bauma has been postponed to 24 to 30 October 2022, following discussions with top industry representatives and the advisory board, announced Messe München.

“Considering the particularly long planning times for exhibitors and organisers at the world's largest trade show, the decision had to be made soon. This would provide exhibitors and visitors a secure planning basis for preparing the upcoming bauma,” said the organiser.

Held every three years in Munich, Germany, bauma is the world's leading trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines, construction vehicles and construction equipment. The last edition of bauma took place in April 2019, attracting 620,000 visitors from more than 200 countries plus 3,700 exhibitors from 63 countries, on an exhibition area of 614,000 sq m.

Initially, the next bauma was to take place from 4 to 10 April 2022. “Despite the pandemic, both the industry’s response and the booking level was very high,” explained Messe München. “However, in numerous discussions with customers, there was a growing recognition that the April date involved too many uncertainties in view of the global pandemic. The prevailing opinion was that it is currently difficult to assess whether worldwide travel - which is crucial for the success of the trade show - will be largely unhindered again in a year's time.”

Messe München added that the global exhibitors in particular, who expect customers from all over the world to attend bauma and make correspondingly high investments in stand construction, logistics and hotel capacity, advocated a postponement. “They saw the decisive benefit of the trade show – which would bring together the entire industry and to be a hub for all markets - as being jeopardised if the April date were to be adhered to.”

Klaus Dittrich, chairman and CEO of Messe München commented, “The decision to postpone bauma was not an easy one for us, of course. But we had to make it now, before the exhibitors start planning their participation in the trade show and make corresponding investments. Unfortunately, despite the vaccination campaign that has been launched around the world, it is not yet possible to predict when the pandemic will be largely under control and unlimited worldwide travel will be possible again.

“This makes participation difficult to plan and calculate for both exhibitors and visitors. Under these circumstances, we would not have been able to fulfil our central promise that bauma, the world's leading trade fair, represents the entire spectrum of the industry and generate international reach like no other comparable event. After all, bauma’s last edition welcomed participants from over 200 countries around the world. Hence, the decision is consistent and logical.”

Joachim Schmid, managing director of the Construction Equipment and Plant Engineering Association in the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) echoed the sentiment, saying that “the decision is tough, but it gives all parties the planning basis they need. The industry will now do everything it can for a strong bauma in October 2022. Even without a health crisis, companies need to overcome challenges such as digitalisation, autonomous construction sites and sustainability, and stay abreast of changes to avoid falling behind. For this, they need bauma as an innovation barometer and networking platform. In next year’s October, we will all meet again in Munich.”

Regardless of the postponement, the technical and organisational planning for bauma 2022 continues, affirmed Messe München. The core of the show will be the face-to-face event, augmented and expanded by digital offerings. “This allows customers from all over the world to participate in bauma, even if they can't or don't want to travel to Munich,” said Mr Dittrich.

According to Messe München, in consultation with the industry, the most important industry topics have already been defined for bauma 2022. Reflecting the megatrends of digitalisation and sustainability, the show will focus on:

• The road to zero emissions

• Digital construction site

• Construction methods and materials of tomorrow

• The road to autonomous machines

• Mining - sustainable, efficient, reliable

“These topics will not only play a central role in the exhibitors’ presentations; they will also be illustrated in special areas such as the VR experience and will be a central theme in the supporting programme,” said the organiser.

The categories of the bauma Innovation Award have also been adjusted accordingly. For the first time, applicants can participate in the categories of digitalisation and climate protection.

Photos: Messe München