bauma 2019: Records & megatrends
It has been the world’s largest trade show for a long time now, and this year it was even larger. bauma is the international meeting place of industry, global innovation driver and marketplace. In April, the focus was on three megatrends: digitization, sustainability and efficiency. With over 620,000 visitors from more than 200 countries, bauma 2019 – the world‘s largest trade show for construction machinery, building-materials machines, mining machinery, construction vehicles and construction equipment – has closed with the best results in its 65-year history. Compared with the previous event in 2016, the number of visitors increased by a little over 40,000. More than 250,000 visitors came from outside Germany. The top 10 attending countries after Germany were Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Russia, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Poland and Great Britain. But not only the attendance figures can be booked as success. The exhibition area of 614,000 m2 makes bauma 2019 the largest ever, also in terms of exhibition floor space.
Enthusiastic exhibitors
The exhibitors set a new record this year as well. Some 3,700 exhibitors from 63 countries were represented – and with excellent results, as many of the almost euphoric statements attested. Masa Managing Director Frank W. Reschke talked about the “most successful bauma of all times.” Martin Herrenknecht made a similar comment: “Every bauma is something special. But 2019 topped everything for Herrenknecht.” Domenic G. Ruccolo, CEO of the Wirtgen Group, assessed bauma 2019 as having been “the most successful ever in the corporate history of the Wirtgen Group.” Thomas Stahl, CEO of Pemat Mischtechnik GmbH, said much the same: “We are very satisfied. All expectations were met.”
Megatrend digitation
This year’s bauma was dominated by sustainable and digital solutions. This was evident not only at the stands of the exhibitors, but also by the program of events that accompanied bauma. In lectures, podium discussions and demonstrations by exhibitors – all of which were simultaneously translated – the visitors to the trade show received updates and insights into a range of digitization topics. “Digitize or get left behind” was one of the introductory topics of the lecture given by Stefan Keßler of TU Munich. In his contribution on digitization in the construction sector, Kessler’s key issues included cloud solutions, the digital twin, BIM and the development of automatic construction machines. Within the scope of the forum, moreover, a new working group was introduced. On 8 April, the VDMA construction machinery and building material plants had founded within the scope of bauma the working group “Machines in Construction – MiC 4.0.” The objective is to confront the challenges of digitization jointly with all players in the entire value-added chain.
Concrete meets Social Media
It goes without saying that your BFT was also present at bauma in Munich. Our current issue awaited you at the stand of our partner hebau, which celebrated its 50-year company anniversary at the trade show under the special motto “Wow your Concrete.” Here, the focus was on finished and protected concrete surfaces. In addition, the company presented the new hebau blog. “Social media is becoming increasingly important, also for us,” said Svenja Auerbacher from hebau’s Online Marketing Team –perfectly on wavelength with the BFT team, which reported on bauma 2019 on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
