54
08.13
events
The inaugural bauma Africa International Trade Fair, to be held at the Gallagher Convention
Centre in Midrand from 18 to 21 September, is expected to attract well over 700 exhibitors
from nearly 40 countries and all available exhibition space has been sold out. Speaking to
Modern Mining
recently, Elaine Crewe (left), GM of MMI South Africa, which is organising
the event, said the response from the local, SADC and international construction and min-
ing industries had been beyond all expectation. “We originally planned on attracting around
200 exhibitors and we expected to take up only about 20 000 m
2
of exhibition space,” she
said. “We’re now having to use every square metre available at the venue – which has never
been done before.” In all, there will be approximately 60 000 m
2
of exhibit area.
M
MI South Africa is the local sub-
sidiary of Messe München Interna-
tional (MMI), which organises not
only the famous Munich-based bauma show
in Germany but a host of other trade fairs
both in Germany and internationally. bauma
Africa is, of course, a first for the African con-
tinent but the upcoming event is not the first
bauma to be held outside Germany – the in-
augural bauma China show was held in 2002
in Shanghai and in 2011 bauma also migrated
to India, when bauma CONEXPO – represent-
ing a joint venture between AEM, the organ-
isers of US-based CONEXPO, and MMI – was
held in Mumbai.
“Both the Chinese and Indian shows have
proved highly successful and the South Afri-
can event is following in their footsteps,” says
Crewe. “Based on the huge response we’ve
had, we see bauma Africa becoming a regular
part of the South African exhibition calendar.
We’re looking at holding it every two years,
Bauma Africa 2013
a complete sellout