Constructionshows
6 September 2014: The leading manufacturers of construction machinery, suppliers of mineral processing equipment, suppliers of add-on equipment and service providers agree: The ninth steinexpo 2014 quarry demonstration exhibition from 3 to 6 September was a huge success! 254 exhibitors in the MHI Nieder-Ofleiden basalt quarry successfully played host to 48,130 visitors, of which 93% came to the fair out of purely professional interest. According to a quick survey by the trade fair management, more than 70% of the visitors were decision-makers or took part in the decision-making process in companies that also operate quarries or gravel and sand pits. The rest of the projected 30% of the visitors came from construction companies or recycling companies who need to invest in modern technology. All praised the all-encompassing offering in the representation of complete processes from mining through processing to transportation. The joint demonstration of various construction equipment brands moderated by Raoul Helmer was again voted a popular highlight. The increase in the overall participation of exhibitors and brands by around 15% compared to 2011 and visitors by approximately 20% compared to the previous event is a well-deserved result of the successful conceptual work by the organisers.
This year’s fairgrounds in the Nieder-Ofleiden stone quarry hosted a super show on a total area of approximately 180,000 square metres in more partial sections of the quarry than ever before. Highly visible colours designated the different areas from A to E where trade fair events and demonstrations took place over more levels and areas of the quarry than ever before. Crushing and screening processes for the preparation of basalt aggregate material, rubble, asphalt and soil excavation were demonstrated live in practical situations, as appreciated by the decision-makers from the respective industries. This approach afforded them the best possible opportunity for comparison when making future investment decisions.
The goal of the organiser Geoplan GmbH was to break through the 40,000-visitor ceiling. And at the final count, steinexpo enjoyed the attention of 48,130 interested individuals. With this result, the fair this year beat its previous peak in 1996, which saw approximately 46,000 visitors going through the gates. This result underlines the steadily growing acceptance of steinexpo in the market. Pleasantly surprising after 2011 was again the Saturday exhibition day with visitor participation of about 17,150 people. For a day which offers an attraction particularly to people from the region – with non-paying children under 16 accompanied by an adult not counted – this figure may not be surprising. However, what pleases the exhibitors was the still extremely high share of trade visitors even on this last day of the trade fair. Suppliers of raw materials and building materials but also construction companies from all over the country had chartered buses for their senior staff and machine operators and used the Saturday for a visit to the fair without losing production time.
The exhibitors had only praises for the flexibility of the organiser Geoplan GmbH for their excellent understanding of and response to exhibitor wishes before and during the fair. The exhibitors in the pavilions were also very satisfied with this year’s response. It was not only the rather cool weather at the start of the exhibition and the effort they put into attractive stand layouts that ensured them more visitor attention than at previous events, but also the new pavilion concept with its side walls that could be opened almost completely that has proven itself as a great success. The ‘stands with an outside view’ were also those with an ‘inside view’ and so generated the expected traction.
Professionally, the steinexpo-proven layout and planning team of the Technical University of Clausthal, headed by Prof. Dr. Hossein Tudeshki and Thomas Hardebusch handled all phases of the planning, setup and exhibition itself with the skill and empathy necessary to ensure a proper sequence of events and to integrate any kind of unplanned surprises in the running processes.
Gradually growing internationality and tangible investment interest
The various measures by the organisers and the technical and conceptual trustee associations have contributed to the level of awareness of steinexpo gradually growing internationally. So this year saw 65 international exhibitors and again more than 20% international visitors arriving at the basalt quarry in Nieder-Ofleiden. This trend was supported by a far greater presence of international press representatives to the fair and the diverse online activities of the fair.
In terms of current investment trends, exhibitors confirmed that the demands of decision-makers were very specifically focused on issues relating to energy efficiency and quality as well as the industry-known measurement of ‘cost per ton’. Here and there a ‘bargain’ may in individual cases still be a selling point, but in the plant and equipment segment, especially, the best possible quality and suitability for the particular application remain the decisive criteria for an investment. Lifecycle considerations, even beyond normal wear resistance, environmental aspects and fuel and energy savings are key in making a final decision on the purchase of new construction equipment. This reality has been mirrored in the tailored offerings of the exhibitors.
Crowd-pleasing additional events, such as the Truck Trial European Championship races, attracted more visitors from Germany and neighbouring countries. The concurrent hosting of the two events has now become the norm after the third round.
Trade Fair Director Dr. Friedhelm Rese explains in his still fresh analysis of steinexpo 2014: “I’m proud of the whole team, who has ensured that this trade fair has once again been a success. The exhibitors I thank for the confidence they have placed again in our trade fair concept, and the visitors, I thank you for your interest in our unique event on the European mainland. With steinexpo 2014 we have set a new standard for the next event in 2017. The bar has been set very high. But this is exactly the challenge that we also wished for for the tenth steinexpo from 30 August to 2 September 2017. At the moment we are truly pleased for all those involved with the success of steinexpo 2014; its experiential value will stay with us and the follow-up business transactions with the exhibitors for a while longer. Nevertheless – or because of it – we already look forward to our next show here in the MHI Nieder-Ofleiden basalt quarry.”
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