Technology takes the lead at Bauma China

The Bauma China exhibition has gone ahead this week despite the Covid-19 crisis, one of the only major construction event to have taken place since the start of the pandemic.

Official visitor numbers have not been released yet, but numbers will have been impacted, particularly for visitors from outside of China. However, photos from the show indicate that some stands have been very busy.

The show has also been the venue for some important product launches, with a focus on electric machines, 5G technology, remote operation, and aerial platforms. Many exhibitors were streaming their product launches live for international audiences.

Sany, for example, said more than half of the 91 machines it was showing would be new models, and there was a focus on electric with 20 new electric models including excavators, concrete pump trucks, wide-body mining trucks, pavers, reach stackers and empty container handlers.

Zoomlion, meanwhile, used the show to launch its new mining machinery business, and launch several new products, including what it described as the “world’s tallest self-propelled telescopic aerial work platform”, and a range of electric machines, including a truck crane and an electric concrete mixer truck.

It also demonstrated “real-time 5G remote control of excavators, showing how construction activities can be simplified and improved” and offered visitors the chance to use 5G technology to remotely operate a tower crane on site.

On the opening day of the show, XCMG launched the XCMG-Global Service System (X-GSS). Designed to improve spare parts and maintenance, X-GSS is full life-cycle service information system. XCMG said the technology will make after sales service more intelligent, with real-time tracking, and the use of digital twins for service models and smart maintenance.

“The construction machinery industry has been presented with new challenges and opportunities since the onset of the digital age”, said Wang Min, Chairman of XCMG, “To better serve our customers and embrace these changes, XCMG looked to develop a ‘digital service’ providing more value to global customers.”

The company also released its first 5G cabin for road machinery, giving operators real-time information through VR glasses, as well as “driverless cluster construction technology”, showing a self-driving road roller.

Other product launches from the show included the following, as reported on www.khl.com:

• LGMG unveils boom re-design
• Double series aerial platform launch from XCMG
• Volvo CE launches its first China-built excavators
• Dana expands electrification systems for MEWPs in China
• Snorkel product expansion at Bauma China
• Sinoboom launches new livery and products

The show runs from 24 to 27 November in Shanghai.