Social commitment – bauma sets up Charity Alliance

The construction and construction machinery industry has been one of the driving forces of the global economy for years. The new “bauma Charity Alliance” is intended to highlight the fact that the companies in this sector are actively engaged both in combating hunger and poverty and in promoting education and the environment in the Third World in addition to their day-to-day business. The launch will be at bauma 2016, being held in Munich from April 11 to 17.
There is no doubt that the good fortune the industry has enjoyed in recent decades has been driven significantly by globalization. This being so, internationally orientated companies have become increasingly involved in developing and emerging countries. But many companies are interested not just in pure profit maximization and expansion but are actively involved worldwide in social projects of every description. Klaus Dittrich, Chairman and CEO of Messe München GmbH said: “Corporate societal and social commitment is no contradiction. On the contrary: long-term success requires both factors to go hand-in-hand. Many bauma exhibitors have long since taken this on board and are acting accordingly.”
Inspired by the “Pilosio Building Peace Award”, bauma has therefore set up the so-called bauma Charity Alliance to coincide with the forthcoming event. The intention is to create a strong network and presentation platform to draw attention to social commitment by companies within the construction machinery industry. The network intends to promote dialog between members on the implementation of social projects and to attract additional interested parties to become actively involved in the bauma Charity Alliance.
Applications are restricted to companies exhibiting at bauma 2016, who are carrying on projects in the fields of education, nutrition, health, social integration or the environment and which bring about a lasting improvement in the living conditions of people in need living in, or hailing from, crisis areas, emerging or developing countries. To date Atlas Copco, AUMUND Fördertechnik, MAN, Pilosio, Terex Latin America, Wirtgen, Volvo Construction Equipment, Zeppelin Baumaschinen and ZF Friedrichshafen have notified their projects to the bauma Charity Alliance.
Michael Heidemann, Chairman of the Management Board of Zeppelin Baumaschinen GmbH, said: “True to its tradition as a foundation company, Zeppelin feels obliged to combine its appearance at the trade fair in Munich with support for aid projects in Ethiopia and South Africa. So at bauma 2016 we will again be launching a donation campaign for ‘Home from Home’. The fact that all donation initiatives are now being presented collectively within the bauma Charity Alliance will help to recruit additional support for social projects.” To which Gisela Wirtgen, first chairwoman of campaign group “Kinder in Not” e.V (Children in Need) added: “Our Wirtgen family company has been unveiling innovations at bauma since 1974. The trade fair is an outstanding international marketing platform for us and we are very pleased to be able to showcase our social commitment to a broad public within the bauma Charity Alliance.”
In addition to being promoted via the official bauma website, bauma Charity Alliance projects will also be presented in the supporting program while the trade fair is underway. There will also be an evening event involving the now very prestigious Pilosio Building Peace Award, which will be awarded on April 14, 2016, namely at bauma, in the International Congress Center Munich (ICM).
Additional information on the bauma Charity Alliance can be found at www.bauma.de/trade-fair/specials/bauma-charity-alliance