The fourth edition of Changsha International Construction Equipment Exhibition (CICEE) was held on 15-18 May 2025 at the Changsha International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Changsha, China. Themed ‘High-End, Intelligent and Green – The New Generation of Construction Machinery, Emergency Equipment, Mining Equipment, Agricultural Machinery and Transport Equipment’, the event brought together 1,806 exhibitors and over 300,000 visitors from more than 60 countries and regions.

Covering 300,000 sq m of exhibition space, this year’s CICEE drew strong international participation. According to the organiser, diplomats from 55 countries, along with the African Union’s representative in China, attended the event. Representatives from four international organisations and 38 global trade associations were also present, alongside 1,100 international trade companies from 21 countries.

The number of international buyers exceeded 5,000, said the organiser, and key topics such as China-Africa cooperation, China-Russia technical docking and the China-Malaysia mutual recognition agreement on construction machinery standards dominated discussions.

Furthermore, procurement delegations from India, Russia, Southeast Asia and Latin America took part in international matchmaking forums, where over 600 exhibitors reached business agreements. Six major manufacturers from Changsha alone signed supporting parts procurement deals worth RMB 13 billion.

Sustainability and digital technologies

Sustainability was one of the focus areas of CICEE 2025. The organiser shared that over 60% of heavy machinery on display incorporated new energy or low-carbon technology, and 80% of booths were built using recyclable materials.

Among the highlights were:

• Sany’s E-Move, an all-electric unmanned concept excavator powered by electric drive + intelligent control, boosting efficiency by 40% over traditional models, ideal for mining and rescue operations.

• Zoomlion’s new ZAT40000H, dubbed the world’s largest 4,000-t all-terrain crane, featuring lightweight design and energy-saving systems that reduce consumption by 20% compared to conventional models.

• Sunward’s SWDM320EE electric rotary drill, which offers four hours of full-electric operation and 14 hours of hybrid runtime, with an energy regeneration rate close to 70%.

• Hydrogen-powered drones, co-developed by Xiehydro New Energy and Freed. The units deliver three-hour flight time, 50 kg payload, and reliable performance in -40°C conditions, providing new solutions for logistics and emergency response.

For the first time, CICEE 2025 featured ‘New Tech & Product Release Zone’, showcasing 1,500 global innovations spanning AI, 5G and digital twins. Some notable products included Zoomlion’s tower crane remote control system as well as Sinoboom’s TB42ERJ Plus HD aerial platform integrating a 336-V high-voltage drive system and auto-grade Inovance tech.

In the emergency equipment zone, Huanuo Sky’s slope radar offers millimeter-level deformation monitoring, while Jingjia Micro’s integrated satellite-terrestrial communication system ensures real-time data transmission for disaster relief.

In addition, a variety of industry forums, technical exchanges and business matchmaking sessions took place during CICEE 2025. Over 120 companies also joined the ‘Five-Province Construction Equipment Cooperation Forum’, working together on shared technology and market mechanisms.