Weeks before the start of the world’s leading trade fair for construction machinery, bauma, on April 8, 2019, Messe München can already announce a new record number of exhibitors: more than 3,500 exhibitors from 55 countries will be there – almost 100 more than in 2016, and more than 600,000 visitors are also expected.
“The industry is booming, which is also reflected in the growth of bauma. We’ve taken account of the rise in demand and expanded our site in eastern Munich to 614,000 square metres. Our aim is to offer a platform to as many exhibitors as possible. With bauma 2019, we continue to surpass ourselves – also digitally,” says Klaus Dittrich, Chairman and CEO of Messe München.
For the first time, visitors to Hall B0 will be able to experience the industry virtually – thanks to virtual and augmented reality. This is made possible through a combination of images, sound, or sensor feedback, such as wind.
“The booths have size limits, the digital areas is limitless. With new virtual offerings, we’re bringing the construction site into the trade fair and expanding our digital portfolio,” says project manager Mareile Kästner.
Digitisation is gaining ground in the construction machinery industry. More and more technologies are making their way into the industry. Cloud-based infrastructures, digital services portfolios and security solutions are ringing in a change of paradigm.
It is possible to realise and automate construction projects more efficiently, faster and more cost-effectively without having to sacrifice quality. In order to achieve this, all stakeholders must, for instance, be perfectly connected with each other, and the processes must be handled electronically. Initial systems for these purposes already exist –and they can be seen at bauma.
“The digitisation of the construction industry is becoming increasingly important. Many construction machines are already equipped with communication interfaces that provide comprehensive data, e.g. on location and consumption. This development is also reflected at bauma 2019. Visitors will not only be able to find out about initial technologies, but also exchange views with the exhibitors about their potential,” says Mareile Kästner.
“Coordinating all the activities of several construction sites, sometimes located thousands of miles apart, at the same time—this is no longer a vision of the future. Already today, cloud-based solutions enable projects like these.
“Planning, implementation, monitoring and optimisation of construction projects are consequently running fully digitised. As if by magic construction site vehicles can now even be controlled and managed by various technologies. For example, special sensors register the direction of rotation of concrete mixing vehicles and thus record the unloading process. And digitisation does not stop at height either. Cranes at various locations, for instance, are already controlled remotely from a central control centre so that they can carry out their work ‘driverless.’”
Electromobility
Another major trend is already emerging: the construction machinery industry is increasingly opting for alternative drives. In the future there will no longer be one single typical drive system but instead an increasingly wide range of competing drive systems on the market.
Electromobility and driverless vehicles in particular are seen as key future drivers. The world’s leading manufacturers will be showcasing their developments and discussing the opportunities and challenges presented by new technology at bauma 2019.
“We have identified that electromobility and driverless vehicles are two areas that are increasingly gaining traction with manufacturers and service providers in the construction machinery industry. As such, we intend to provide these hot topics with a platform at bauma 2019. The important thing to note is that we won’t only be showcasing the diverse range of possible applications of leading exhibitors’ products but will also be providing a platform for discussing the aims, potential and sustainability of new technology,” says Mareile Kästner.
