A report by ALAN TITCHALL who was a guest of Messe Reps & Travel
IT WAS THE BIGGEST international trade fair for construction machinery, equipment and vehicles held in China, despite the downturn in the local market.
Run by Messe Munchen International, the 12th bauma China was held in Shanghai back in November and was attended by Contractor magazine and a sizeable group from the Kiwi contracting industry.
The huge event attracted 191,000 visitors, up from 180,000 in 2012, and international visitors were up by 12 percent. Compared to 2010, the 2012 show was an increase of 46 percent in terms of exhibitors and 16 percent in terms of visitors.
At the 2014 show, the 3104 exhibitors (2000 of them Chinese) and their machinery and equipment took up the entire 300,000 square metres (comparable to 42 football fields) of the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.
For the first time, the organisers used a ‘business matchmaking system’ to facilitate contacts between visitors and exhibitors. This saved a lot of time ‘exploring’ the vast event, which is spread over 17 indoor halls of 200,000 square metres, an outdoor area of 100,000 square metres, three main entrance halls, and 51 meeting rooms.
The next bauma China takes place again in Shanghai in November 2016.
Planning a trip to bauma
THE CIVIL CONTRACTORS association promotes the programme through Messe Reps & Travel in Auckland.
Robert Laing of Messe Reps is an expert on the show and the destination. He favours hotels in the centre of the city where the tourist action is. Having stayed at the Renaissance Shanghai Yu Garden Hotel under his direction I can personally vouch for the five star, faultless quality of the hotel he chose for us Kiwis and the convenience of the area – right next to the stunning, 400-year-old Yu Gardens/Old Town (more shops and eateries than gardens), and within walking distance of the famous East Nanjing pedestrian road, the Bund and the river.
You can catch a metro out to the showgrounds but it is easier to grab a metered cab outside the hotel (the concierge will make sure the driver knows where to take you) and off you go for the ride of your life – never will you bitch about Auckland’s traffic again.
The extraordinary thing is how cheap the taxi fare is – around $8. I don’t know how they made any money. On the way back to the hotel from the showgrounds – you walk over to the front of the Kerry Hotel and get the concierge to get you a cab back. Easy-peasy.
LiuGong Metso deal
A joint venture agreement between LiuGong and Metso, unveiled at bauma China 2014, will see mobile crushers specifically designed for the Chinese market with electronics and software (designed by LiuGong) to improve 
integration between the engine and hydraulics for better fuel economy. While mobile crushers are not common in China, the two companies say sales will improve as older, fixed plant equipment comes up for renewal.
Volvo 17 tonner
Volvo introduced its new EC170D excavator at bauma, which, at 17 tonnes, fills the gap between the popular 14 and 20 tonne weight segments. Power comes from a D4E Volvo engine delivering 90kW for a combination of high performance and low fuel consumption.
Extra tough Rammer
Sandvik launched a new hydraulic hammer under its Rammer brand. The 3750kg Rammer 4099 PRO is designed for carriers in the 34-55 tonne weight class. Based on the field-proven Rammer 4099, the new model for extreme conditions such as underground, features a sealed and sturdy housing, and is designed for horizontal work.
New excavators
Hitachi unveiled a new range of hydraulic excavators: the powerful 69 tonne ZX690LCH-5A; 16.8 tonne ZX170LC-5A; 34.1 tonne ZX360K-5G; and the 20.3 tonne ZX200-5G. The 69 tonner is suited to quarry applications for truck loading with power from a 345kW diesel and wielding a four cubic metre bucket. The ZX360K-5G is also ideal for earthmoving and quarrying and features a 1.6 cubic metre bucket, while its engine is rated at 184kW. The ZX200-5G is aimed at a popular size class used in a wide array of applications, with power from a 125kW diesel and featuring a 0.91 cubic metre bucket. The ZX170LC-5A has a 79kW diesel and a 0.7 cubic metre bucket and is a highly versatile machine.
Longking excavators
Shanghai-based Lonking is growing its excavator business and moving away from its reliance on wheeled loaders. Three new, high performance models at bauma were the LG6485H, CDM6365F and CDM6235. The LG6485 is top of the range, weighs 48.2 tonnes, is powered by a 269kW diesel, and featured a 2.2 cubic metre bucket.
Volvo Tier 2 and 3
Volvo Penta displayed a number of new lines of Tier 2 and Tier 3 engines that share a common design with Tier 4 engines, which means OEM manufacturers can fit an engine suitable for the customer and the applicable emissions standards without having to do a major redesign to accommodate a different engine. The stage II and IIIA engines use an advanced clean-burning fuel injection system, which means that they don’t need an after-treatment system to lower emissions levels. The Volvo Penta range consists of a complete line of 5, 8, 11, 13 and 16 litre engines for off-road use, and on display was the new TAD1350VE which is certified to China III standard.
Komatsu Tier 3 compliance
Komatsu showed off four new excavators that are Tier 3 compliant and meet China’s imminent new emissions requirements. The Komatsu engines feature electronic injection and can work efficiently even with low-grade fuel.
Top of the range is the PC360-8MO weighing 33,550kg and powered by a 187kW engine and featuring a 1.6 cubic metre bucket.
Sandvik’s latest screen
Sandvik unveiled its latest screen – the new SK2462 and the latest in its SK&SC range. It new circular motion screen is 2.4 metres by six metres and weighs 7.3 tonnes. A 22kW motor allowing rotation speeds of between 780 and 900rpm provides power. It is designed for heavy-duty medium and fine screening applications especially after primary and secondary crushing. Dust encapsulation is incorporated to satisfy clean air regulations. The number of parts has been reduced and bearing lubrication improved. In addition, the vibration mechanism can be removed and installed as a fully assembled module.
“Each show just gets bigger and the range of equipment and its quality improves. Exhibitors use young women to front their business, but they are very informed about their products and know their stuff.
“In general I find the Chinese hard working and on the ball. Nothing is a problem for them and they are very trusting once they get to know you.”
Big loader
LiuGong’s biggest ever wheeled loader, the 17.2 tonne CLG8128H (one of its latest generation H-series machines) is one of the biggest selling machine classes in China. Power comes from a diesel delivering 162kW.
Demand for quality roading machinery
Bomag says that demand for its soil compactors, asphalt pavers and rollers, and reclaimers/ stabilisers is increasing as long-term roading contractors look for better quality machines. Bomag’s BF300 and BF800 asphalt pavers are now finding steady sales into China. Its RS950 stabiliser is said to be the most powerful reclaimer/stabiliser on the market, with power from a diesel delivering 708kW, and well-suited for large road recycling jobs where road structures typically feature a cement base.
Economical Volvo paver
Volvo unveiled its new mid-sized P6820C ABG paver, which features lower fuel consumption and produces less noise than the model it replaces, and is designed to deliver smooth mats in demanding conditions such as steep hills. Volvo’s D6E COM IIIA Tier 3 compliant engine provides power of 142kW.
Wirtgen roading gear
The Wirtgen Group is now offering variants of its latest Vogele asphalt paver and Hamm asphalt compactor. The new Vogele Super 2100-3 and Super 1900-3 pavers and Hamm HD12VO and HD10VO compactors are all now built at its Chinese plant. Wirtgen’s new Hamm 318 soil compactor weighs 18 tonnes and features a 2.22 metre wide drum and can generate compaction forces of 242kN or 331kN, with power from a 153kW diesel. The machine can be teamed up with the recently introduced Wirtgen WR250 recycler.
Hammer drills
Sandvik introduced its new Tiger range of top hammer drills, which feature a low centre of gravity and (track driven) good stability on uneven terrain. The DG700 and DG800, the two models currently launched, are designed with road cutting, pipeline drilling, foundation drilling, and production drilling in mid-sized quarry applications in mind. A joystick in the cab controls drilling. The cabin is soundproofed to keep noise levels well below 85dBA and it is ROPS and FOPS certified.
TAXIS AND TRAFFIC – He who hesitates gives way on Shanghai’s congested streets where there are many signal lights, but few rules. A lot of the motorbikes are electric so you can’t hear them until they are tooting behind you. Like the migration of the wildebeest, pedestrians are safer in numbers, before weaving their way from one side of a street to another. And never trust a bus thundering towards a pedestrian crossing. But – you will never complain about Auckland’s traffic again!
Taxis are dirt cheap. From the city centre hotels to the expo, which is half way to the international airport and next to the high speed train (300kmh plus that travels directly to the airport), costs about $8.
However, you must get into a metered cab (they are coloured two-tone and most are 1.8 litre, manual, VW Santa Vistas) and the best way to do that is to get the concierge outside a hotel to get you one. Best place for a metered cab at the expo site is at the Kerry Hotel. Avoid unmetered cabs, as they will try and charge you up to five times the normal fare depending on how gullible you look.
THE KERRY PARK SHOPPING COMPLEX also houses a fantastic modern supermarket, cafes, restaurants and shops – great for escaping the teeming hordes at the show. Even though November, the month the show is held, is the start of winter, the weather can be surprisingly warm.
Changing China
Visiting China these days you can literally see the old China going and the new, very 21st century China taking over.
This manifests in vast inner city demolition sites where old housing has been gutted to make room for more high rises. On Saturdays, when the working traffic is off the roads and motorway, you see it in the number of wedding cars that are dolled up luxury vehicles such as Ferraris.
You experience it in the new shopping malls in the pristine supermarkets and upmarket shops such as Hugo Boss where the price is the price and a far cry from the multi-storey shopping complexes with hardly room to walk and where the price is as good as you can bargain.
You see it in the spotless and very efficient transport system and airports which make Auckland Airport look third world.
And lastly you see it in the young folks and their perfect English as they swap comfortably between two worlds. And what a difference the lack of alcohol makes to youth enjoying themselves in China, compared to our raucous, alcohol-fuelled, reckless lot on a weekend binge.
Like post-war Japan, China is emerging as a powerhouse of productivity and expansion into the big wide world with wealth, imitation and improvements, and through sending its sons and daughters to the west to be educated in our ways.
Soon, we’ll be sending our sons and daughters to learn from them.