bC India impresses with premiere show
Feb 2011
Shani Wallis, TunnelTalk
- The red carpet was rolled out, both figuratively and literally, for visitors and exhibitors last week at the first event in the development of the BAUMA CONEXPO SHOW in India – bC India. The 88,000m2 showground at the Bandra Kurla Complex area in Mumbai was the site of building demolition. Over night it seemed, the pathways between exhibitors stands both on the outside area and in the temporary hanger building of the indoor area was covered with carpets to make navigating the space easier. Equally impressive was the banks of chillers that ducted air-conditioning into the large indoor space.
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Visions of bauma Munich with a skyline crowded with booms
- For the joint venture organisers, Germany's Messe München International (MMI) and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) of the United States homebase, who run the bauma Munich and ConExpo/ConAGG Las Vegas monster events respectively, the Mumbai show exceeded their every expectation. More than 22,000 visitors from 69 countries attended; 508 exhibitors from more than 30 countries showcased their latest products and innovations with some 70% of the registered exhibitors headquartered outside of India and several as part of nine national pavilions from Australia, China, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Spain and the UK.
- In particular, the quality of business visitors was highly appreciated.
- By offering free of cost pre-registration and charging an entrance fee to non pre-registered visitors, a high professional level of business visitors was achieved.
- During a press conference on the first day, the two trade show organisers who normally operate in competition with each other in their dominant geographical areas explained why running the India show together was the best way forward. "After the dramatic downturn in the European and North American economies in 2008-9, it was clear that Asia was the geographical region that held the greatest potential for future national growth," said Eugen Egetenmeir, Managing Director of MMI.
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Exhibitors were impressed with the quality of the visitors
- "It was also clear that companies had more limited budgets for staging exhibitions and for advertising. It was evident therefore that we should operate together and promote leading shows. It is a kind of consolidation. Smaller exhibitions are ceasing to exist and the stronger ones are continuing." "In China at BAUMA Shanghai, we had a contractual engagement together and here in India we are a joint venture," said Megan Tanel, Vice President, Exhibitions and Events for AEM. "There is a need for fewer exhibitions that are run better and as a joint venture with IMM we are look to develop leading shows in other parts of the world."
- Thomas Löffler, Chief Executive Officer of bC Expo India and Deputy CEO of MMI India said: "The result of this show is clear evidence that our decision to launch bC India just came at the right time at the right place. The need now is for Mumbai to establish a world-class exhibition centre to stage these events. We had more than 150 exhibitors on the waiting list who couldn't attend as the space here was maxed out. The next in the bC India series is scheduled for 2013 and it is unclear if more space can be provided or even if this particular area will be available at all. Mumbai is certainly the best place geographically to hold the event in India as it the centre for drawing in visitors from all India and the Middle East and around to North Africa. We are working with the Mumbai municipal authorities to secure a venue for 2013."
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Normet Spraymec heading to Jammu and Kashmir
- Among the exhibitors the major construction equipment players were present along side the specialist suppliers and manufacturers. Volvo, Caterpillar, Liebherr, Liugong, Schwing Stetter, Putzmeister, Peri, Doka were all present and in tunnelling in particular the list of exhibitors included the main TBM manufacturers Aker Wirth, NFM, Herrenknecht, Robbins; principal machine and materials suppliers Sandvik, BASF Meyco, Normet-TAM, Terex, BAUER, Robit Rocktools, Vermeer Asia-Pacific and several others. Two noteable absentees were JCB, one of those on the waiting list, and Atlas Copco which was conspicuous by its absence.
- In speaking of India as a region of growth and expansion, Tom Melbye, COO Normet Group and Managing Director of Normet International said; "India is our largest customer base at the moment. As a result of the economic downturn in our traditional markets of Europe and North America we could have wound down until things pick up again but instead we geared up in the emerging markets taking on more staff and expanding our presence in China and India. It is easier to do business in India at the moment than it is in China. English is spoken more widely, it is the language of international trade, and business is conducted commercially and legally on the British model which is more familiar for international trading. We have sold many Normet units into India and the big Spraymec 8100 VC here on the stand is sold Leightons and will go to its 9km long tunnel on the NH 1A highway upgrade project on the Chenani to Nashri Section in Jammu and Kashmir. Our international partnership with Tam International and through it the 100% ownership of TAM Construction Chemicals (India) gives us a further reach into the construction and mining industries in India."
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Sandvik concluded good business from its stand
- For the TBM manufacturers, projects through out India are preparing to receive or are operating machines of all makes and types. Robbins has five hard rock TBMs working on major water supply tunnels in the Srisailem region and had soft ground EPBMs working on the Delhi Metro. Herrenknecht has a rock machine working high in the mountains for a hydroproject as well as new machines heading to Mumbai for water supply and sewerage utility projects. Aker Wirth has one of the first TBMs ever to work in India still being operated to drive sewer tunnels in Mumbai and like the other TBM manufacturers had many visitors to their stands wanting to talk business.
- Sandvik, as a major supplier of drill jumbos to India had busy stand in the outdoor area with representatives of the major Indian construction companies speaking of new orders as well as maintenance, service and consumables agreements to discuss for the many units already in the field. Dr Thomas Schulz, President Construction for Sandvik is reported in a press release as saying: "bC India is not only an image branding show but also a selling showat which we have been able to sell 207 units so far."
- For all the participants of the first bC India show, visitors and exhibitors alike, the common feedback was of a positive, impressed and committed nature. As Michael Schmid-Lindenmayer, Managing Director of Putzmeister India, said: "India definitely needed an event like bC India" and many of the exhibitors have made forward space reservations for the 2013 event.
- Visit bC India for further information about the 2011 show and the future for the series.
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