Smart: Bauma celebrates itself, but there is no rest! Expansion of automation and digitalization (digital reality) remains the focus

The last time a record number of visitors was recorded was when 620,000 people were present. This year no one expected a similar number - in the end 495,000 people arrived. The number of exhibitors also varied: instead of 3,800, only 3,100 came. Chinese companies stayed away because of the Corona restrictions there, Russian companies because of the war in Ukraine. Actually a great success. A good 20% fewer visitors than in 2019, but less competition. If you read the statements from the exhibitors, there is almost agreement: bauma was a success. It was the right mix of trade fair size and number of trade fair visitors with reduced competition.

bauma has exceeded the industry's expectations:

“Our appearance at the leading trade fair bauma is the most successful so far in the history of the WIRTGEN GROUP.”

“We were really overwhelmed on the opening day: visitors flocked to our stand and we had a lot of very good discussions, especially on our main topics.”

“Bauma was very successful for us. With a hundred exhibits, we have set the three innovation focuses of efficiency, digitalization and product responsibility and talked about them with our customers and partners from all over the world.”

“The number of visitors was good, and there were lots of curious people from all over the world.”

“We are pleased that bauma 2022 was very successful, dispelling all uncertainties regarding people’s behavior. The trade fair in general has responded impressively and shown that people are looking for personal encounters. bauma in particular has shown that major events are still an important driving force in the industry, and we are happy to have been a part of it in 2022 as the Green Heart of bauma.”

“We are extremely satisfied with how bauma went. The response from our customers and trade fair guests is enormous. Even the bad weather on the first day couldn’t stop anyone from coming.”

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But bauma didn't just present itself as a business platform; She also lives up to her claim to leadership when it comes to setting topics. Franz-Josef Paus, Managing Director of Hermann Paus Maschinenfabrik GmbH and Chairman of the bauma Advisory Board, sums up: “We are extremely satisfied with how bauma went. The response from our customers and trade fair guests is enormous. The trade fair is characterized by the topics of digitalization and automation, this trend is irreversible." This is also confirmed by Joachim Schmid, Managing Director at VDMA Construction Machinery and Building Material Plants: "The exhibitors offer solutions for the current challenges surrounding CO2 neutrality, but also the shortage of skilled workers defied by automation and digitalization. This is the future, you can see this in the traditional companies and, for the first time at the trade fair, in almost 50 startups.”

Andreas Klauser, CEO at PALFINGER, sums it up aptly: “Bauma, as the world’s leading trade fair, allows its exhibitors and visitors to experience the future now.”

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Extended reality in mechanical engineering: VR simulator for construction machines & excavators with virtual reality - Image: Xpert.Digital

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bauma 2022 Highlights – Large Machines – Image: Wolfilser|Shutterstock.com

Bauma is one of the trade fairs where the actual target group of buying companies and “fans of large construction machinery” mix. In comparison to ACHEMA, which had to record a huge drop (more than 50%) at its last trade fair event and cannot offer “large machines and excavators for children's hearts”, this effect is still present at bauma.

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The positive response would probably have been more muted if there had been a lack of exhibitor competition from China and Russia.

Nevertheless, bauma is definitely thinking about the future. The positive review is one thing. The right outlook is another matter. This year, bauma has already taken the next step into the digital world with Vuframe.

Bauma is the world's most important trade fair for the construction machinery and mining machinery industry and the largest trade fair in the world in terms of area.

Together with Vuframe, bauma is taking the next step into the digital world: “With Pocket Booth, the most comprehensive and well-thought-out digitalization of trade fair appearances to date has been achieved.”

Trade Fair 4.0: Partnership between bauma and Pocket Booth – Image: www.pocketbooth.io

Pocket Booth is a plug & play solution from Vuframe from Regensburg, which expands your trade fair presence. In addition, the trade fair stand from your pocket offers further flexible application options outside of the trade fair world. Be it at a personal customer meeting with your sales department, at your own in-house exhibitions or at various events.

With smart and secure 3D demos, you not only increase the attention and reach of potential customers, but also strengthen the effectiveness of marketing and sales. Pocket Booth replaces time-consuming, expensive and tedious product visualization and photography. This increases your speed on the market and ahead of the competition while reducing costs at the same time.

In a simple yet exciting way, you can invite your customers into a fascinating world of complex systems, products and machines and thus inspire them with the simplicity of the interactive 3D views.

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• The smart solution: Pocket Booth together with bauma

Digital twins with Pocket Booth – Image: Vuframe

But there is another way: with digital twins, smart 3D demos that can be used safely, quickly, flexibly and anywhere. Even outside of the trade fair and customer meetings, which potential customers can view on their own at any time if necessary.

Pocket Booth is a trade fair 4.0 solution that is part of the ongoing digitalization process in every marketing mix.

With Pocket Booth, products, machines and complex systems can be displayed quickly and flexibly in detail and to scale in 3D, even in virtual original size, anywhere. Both via touch tables and with smartphones or tablets.

Not only do you increase your reach, but you also increase your chance of convincing potential customers. With Pocket Booth you not only improve your sales quality, with Pocket Booth you become a pacesetter in your industry segment.

In addition, it is easy to use. Programming knowledge is not necessary. This gives you greater planning security. Pocket Booth knows no downtime and is operational around the clock. Due to the wide range of possible uses, you can replace old forms of presentation in marketing and sales with Pocket Booth and thus sustainably reduce your costs.

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• Pocket Booth – your trade fair appearance from your pocket

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The Vuframe solution clearly shows that it doesn't always have to be big. On the contrary, a special user experience does not have to trump size. Rather, it stands out from the crowd in the turbulent trade fair environment by making all information available at a glance in the form of texts, simulations, videos and interactive 3D/CAD product models; even long after the actual mass has long since ended.

The technologies developed by Regensburg-based Vuframe GmbH represent the future of digital product presentations in 3D. They take customer conversations to a completely new level by providing interested parties with a user experience that is as varied as it is informative - and all of this at a manageable cost, at any time and anywhere.

Entry to the Munich Trade Fair grounds, where BAUMA 2022 took place, the world's leading trade fair for construction machinery and technology - Munich, Bavaria, Germany - October 16, 2022 - Image: tina7si|Shutterstock.com

Around 200 exhibitors from 60 countries – more than 000 visitors from over 200 countries – far exceeded industry expectations

When the Munich Trade Fair grounds become the center of the construction machinery industry for seven days, it will finally be bauma again. A total of around 3,200 exhibitors from 60 countries (2019: 3,684 exhibitors from 63 countries) and more than 495,000 visitors from over 200 countries (2019: 627,603 visitors from more than 200 countries) came to the world's leading trade fair for construction machinery from October 24th to 30th, 2022. Building material machines, mining machines, construction vehicles and construction equipment to Munich. The proportion of international visitors was around 50 percent.

The top ten exhibiting countries were – in this order – Germany, Italy, Turkey, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, France, the USA, Austria, Spain and China. The proportion of international exhibitors was almost 65 percent.

Stefan Rummel, responsible managing director of Messe München, is pleased: “This bauma was once again exciting and fascinating! Since the world has changed fundamentally since the last bauma, we are extremely pleased that bauma 2022 remains a powerhouse in the construction machinery industry with numerous innovations from our customers, good business deals and many visitors from all over the world.”

Far exceeded industry expectations

And that's because bauma presented itself as strong as usual, even in these uncertain times, as Domenic Ruccolo, CSO Wirtgen Group and Senior Vice President, Sales, Marketing, and Product Support, Global Construction Equipment, John Deere, confirms : “The WIRTGEN GROUP’s joint trade fair appearance with John Deere was a complete success. The interest in our company and our sustainable product innovations was overwhelming. Our appearance at the leading trade fair bauma is the most successful in the history of the WIRTGEN GROUP.” Steffen Günther, member of the board of directors at Liebherr, also draws a positive conclusion: “bauma was very successful for us. We thrilled a large audience. The discussions were excellent. We are already looking forward to the next edition of the trade fair.” Fred Cordes, CEO of Zeppelin (CAT), adds: “bauma was long overdue: this is shown by the overwhelming rush to our trade fair stand and the extraordinary interest Cat construction equipment and Zeppelin services.”

When it comes to business transactions, bauma was once again THE platform for the industry. Alexander Greschner, Director of Sales at the Wacker Neuson Group: “Visitors flocked to our stand, we had a lot of very good discussions and were able to record sales success at the level of 2019 and above from the first day.” Alexander Schwörer, owner of PERI, confirms: “The whole team was very excited to see how the trade fair would develop in these not particularly easy times. But it was already clear after the first day: this bauma would be a complete success. What is particularly noteworthy is that the quality of the discussions we had during the week of the trade fair was outstanding in all areas. And last but not least: We signed some very nice orders right at the trade fair. Conclusion: bauma 2022 more than exceeded our expectations.”

Assessments made by the dual CEOs of Messe München, Stefan Rummel and Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer, likes to hear: “In these challenging times, bauma has sent a strong signal to the trade fair industry: industries need face-to-face events like bauma, where products can be experienced and personal conversations can be had.”

bauma press release from October 30, 2022

Wolf Christian Behrbohm, Managing Director, Layher

“Bauma, as the world's largest construction trade fair with many interesting industry contacts, is important to us. Here we meet our numerous customers from home and abroad every three years and can enter into an intensive dialogue with them.

After months of contact restrictions, we were all the more pleased to finally see customers and the interested trade audience live and in person again and to inform them comprehensively about Layher's groundbreaking innovations in the areas of scaffolding systems, climbing technology and construction technology - with overwhelming feedback. A successful trade fair.”

Fred Cordes, CEO, Zeppelin Baumaschinen GmbH (CAT)

“bauma was long overdue: this is shown by the overwhelming rush to our trade fair stand and the extraordinary interest in Cat construction machinery and Zeppelin services. Visitors not only value the personal contacts, the direct conversations and the professional exchange, but are also primarily looking for the latest solutions and modern technologies in order to efficiently master the future challenges surrounding digitalization and sustainability. Here we were able to present the right offers and individual solutions to them on the unique bauma trade fair platform and show that Zeppelin and Cat are the first choice when it comes to construction machinery and the corresponding service.”

Stina Fagerman, Head of Marketing, Sales and Services, Mercedes-Benz Trucks

“It was important for us to be at bauma because we sell around one in five Mercedes-Benz trucks in Europe in the construction segment. This makes this our second most important sales market after long-distance transport. The electrification of the industry now plays a special role. By 2030, CO2-neutral commercial vehicles are expected to account for up to 60 percent of Daimler Truck's sales in the EU30 markets. That's why we presented several purely battery-electric trucks for construction applications at the trade fair in Munich in the last few days. My highlights were the concept prototype of the eActros LongHaul, now with an electrical interface for semi-trailers such as tipping semi-trailers, and the battery-electric prototype of the Arocs construction site truck as a mixer truck, which was shown for the first time together with our partners Paul Group and Liebherr, which is characterized by ground clearance and off-road mobility . It was fantastic for me to see how enormous the interest in the trade fair and our vehicles was.”

Alexander Greschner, Chief Sales Officer, Wacker Neuson Group

“After more than two years of pandemic, we were particularly looking forward to bauma – the trade fair’s home game for us. We were really overwhelmed on the opening day: visitors flocked to our stand, we had a lot of very good discussions, especially on our key topics of zero emissions, digital solutions and innovations, and from day one we were able to record sales success at the level of 2019 and above. My conclusion: For us, bauma is and remains the leading trade fair in our industry and the platform to present our innovations to customers and trade visitors!”

Steffen Günther, Member of the Board of Directors, Liebherr-International AG

“Bauma was very successful for us. With a hundred exhibits, we have set the three innovation focuses of efficiency, digitalization and product responsibility and talked about them with our customers and partners from all over the world. We thrilled a large audience. The conversations were excellent. We are already looking forward to the next edition of the trade fair.”

Thomas Harring, President Geosystems Division, Hexagon

“Hexagon is reimagining construction from the ground up with Smart Digital Realities, empowering the industry to improve exponentially. Comprehensive change depends on those who implement it: in a technology-driven world, it is people who make the difference. bauma is a unique opportunity to showcase Hexagon's vision of an autonomous future where industry, people and the planet thrive sustainably. We were able to showcase solutions from our Leica Geosystems and AGTEK brands that advance this vision and engage with the customers and partners who accompany us on this journey.”

Robert Hauser, CEO, Doka

“For a week, the entire construction industry looks at one place, namely Munich. As the world's leading trade fair for the construction industry, bauma is an indispensable international platform for us. A place where we network with our partners and customers, in keeping with our motto 'Doka connects'. For us it will be the best bauma of all time, that is also our internal motto. This year we are presenting even more innovations than before. And we are meeting more decision-makers than ever before. We have massively strengthened our market presence in the area of ​​slab formwork and created a real eye-catcher with our 30-meter-high scaffolding tower: This time, Doka stands even more strongly than before for formwork AND scaffolding. Digitalization and sustainability are our key drivers for the coming years, and at this year's bauma we showed how digitalized construction processes and (partially) automated devices can cushion the shortage of skilled workers, increase safety on the construction site and at the same time reduce CO2 emissions can. The feedback from our customers and guests was overwhelming. We are very satisfied."

Niklas Haver, Managing Partner, HAVER & BOECKER oHG

“bauma is the only trade fair where we meet all target groups of our three product areas – technological wire mesh, processing and packaging technology. She is the one

'Leading Wolf' among industrial trade fairs, not just for the construction industry. The mix of dimensions, experience and Bavarian cosiness makes the bauma so unique. The visitor structure is diverse: We hold discussions with project decision-makers and users as well as with guests who are at the customer's machine and are responsible for maintenance, service and maintenance. These are the important target groups for us; In this respect, we are pleased about a good mix at a high level. The dominant theme at bauma was clearly 'How do I manage to do more with less?'. This is about current trends such as energy saving and CO2 reduction.”

Gernot Hein, Head of Communications / Press Spokesperson for the Industrial Technology Division, ZF Friedrichshafen AG

“For ZF Friedrichshafen AG, bauma, as the world's leading trade fair, is the most important event in the construction machinery sector - a place where visitors can experience innovations and global megatrends of tomorrow up close. This powerful atmosphere of progress is the optimal setting for us to present our product highlights. This year too, all of our customers and important business contacts were on site, and the number and quality of the technical discussions was very high. There is no better platform for us to discuss future-oriented topics and trends than bauma.”

Martin Hemberger, Vice President Forming & Shoring International, Hünnebeck GmbH

“bauma 2022 was a great success for Hünnebeck and BrandSafway. We were particularly pleased that after the long period of the pandemic we were able to welcome numerous customers to our stand and make many interesting new contacts. Intensive discussions with the specialist audience showed that we had hit a nerve with the core topics of 'More Productivity' and 'More Safety' for formwork - especially in times of a shortage of skilled workers and rising costs. In addition, we brought bauma from Munich to our customers in various countries for the first time with hybrid events. Bauma has once again confirmed its reputation as the leading trade fair for the construction industry.”

Uli Hermanski, CMO & Executive VP, GM Positioning Solutions Business EMEA, Topcon Positioning Group

“bauma is a very special experience. What's special about it is that it brings together the entire construction workflow - the machines themselves and the technology and software that make them as efficient and accurate as possible. The opportunity to gather so many professionals in our industry from around the world in one place is priceless. In our 90th anniversary year, it was simply incredible to meet and celebrate so many people in person - both our existing customers and new contacts. It is crucial to the development of our industry that we can come together and discuss the challenges we face together and the digital technologies that can make our work even more productive, precise and profitable.”

Dr.-Ing. Eh Martin Herrenknecht, CEO, Herrenknecht

“Every bauma is special, but this bauma was an opportunity for us to recharge our customer and market relationships. This was exactly in line with our motto 'Reconnect our joined ingenuity', and it worked perfectly. We enjoyed every day of the trade fair and the inspiring exchange about current and future projects.

From our point of view, what is achieved in the face-to-face encounter in Munich is unbeatable. We are grateful to our partners and customers for their time and presence. It’s just great to see each other again and feel the spirit of our industry.”

Bernd Holz, Executive Vice President, Ammann Group

“The number of visitors was good, and many curious people from all over the world visited the Ammann stand. It was great to talk to so many visitors in person!”

Michael Ibarth, Director of Marketing / Corporate Communications, SENNEBOGEN Maschinenfabrik GmbH

“We are pleased that bauma 2022 was very successful, dispelling all uncertainties regarding people’s behavior. The trade fair in general has responded impressively and shown that people are looking for personal encounters. bauma in particular has shown that major events are still an important driving force in the industry, and we are happy to have been a part of it in 2022 as the Green Heart of bauma.”

Dr. Rüdiger Kaub, Managing Director, BAUER Maschinen GmbH

“In short: this is where the industry meets. As the largest construction machinery trade fair in the world, which takes place just a few kilometers from our company headquarters in Schrobenhausen, bauma is virtually a home game for us. That's why we've been there for over 40 years - the trade fair is and remains a fixed point in our calendar. Overall, we found the quality and quantity of visitors to be very good once again. As in 2019, this year we were able to welcome numerous guests, interested parties and of course long-standing partners and friends to our newly designed and CO2-neutral stand. We had a lot of high-quality conversations and the feedback we received about our stand and our innovations was simply fantastic.”

Andreas Klauser, CEO, PALFINGER AG

“Bauma, as the world's leading trade fair, allows its exhibitors and visitors to experience the future now. The special thing about it: Here we not only demonstrate how new PALFINGER solutions proactively shape the future, but also benefit from the large number of conversations and discussions with visitors, customers and partners. For PALFINGER, it is personal exchange that provides impetus for new developments and drives innovation. The bauma achieves this in an incomparable density with a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere.”

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Max Luedtke, Head of Mining, ABB

“bauma 2022 is the perfect stage to take visitors on a journey into the reality of tomorrow. ABB's mining experts, comprised of electrification, automation, digitalization, crushing and material handling professionals, will showcase ABB's latest solutions, products and methods that enable leading mining companies to achieve their zero emissions goals faster while ensuring safe, efficient and profitable operations.”

Tadashi Maeda, CEO, Komatsu Europe

“With the conclusion of bauma 2022, Komatsu would like to thank Messe München for this great triennial opportunity. This year, this fantastic event was once again a great success for Komatsu, for our dealers, customers and suppliers. bauma 2022 was a window into Komatsu's future, where breakthrough technologies, new working methods and unique solutions demonstrated a path to a cleaner and safer working environment. And thanks to this unique experience, we all learned more about the people we work with.

This know-how that we have acquired and developed will help us to create further value together.”

Fabio Marasi – President & CEO Walvoil Spa, Board Member, Interpump Group

“bauma is undoubtedly the event to which every company dealing with construction and mining equipment and components prepares edition after edition to compete with the evolution of the market and the innovations proposed. We are proud to have long pursued two of the most important industry themes proposed by the fair and guiding our daily R&D activities: sustainability and digitalization. A direction in which we will continue to direct our developments in the future.”

Franz-Josef Paus, Managing Director of Hermann Paus Maschinenfabrik GmbH and Chairman of VDMA Construction Machinery and Building Material Plants

“We are extremely satisfied with how bauma went. The response from our customers and trade fair guests is enormous. Even the bad weather on the first day couldn't stop anyone from coming. It was right to postpone bauma by half a year to October. Unfortunately, we cannot service all orders. If we had the parts, we would still lack the skilled workers. The trade fair is therefore characterized by the topics of digitalization and automation; this trend is irreversible.”

Domenic Ruccolo, CSO Wirtgen Group and Senior Vice President, Sales, Marketing, and Product Support, Global Construction Equipment, John Deere

“The WIRTGEN GROUP’s joint trade fair appearance with John Deere under the motto ‘The Future in Roadbuilding: Smart. Safe. Sustainable.' was a complete success.

The interest in our company and our sustainable product innovations was overwhelming. Our appearance at the leading trade fair bauma is the most successful in the history of the WIRTGEN GROUP and a successful market entry for John Deere wheel loaders in Europe.”

Joachim Schmid, Managing Director, VDMA Construction Machinery and Building Material Plants

“Our manufacturers and members consistently signal to us a positive mood. The trade fair visitors come from all over the world to prepare themselves for the upcoming transformation of the industry - there is no trace of any mood of crisis. This is a real signal to the economy and the public. Ultimately, the exhibitors offer solutions to the current challenges surrounding CO2 neutrality, but the shortage of skilled workers is also addressed through automation and digitalization. This is the future, you can see this in traditional companies and, for the first time at the trade fair, in almost 50 startups. Bauma has once again proven that it is the right event to show this.”

Alexander Schwoerer, owner, PERI SE

“bauma 2022 was a very big success for PERI. The whole team was very excited to see how the trade fair would develop in these not particularly easy times. But it was already clear after the first day: this bauma would be a complete success. We wanted to inspire our visitors with our innovations in the areas of formwork, scaffolding, civil engineering, digitalization and 3D printing. We succeeded completely. What is particularly noteworthy is that the quality of the discussions we had during the week of the trade fair was outstanding in all areas. We talked to exactly the experts and decision-makers we wanted to meet at bauma. And last but not least: We signed some very nice orders right at the trade fair. Conclusion: bauma 2022 more than exceeded our expectations.”

Patrick Top, Director Sales and Marketing, HCME

“Although this year's bauma has been postponed for six months, many dealers and customers of Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) were looking forward to the event after the restrictions everyone has had to deal with over the last two years. The anticipation was clearly noticeable from the first day, as we were able to have many fruitful discussions with our visitors at the HCME stand.

As always, bauma is a great opportunity to gain valuable insights into the development of the market. This year at the show we were able to showcase our new models, including a range of electric machines and, perhaps more importantly, systems that help improve safety and productivity on construction sites. All in all, the trade fair was worth seeing again our valued partners and customers and not only celebrating 50 years of success in Europe, but also looking forward to shape a more progressive, safer and more sustainable future together.”

Tim Whiteman, Global Branding Director, Business Development, Sinoboom

“Sinoboom was thrilled by the diversity of trade visitors at bauma. Our fully electric aerial work platform program attracted great interest from specialist delegations, customers and trade visitors from home and abroad and stimulated discussions. We were very pleased that we were able to triple our stand space compared to the last bauma and are already looking forward to the next bauma!”