Focus on making ConExpo Asia a major show

China: ConExpo Asia, the new construction equipment exhibition in China, has a bold schedule for future shows. The next one will be Autumn 2007, followed by exhibitions in 2009 and 2012. Next year's show will be close to the BICES exhibition, which is also held in Beijing. The 2009 and 2012 events are in the same years as Intermat in France. The first year the event coincides with Bauma China, the biannual construction equipment exhibition held in Shanghai in 2012.

Organizer of ConExpo Asia is the North American Association of Equipment Manufacturers, which said it wants to establish a schedule that will see a major show in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific on a three-year cycle.

Attendance at the first ConExpo Asia (May 15-18) was around 13,000 - just short of the organizer's unofficial target of 15,000 to 20,000 visitors.

Over an area of 16,000 square feet were more than 200 exhibitors, about half of them Chinese manufacturers. According to Petra Kaiser, show manager, visitors came from around 70 countries, including Australia, the US, Korea, India, Japan, Russia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Crane manufacturers exhibiting at the first ConExpo Asia included Terex, Manitowoc, XCMG, and Zoomlion.

Following Terex's recent acquisition of shares in China's Changjiang Crane, pride of place on the company's display went to the six-axle LT1130 from the Luzhou-based manufacturer.

Also in the main outdoor area at the show, Manitowoc Crane Group (MCG) showed a 275 ton capacity Manitowoc 999 crawler crane, a 500 ton capacity Grove GMK7550 all-terrain and a Potain MC 480 tower crane. Recent MCG investment in the region includes a new factory in Zhangjiagang, China, which was officially opened just before ConExpo Asia and a new regional headquarters in Singapore.