Features

Bauma 2019 preview: Bringing in the new

By Anirban Bagchi

Posted on April 3, 2019

Expanded space, more exhibitors, a streamlined layout and virtual reality initiatives are some of the ways the world’s biggest trade fair is raising the bar

As in every previous edition in memory, by the time Bauma 2019 got underway in Munich this month, it once again broke the record for the world’s largest trade fair.

When the fair was first held in 1954, it covered 20,000sqm. Bauma 2019 has 614,000sqm available – 9,000sqm more than the last edition and almost 31 times more than the first.

Other numbers are equally impressive. This year the fair is hosting more than 3,500 exhibitors from 55 countries, a new record; the number of halls has increased from 16 to 18; and more than 600,000 visitors are expected.

In addition, the hall layout has changed for easier orientation, and there are virtual reality initiatives such as Bauma PLUS to reflect the increasing use of the internet and digitisation in the construction equipment sector.

There are several other initiatives this year, ringing in the latest trends and placing Bauma at the epicentre of the revolutions of the modern equipment world.

Klaus Dittrich, chairman and CEO of Messe München, the organisers of Bauma, says: “The industry is booming, which is also reflected in the growth of Bauma. We’ve taken account of the rise in demand and expanded our site in eastern Munich to 614,000sqm.

“Our aim is to offer a platform to as many exhibitors as possible. With Bauma 2019, we continue to surpass ourselves.”

Exhibition director Mareile Kaestner adds: “For Bauma 2019, we decided to select Canada as our partner country. Canada is one of the world’s most important markets for the international construction machinery, building material plant and mining machine industry. It is the world’s seventh biggest construction machinery market. I’m sure Bauma 2019 will offer good insights into the Canadian market.

“Our trade fair grounds were recently completed. In addition to increasing the exhibition space, we have also optimised the structure of the content so that visitors can find their way around the fair better.”
Expanded to 18 halls, the exhibition will feature indoor space of 200,000sqm.

“Construction machinery will be extended to five halls. Additional areas in the north outdoor area and to the north of Halls C4 and C5 are available for this. Lifting equipment is in a new area in Hall C4. The exhibition area for components has also increased to five halls. Formwork and scaffolding will now be in Hall B3 and also in the larger north outdoor area.”

Thanks to the clear division into the individual exhibition sectors, as well as a new map of the fairground, visitors can be managed in a more targeted way. With two new halls together covering 20,000sqm, Bauma will provide space for more exhibitors than in 2016, when 3,425 exhibitors took part.

Digital topics from the industry will be shown in Hall A2. The special ‘Think Big’ show has been moved to the Internationales Congress Center München (ICM) adjoining the trade fair facilities at Riem. As a result, the area for construction equipment and tools has expanded in Hall B0 – the location of the digital construction site at Bauma Virtual Experience.

At Bauma 2019, visitors will be able to experience the digital construction site with the help of virtual and augmented reality. For the first time, companies can even present themselves completely digitally.

The Virtual Experience offers completely new opportunities in the areas of planning and development, advanced training and sales. Anyone wanting to train their apprentices under realistic conditions – in machine maintenance, for example – or looking to explain the inner workings of a crane to a customer no longer has to even leave the site.

“With the help of our new products, we also want to pass the 600,000-visitor mark and extend our status as the world’s biggest trade fair,” Dittrich concludes.

MECN is collaborating with Construction Machinery News Middle East magazine to cover Bauma 2019. Look out for our special hot list of equipment as part of our special coverage of the event.