02.05.2005

Conexpo and World of Concrete Asia Launched

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers and Hanley Wood LLC have agreed to launch Asian versions of the two trade shows to be held concurrently in China. The first event is scheduled for Beijing in May 2006. The shows will be known as ConExpo Asia and World of Concrete Asia.

AEM will own and produce Conexpo Asia while Hanley Wood will own and produce World of Concrete Asia. The two shows will use the same organiser and show management company, E.J. Krause & Associates which will hold equity in both shows.

The joint event is planned to be held on a triennial basis beginning with the 2006 shows. The organisers intend the event to join the three-year cycle of international construction industry shows alternating with Conexpo -Con/Agg in North America and Bauma in Germany. In other words displacing Intermat, which is currently considered to be part of the cycle.

Beijing was chosen as the location for the first event because of its importance as the economic center and capital of China, currently the worlds most dynamic market for construction equipment.

" Conexpo Asia increases the scope of international marketing opportunities we offer to members,” said AEM chairman Charles Stamp. “Our new show and its co-location will provide companies with a quality showcase to demonstrate their technologies and products to the burgeoning Chinese and Asian marketplace."

Vertikal Comment:

This announcement would seem to put the organisers of Conexpo head to head against Bauma China, held every two years in Shanghai, which is already becoming a well established event for the worlds construction manufacturers.

The emergence of a Chinese based show to join Bauma and Conexpo on a three year cycle was seen as inevitable. However most industry observers expected this to be Bauma China. The AEM and Hanley Wood seems to be throwing down the gauntlet with this new show. The next Bauma China is scheduled for November 2006.

The joint location of Conexpo with the world of concrete is a shrewd move, without such a partnership Conexpo Asia would struggle to get off the ground., one thing the industry does not need is another show that appears to duplicate and existing one. Surely only one will survive the test of time? With one in the spring and one in the autumn, the time of year might well be the ultimate decider?

The joint location of Conexpo raises another point, one cannot but ask the question will this mean that the next Conexpo will run concurrently with the World of Concrete in Las Vegas rather than less than two months apart? It would certainly make sense.