With more than 20 000 international and local visitors from 72 countries expected to attend bauma CONEXPO AFRICA 2018, international exhibition company Messe München South Africa CEO Elaine Crewe says the event aims to present an opportunity for stakeholders to showcase new innovative products and tried-and-tested solutions.

The trade fair, although an inter- national event, also aims to provide an overview of the latest market trends in the construction and mining industry in the sub-Sahara region, she points out.

The third iteration of the event, organised by Messe München South Africa, Messe München GmbH and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, will be held from March 13 to 16 at the Nasrec Expo Centre, in Johannesburg.

Crewe further highlights that the organisers are focused on return on investment (ROI) for exhibitors.

“Our exhibitors see the event as a marketing activity involving inviting and hosting clients, as well as booking and building their stands for the event. Some companies even bring heavy machinery to demonstrate to visitors, which costs a lot of money to transport to the location,” she explains.

More than 400 exhibitors from 34 countries are expected this year, hence the organisers aiming to ensure a balanced ROI for exhibitors.

Crewe adds that bauma CONEXPO AFRICA represents all segments of the construction machinery and mining sector as the latest ‘hardware’ for business success will be displayed.

It is, therefore, important for visitors to see the equipment in action, she notes.

Exhibitors include concrete brick, block and paving machinery manu- facturer Pan Mixers South Africa, chemicals company Chryso Southern Africa Group, voluntary association Consulting Engineers South Africa, French lubricant developer and manu- facturer Motul, drive engineering specialist SEW Eurodrive, as well as earthmoving equipment designer and manufacturer Bell Equipment and auto electrical service provider Trysome Auto-Electrical.

A full list of exhibitors at this year’s bauma trade fair is available on the event website.

Crewe further highlights that the trade fair will present eight prerecorded dynamic, technology sessions, ranging from additive manufacturing, living concrete, cut-off dams, three-dimensional printing in the construction industry, robots on a construction site, environ- mental responsive materials, sustainable and resilient infrastructure technologies, to horizontal directional drilling.

These “tech talks”, she explains, are presented by the CONEXPO/CONAGG and will enable visitors to benefit from a “comprehensive technical programme with a variety of presentations focused on future technology for the mining and construction industry”.

The trade fair will also host a speaker’s corner for exhibitors to enable them to present innovations, case studies, challenges and solutions for the industry.

“These new side events are focused on education because we need to ensure that exhibitors are granted the opportunity to really get into what they do as a company, which, in turn, could benefit other stakeholders,” Crewe enthuses.

She further highlights that the trade fair is a platform to meet key decision- makers, network and exchange industry know-how, as it “represents an excellent opportunity to further increase awareness of the support provided by the concrete-related associations in Africa and helps to provide target groups with information to make even more profound decisions”.