key stakeholders. And, for the first time we will be introducing it at bCI 2018 where targeted buyer seller meetings shall be planned “before” the fair and organized “during” the fair to enhance the ROI (return on investment) for exhibitors and ROTI (return on time invested) for the visitors/buyers. In a show as large as bauma CONEXPO INDIA it becomes important to have such forum to bring the visitors and exhibitors together with pre planned meetings where the visitors can have business discussions with the exhibitors and meet their pre-defined objectives. I would like to use your platform to appeal to your readers to register themselves and make use of this forum which is offered without any fees.

bauma CONEXPO India has become the infrastructure industry’s key meeting point in India in recent years and this year latest innovations and products will be displayed by over 700 companies from 30 countries. There is a positive trend in all sectors of the construction machinery industry for the years to come.
Bhupinder Singh, CEO, bC India