Previewing Bauma 2022- things you need to know ahead of global trade show

Waiting. It’s become a familiar exercise during the Covid-19 pandemic. This year’s Bauma trade show is no exception, having been postponed from April to October. It will look and feel different from previous iterations but promises to be full of exciting product developments.

The waiting has heightened the anticipation for the show. For the 33rd time, the world’s construction equipment manufacturers and customers from all quarters will descend on Bavaria for a week of spectacular displays of innovation.

Time to engage
While there are a few notable absences from the crane world and in the wider world of construction, more than 3,300 exhibitors from 60 countries will demonstrate their wares and ply their trade at what the organizer describes as a sell-out show. Messe München reports booking 600,000 square metres of stand space, one third of which is in halls and two thirds outdoors.

According to Accuweather, the weather in Munich the last week of October should range from a low of 51 degrees to a high of 68 degrees (F) with sunny to partly sunny days forecast

“The overall fairground will have the same measures as last time [2019],” said Nicole Schmitt, Bauma exhibition director. “So, we are really happy with those numbers. All in all, we can observe an increase in travel worldwide again. Hence, one thing seems to be clear: people are eager to meet in person again and trade shows are a great platform to do so.”

But things will be different. Messe München has ceased all marketing and sales activities involving Russian and Belarusian exhibitors and visitors and cancelled exhibitor contracts with them. The Chinese government put in place restrictions to outbound travel by its citizens. A considerable number of exhibitors used the pandemic to take stock and rethink their approach to marketing and overseas travel, so there will be some notable absences.

At the last show in 2019, there were 627,603 visitors – the biggest number in the show’s 65-year history – while 3,684 exhibitors rented a record 614,000 square metres of exhibition space. That show also saw the highest number of international participants ever, with 41 percent of visitors, more than 250,000 people, attending the show from abroad. That year, Chinese companies alone took 401 stands – around a tenth of the total – while China accounted for more than 5,500 visitors.

“To predict a visitor number at the moment is just not applicable,” Schmitt said. “We assume that from China and Russia we will not be seeing visitors due to the given circumstances. All other countries will surely be represented again.”

Triumphant return
With more than 70 exhibits on the outdoor grounds and an area of more than 14,000 square metres, it is fair to say that Liebherr is aiming for a triumphant return to its home show.

Liebherr will host the show’s largest stand, zoned to give individual focus to each of the company’s core offerings – construction machines, components, attachments and digital technology.

Also going big is Tadano where a lot has changed since the last show in 2019 when it acquired the Demag mobile crane business from Terex.

“Since Bauma 2019, Tadano went through a transformational process and a lot has changed,” said Sven Ebinger, Tadano vice president for marketing in Europe and the Americas. “Bauma will be the first time visitors from around the globe will be able to see and experience that change.”

Tadano’s stand this year will focus on services, digital solutions and a commitment to the environment, Ebinger said.

“Of course, we live in a new world since the Covid-19 crisis, but we know that the Bauma teams will do their utmost to ensure that safety and hygiene conditions are maximised,” Ebinger said. “We want to be as optimistic as possible, Bauma is still the major trade fair in the world crane industry, and we hope that the attendance will be as high as possible.”

Link-Belt will be at Bauma, co-located with its sister company Sumitomo Heavy Industries Construction Cranes.

“Bauma is of course an expensive event, however, we will continue to be a combined display with our sister company HSC,” said Bill Stramer, senior vice-president of marketing, sales and customer support at Link-Belt. “This approach serves the needs of both of our companies and helps minimize each company’s overall cost. Our recent experience, specifically following our CraneFest 2021 event, highlighted an increased interest in attendance, as people are ready to get out, see the latest equipment and re-engage with fellow industry members.”

Comansa plans to attend Bauma with the same presence as in 2019.

“We will introduce a new crane model at the show as well,” said Linden Comansa Vice President Bill Carbeau. “We do see a conflict with the ConExpo and Bauma being so close together, but we will attend ConExpo with the same size display as before too.”

Time to engage

Manitowoc plans to make a big splash at its exhibit at Bauma in October.

“For Manitowoc, Bauma 2022 presents a great opportunity to demonstrate how we are well-positioned to showcase our expertise in lifting solutions for global investments in infrastructure, alternative energy and other industries,” said Ion Warner, Manitowoc’s senior vice president of marketing and investor relations. “By introducing new technologies, products and ways to work, we are excited to deliver the advancements our customers need. In addition to launching exciting new products, we look forward to meeting with customers, dealerships, investors and colleagues to earn their confidence and trust in the lifting industry. As a reminder, approximately two-thirds of our consolidated revenue is from outside the Americas region, underscoring the strategic importance of our international business.”

Manitowoc’s exhibit space is in the same location as in 2019, and it is approximately the same size, Warner said.

Dean Barley, Tadano’s president and COO of PanAmerican operations, said in-person interactions are very important, especially after such a long time.

“We work to meet the needs of our customers so I am excited that we will get to meet with most of them in person to help them with their needs,”Barley said. “The feedback from our customers in the US and around the world is that a significant portion will attend both Bauma and ConExpo to engage with their fellow industry members and learn about news first hand. We will be there to welcome them.”

Bauma is also a home show for Jens Ennen, president and CEO, Tadano Demag and Tadano Faun.

“Bauma 2022 will be Tadano’s largest exhibition ever,” said Ennen. “Tadano has grown our product lines and customer services significantly since 2019. We have much to show and share. We’ll be taking advantage of this year’s Bauma to show everything we’ve achieved in the past few years and the enormous progress we’ve made that benefit our customers.”

Jaso Tower Cranes’s Dick Huitema said customers have “great joy and motivation of finally being able to travel back to Bauma in Munich.”

He said some exhibitors have diverted their local budgets so they can invite customers to Bauma.

Bigge Crane and Rigging is also gearing up for the show in a big way.

“We approach the event with a lot of excitement and anticipate a great show, said Rocky Laber, senior visual designer at Bigge. “Our presence will be consistent with previous years. We look forward to celebrating significant milestones and breaking news.”