28.07.2010

Haulotte to pull out of APEX?

Haulotte has suggested that it is considering pulling out of APEX the European access equipment show scheduled to take place in Maastricht, Holland in September 2011.

It is the fact that the 2011 event is due to be held just 12 weeks or so after the Rental Show takes place in Amsterdam, alongside the European Rental Association’s (ERA) annual conference that is causing Haulotte to takes its stance.

While we understand that a final decision has not yet been taken, It’s no secret that Haulotte’s chief executive Alexandre Saubot has said that he believes that “holding two “high cost” rental oriented shows in Holland within three months of each other makes no sense and is not in the industry’s best interests.” His preference would be for the two events to me merged into one.

Saubot has said that It is highly unlikely that Haulotte will attend both shows and that as a number of its large rental customers will be at the ERA conference it will support that event rather than APEX. The company will make the final decision in September.
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The Haulotte stand at APEX 2008

Vertikal Comment

Haulotte has a past history of fighting against APEX as a show, but it is a little surprising that it has come down on the side of the Rental show over APEX which is now well established and respected, having first ran in 1996. APEX is now firmly on the European access calendar on a three yearly cycle with Bauma and Intermat.

It is likely to be well attended and will without question attract a large number of visitors who will not be going to the Rental show, while any access specialist attending the ERA conference/Rental Show will certainly also be at APEX. A decision to stay away will be a tough one..

To be fair to the organisers of APEX, a rental show has been run alongside the Maastricht event in the past, although it was not a success – however it did not have the benefit of the support of an international industry association's AGM. The rental concept has grown in recent years throughout continental Europe.

When the ERA organisers felt a ‘rental’ show would be a good idea in 2008 it determined that Amsterdam was a better venue than Maastricht. However the last Rental show, the first, was hardly a rip-roaring success – although it is true that shows like this take time to gain credibility.

One thing is for sure Haulotte will not be afraid to ‘boycott’ APEX – it made the ‘brave’ decision to pull out of Bauma this year, which in some ways was a tougher decision, however it is likely to put out ‘feelers’ to see if other manufacturers are of a like mind before making its final decision.

As to our view? -not that it is important in this debate – we will be exhibiting at APEX and not at the Rental show, which is more of an event for general rental companies–and best for tools, compressors and compact equipment etc...The two audiences are different with very little real overlap.

However we do agree that IF the Rental show/ERA could run alongside APEX it would certainly add to both events. Planning is though almost certainly too far along now to make such a change, even if everyone was willing.