India's first construction event a huge success

The first bC India event has exceeded all expectations and it is set to become a regular event. Patrick Smith reports

A major new construction equipment show has been launched in a nation with a huge appetite for such machinery and a growth rate nudging 9% each year.

With billions being spent on infrastructure (roads and highways, power stations, railways, ports and airports), India was a prime candidate for a trade fair to display the latest and local international construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines and construction vehicles.

Attracting companies such as 178 Caterpillar, 203 Doka, 217 Fayat Group, 718 Liebherr, 269 LiuGong, 298 PERI, 1259 Putzmeister, 325 Sandvik Mining and Construction, 1170 Sany Heavy Industries, 1222 Terex, 2394 Volvo and the 364 Wirtgen Group along with pavilions from Australia, China, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Spain and the United Kingdom, the inaugural bC India "exceeded all expectations." The event, held in Mumbai (India's commercial capital), attracted 508 exhibitors and over 22,000 visitors from 69 countries, and while exhibition space was bumped up an extra 8,000m² to 88,000m² (15,000m²) to meet demand some 150 companies were still on the waiting list.

This has prompted many to call for a permanent state-of-the-art exhibition centre to be built in India's biggest city to accommodate this and other large events. If not, events such as bC India could be lost to another city, with Delhi and Hyderabad being touted.

Eugen Egetenmeir, managing director of Messe München International (MMI), was among those who called for the authorities to look at such a centre, saying: "We feel very happy here because it is the commercial hub of India."

The event is organised by bC Expo India, a joint venture between MMI (organisers of bauma in Germany and the 1100 Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), organisers of the upcoming CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas, USA, and joint organiser, the Builders' Association of India (BAI).

Thomas Löffler, chief executive officer of the show organiser bC Expo India and deputy CEO of MMI India, said: "The result shows clearly that our decision to launch bC India just came at the right time at the right place. Furthermore, the number of exhibitors as well as the feedback from all participants evidence impressively that bC India truly is a new dimension for the construction industry." The joint venture partners were also highly satisfied with the outcome of the show.

Egetenmeir added: "bC India proves to be a premium platform for the construction machinery industry in India by setting new organisational standards," while Dennis Slater, president of AEM, said: "I am convinced that bC India will indeed play a very important role in the Indian market in the near future." Bhagwan J. Deokar, president of BAI, said: "We are all extremely happy. The set-up and the fairgrounds are world-class.
We take part in many exhibitions but this is of its own kind: it's a tremendous event." Indeed, Liang Weisen, managing director, Liugong, China, said: "We are impressed by the quality of Indian and international visitors as well as the strong participation of local and international companies,"
while Sunil Sapru, president of LiuGong India, said: "We believe there is great opportunity in India, especially in infrastructure as India is booming at least for next 15-20 years.

LiuGong's wheel loader segment is expected to push LiuGong India's projected annual revenue to over US$175 million by 2012." Russian machinery manufacturer Chetra (the first Russian member of the AEM) highlighted some of its range including its 71tonne VT 90 crawler dozer after its stand had been officially opened by Megan Tanel, AEM's vice president, exhibitions and events. [The volume of bi-lateral trade between the two countries grew from $1.5 billion in 2000 to $9.2 billion at the end of 2010].

Dr Thomas Schulz, president construction at Sandvik Mining and Construction, said: "bC India is not only an image branding show but also a selling show."

By the close of the show his company had been able to sell over 200 units, and along with other executives, he watched the ceremonial unveiling of the 1,617kg BA2424, the first of the new Basic Breaker product line to the Indian market. Simple in design, the new line utilises fewer working parts for reduced maintenance, together with lower ownership and operating costs. It is in the 18-26tonne carrier weight class.

Ramesh Palagiri, managing director and CEO, Wirtgen India, said: "All visitors at our booth were 100% quality visitors. I am sure that bC India will become more and more important." Terex Corporation displayed its Terex Changjiang LT 1070/1 truck crane, specially selected for the Indian market to represent it full range of Terex cranes, while Volvo Construction Equipment demonstrated how a package of advanced engine and support solutions lies at

the heart of its "expanding production and distribution base in India."