Messe Munchen’s Bauma 2013 has grown yet again from the previous 2010 show, which was also affected by the inability of potential attendees to get to the Munich event due to the grounding of flights over Europe due to the ash cloud. That said the 2013 numbers, announced at a London press conference, are truly impressive – over 3,300 exhibitors, over 450,000 visitors expected, and a record 570,000 m² of exhibition space. This level of support comes despite some downward predictions of prospects for the construction and mining sectors going forward.

The associated international events are also looking good – Bauma China in Shanghai in November 2012 with 300,000 m² of space, 2,500 exhibitors and an expected 170,000 visitors; and BC India in Mumbai in February 2013, a joint venture between Messe Munchen and AEM, the organisers of CONEXPO-CONAGG. It to date has 600 exhibitors, 150,000 m² of exhibitor space and over 30,000 visitors. In addition to these is an entirely new event, Bauma Africa, which is set to be held in the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg, in September 2013. This does come only a year after the long established Electra Mining in the Nasrec Expo Centre in the same city, so the extent to which Bauma Africa will be supported by the mining industry remains to be seen.

From a mining standpoint, there are some interesting points. Mining has been officially a part of Bauma in Munich since 2004, and the organisers estimate that in 2010 there were some 605 mining related exhibitors from 31 countries, and about 100,000 mining focussed attendees at the show. There will another Bauma Forum in the C2 Hall in 2013, which is where many of the mining related exhibitors will be located. This includes a panel discussion and special focus sessions on India, South America, Mongolia and Indonesia; with mining a major talking point. Indonesia in particular has been selected as the partner country for Bauma 2013, “to leverage Indonesia’s significant business potential for the international construction machinery, building materials machinery and mining machinery industry.” The country’s importance is highlighted by the level of interest in International Mining Events’ own IPCC 2012 conference, taking place next week from 24-26 October in the Grand Hyatt Bali Hotel, and being attended by a unique group of OEMs and Asian mining houses.