Intermat opens in Paris
24 April 2024
Image: Lewis Tyler
Construction trade show Intermat was officially opened this morning by exhibition director Christophe Lecarpentier, French Building Federation president Alain Grizaud, National Public World Federation president Olivier Salleron, along with Philippe Cohet, president of DLR and Jean-Claude Fayat, president of EVOLIS.
The show, which runs from April 24-27, 2024 at the Parc des Expositions Paris-Nord Villepinte, will see more than 1,000 exhibitors turning out, with 70% coming from international locations outside of France.
Show organisers say the theme this year will be placed firmly on low carbon and sustainability and will aim to “constitute a showcase for the excellence of the sector in the race to net zero,” with hundreds of electric and hybrid machines expected to be on show.
Further reflecting its focus on the energy transition, the show will be held over four days rather than the previous six as organisers bid to to save energy and reduce emissions.
Intermat is returning for the first time in six years following the cancellation of the 2021 event because of the pandemic.
The return of Intermat also comes amid a challenging time for the construction industry in France, with the latest HCOB France Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) highlighting a slump in activity in the country in March (dropping to a score of 41.0, down from 41.9 in February).
Meanwhile, the outlook for the rental sector in France is more positive, according to Hervé Rebollo, director general of French rental and distributors association DLR, who says the sector had seen a “good year,” noting some areas of improvement.
Speaking to KHL on the eve of the show, Rebollo said rental rates have been declining in France by as much as 20% between 2010 and 2020, while price pressure from large building companies that negotiate prices to their advantage had been to the detriment of the market.
A busy Bobcat stand on the opening morning of the show. (Photo: KHL)
Rebollo said, “We live a sort of paradox in France, every single thing will be rental in some years. It’s not me saying that, it’s society. We are becoming a rental/consumption society, and the paradox is that in the short-term future, we have to build a business model which is minded like a service model.”
Further information on the show, including opening times and transport links, can be found here.
