Busy Bauma China opens in Shanghai

Bauma China opened in Shanghai today with expectations of more than 200,000 visitors. The show returns after a four-year gap following the cancellation of the 2022 event and the pandemic impacted 2020 edition.

Opening day at Bauma China 2024. (Photo: KHL)

The first day a notable for packed aisles and a host of ‘giant’ and new-power machines. These included an 82.3m working height telescopic boom from Zoomlion, a 180m3/hr capacity concrete pump powered by hydrogen fuel cell and batteries from the same OEM, and the first battery powered telehandler from MEWP specialist LGMG.

Among the new machines on the massive XCMG stand were two electric excavators, the XE19EV and XE27EV.

One major theme of the week - aside from electric models - will be how Chinese OEMs respond to further European and, potentially, US tariffs on Chinese-produced machines.

For example, Ares Song, from LGMG’s MEWP international marketing division, told KHL the company was ready to supply the European market from both its new factory in Mexico and its main Chinese facility in Shandong, depending on what anti-dumping and counterveiling tariffs are applied.

“It is a challenge for all MEWP manufacturers in China – including foreign OEMs producing in China”, he said, “We have different ways to overcome the challenges.”

A Zoomlion concrete pump powered by battery pack plus a 200kW hydrogen fuel cell, pictured on the opening day of Bauma China 2024. (Photo: KHL)

Export sales are becoming increasingly important for Chinese OEMs given the current slowdown in the domestic market.

Even on day one it was clear that the number of international visitors will be high.

Attendees included a delegation from Kanamoto, one of the major Japanese rental companies. Kancho Kanamoto, chairman, speaking to KHL on the stand of a Chinese aerial platform OEM, said his company was talking to it customers about about electric machines. Kanamoto also has rental activities in China for mining equipment as well as smaller machines.

More than 3,400 domestic and foreign exhibitors have taken 330,000m2 of exhibition space at the show. The largest outside stands included domestic suppliers XCMG, Sany, Zoomlion, SDLG, Longking, Shantui, Dingli and Lovol.

International exhibitors include Caterpillar, Wirtgen, Terex, Manitou, Manitowoc, Bomag, Ammann, Skyjack, Haulotte and Hidromek.