The international trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines and construction vehicles, bauma Africa, will be held for the first time in South Africa, from September 18 to 21, at the Gallagher Convention Centre, in Midrand.

bauma Africa CEO Elaine Crewe tells Mining Weekly that preregistration has started and the organisers have already received several registrations from South Africa and the Southern African Develop- ment Community (SADC) countries.

“We have also had preregistrations from visitors in Singapore and the US, which we are excited about,” she adds.

Owing to the bauma brand’s success in Germany, China and India, the trade fair organisers considered the possibility of entering into Africa, which they regard as a strong emerging market.

Crewe states that the event organisers found that there was a definite need in Africa for an event such as bauma, owing to the extensive amount of mineral resources and development projects on the continent.

“Africa is an emerging market and one of the world’s largest producers of natural mineral resources. South Africa is rela- tively stable politically and economically and is seen as the gateway into Africa,” she states.

Crewe adds that the growing importance of South Africa worldwide and in Africa has led to the first bauma Africa event.

“The 2012 PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) SA mine review of trends in the South African mining industry states that the total asset value of listed entities in South Africa with a market capitalisation of more than R200-million amounted to R595-billion at the end of June 2011.

“While the South African mining industry faced uncertainty in the fourth quarter of 2012, it is still set to grow and, with it, the various supporting industries and the entire local economy,” she says, adding that the mining and construction sectors are usually considered a big part of an economy’s backbone.

Crewe adds that South Africa’s membership of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (Brics) partnership also helped to influence the decision.

“The Brics countries have some of the strongest mining industries and have communicated planned large-scale con- struction projects. As was demonstrated during the yearly Brics Summit, in Durban, in March, the members remain committed to supporting one another and they have further discussed measures for easier business integration among the partnership economies,” she says.

Further, Crewe notes that, while Brazil’s attention for 2013 to 2015 will remain on construction projects for the upcoming FIFA 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, Russia, India and China are investing in large-scale construction projects throughout Africa, with South Africa remaining committed to its own infrastructure development projects.

“South Africa has the necessary infra- structure and facilities to support the size of the bauma Africa trade fair. The bauma trade fair, in Munich, has attracted tens of thousands of visitors worldwide who want to meet, connect and expand their business. bauma Africa will, no doubt, attract attendees from the SADC region; therefore, elements such as exhibi- tion space, air travel, hotel infrastructure and local travel must be a certainty and of the highest standard,” she says.

Crewe adds that South Africa’s success in hosting various world events with large logistics requirements further persuaded the organisers to launch Africa’s first bauma trade fair in the country.

She states that, initially, about 200 exhibi- tors were expected, for which 20 000 m2 of exhibition space would be needed. The event is now sold out, with more than 500 exhibitors taking up more than 60 000 m2 of exhibition space.

“We expect the event to draw more attention to Africa and South Africa, highlighting the construction and mining industries, while generating increased interest and investment from local and international investors,” she notes.

Crewe points out that planning and orga- nising the event took two years, as the organisers worked closely with local supporters of the event, including the Association of Mine Resident Engineers, the Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of South- ern Africa, the Construction and Mining Equipment Suppliers Association, the Contractors Plant Hire Association, the Institute of Quarrying Southern Africa, the South African Colliery Engineers Association and the Southern African Readymix Association.
“The event will feature nine country pavilions, where 200 international exhi- bitors will showcase their services and products. These include Austria, China, Finland, Germany, the UK, Italy, Korea, Northern Ireland and Spain.

“Key industry players, such as industrial group Atlas Copco, international mining and construction machinery giant Sandvik, appliance manufacturer Bauer, materials handling machine manufac- turers Bell and Doosan and earthmoving equipment manufacturer ELB Equipment, are some of the companies that have registered for the event and which are certain to exhibit top products,” she concludes.