Review of the Bauma China exhibition

Last November's Bauma China construction equipment exhibition broke all records. Cranes stole the show with a spectacular range of exhibits that included a 1,000 tonne crawler and large all terrains, all built in China. Alex Dahm reports some highlights.

The fourth Bauma China exhibition held in Shanghai late November 2008 was the best to date in terms of visitor numbers, exhibitors and area occupied. Visitors were up 40% from the previous show at 113,000 (17,000 from 123 countries outside China). A similar increase was seen in the 210,000 square metres of exhibition space while exhibitors were up 48% to 1,608, from a total of 30 countries (906 from China), according to the show organiser.

The top five contingents of international visitors were from India, Russia, Japan, Korea and Brazil, respectively.

"Though the world economy is stumbling under the financial crisis, bauma China 2008 is a great success in its size, exhibition scope and quality. The participation of overseas professional visitors is also unprecedented. They are all reflecting the strong influence bauma China has in the industry and the confidence the construction machinery industry is holding towards the economic future of China", stated Zhang Xiaolin, vice chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade - Machinery Sub-Council (CCPIT-MSC).

Bauma China takes place every two years at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). The next event is scheduled for autumn 2010.

Big all terrains were big news: 500 tonners from XCMG and Liebherr; 220 tonners from Sany and Zoomlion. Dominating the whole show, not just the crawler sector, was the 1,000 tonne Sany. It was joined by the 650 tonne XCMG, the 500 tonne Fuwa and the 260 tonne Zoomlion. Add to that a plethora of truck cranes and a whole load of tower cranes, especially luffers and flat tops - the list goes on.