With over 13 per cent more exhibitors and 25 per cent more visitors compared to the previous edition, bauma CHINA 2018 was a grand success.

The success story of bauma CHINA has just added another chapter: The ninth international trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines and construction vehicles was held from November 27 to 30 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) and broke all records once again. The trend: smart, digital, sustainable.

A total of 3,350 exhibitors from 38 countries and regions, an increase of 13 per cent compared with the preceding exhibition year, gathered in a grand exhibition area spanning 330,000 sq m that included two new halls. With an increase of 25 per cent, the trade show attracted 212,500 visitors-94 per cent coming from Asia. The top 10 countries and regions are: China, Korea, Russia, India, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore.

Stefan Rummel, Managing Director, Messe Mnnchen GmbH, was delighted with the result, "2018 was a special year! In the exceptional market environment in China this year, bauma CHINA demonstrated why it has every reason to be called the leading trade fair for the Asian construction machinery market. It set records in all areas. Bauma CHINA clearly showed where this industry is heading: Smart, digital and more sustainable technologies are the future. We, the organisers from Messe Mnnchen, are really proud of this opportunity to help shape the future."

Qi Jun, Chairman, China Construction Machinery Association gave a positive feedback on the show, "bauma CHINA 2018 was very successful. It has made history in many aspects: the number of exhibitors, the exhibition space and the total volume of orders made on site. The exhibitors have especially benefited and felt the enthusiasm of users and their expectations for the future."

Among the exhibitors, 73 per cent were from China. They included China Railway Construction, China Sinomach, Dingli, Longong, Lovol, SANY, Shantui, South Highway, Sunward, Sunhunk, XCMG and Zoomlion. This turnout reflected the strong presence of Chinese companies in the market. Industry heavyweights like Bauer, Caterpillar, Doosan, Epiroc, Fayat, Hyundai, Kobelco, Komatsu, Liebherr, Volvo and Wirtgen helped round out the fair along with many others. In total eight international pavilionsùGermany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, the US, and two Korea pavilions, as well as for the first time a European pavilion-underscored the international character of the show. The growth market of China continues to exert a magnetic attraction around the world.

A greater number of intelligent, digital and green products appeared than at the previous fair. Electromobility and driverless vehicles were seen as the future trend at bauma CHINA 2018. Caterpillar's next generation of large excavator models has taken a huge leap forward and boosted efficiency by up to 45 per cent. The Chinese company SANY presented an excavator that can be operated remotely with the help of virtual reality. In the process, the operator has the impression that he or she is sitting behind the wheel. Volvo's Co-Pilot has introduced a high-resolution touch-screen that acts as co-operator. It provides unlimited access to standard Volvo assist functions to collect real-time operational data. All in all, bauma CHINA 2018 served as a trendsetter for the Asian market.

The next bauma CHINA will be held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre from November 24 to 27, 2020.