African Review of Business and Technology was present at Intermat 2015 that was held in Paris-Nord Villepinte from 20-25 April 2015. Infrastructure solutions for the construction industry equipment, machinery, technology and materials were presented at the show
With approximately 200,000 visitors, Intermat 2015 offered plenty of opportunities to exhibitors to promote products. With around 1,400 exhibitors, including 35 of the top 50 firms in the global construction machinery market, Intermat was a place to be in April 2015 to showcase and learn about the latest products for every application. With a new show layout and sector organisation designed to help participants gain more tangible results in business meetings and better access to potential new export markets, Intermat provided all construction industry professionals with the means to get the most out of business opportunities.
Key concepts in construction
Intermat revolves around three major concepts – expertise, innovation and networking. It represents a range of geographic markets and product categories, making it a perfect event to capitalise on the growing potential of the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) territories for which the show has become an essential point of reference in recent years.
Among the new features this year, Intermat brought together key players from the concrete industry in a new event covering every stage of the concrete cycle. The Intermat awards celebrated innovation in the development of new solutions. There were events spotlighting the equipment and materials industry and the firms that use them. Moreover, throughout the six days of the show, Intermat offered a unique schedule of special theme days, presentations, workshops and visits.
Intermat 2015 was organised by SE Interma, representing CISMA (Association of Equipment Manufacturers for Construction, Infrastructure, Steel and Handling Equipment Industries) and SEIMAT (Association of International Civil Engineering, Mining, Construction and Hoisting Equipment industries) in partnership with event organiser Comexposium. The key of the organiser was to pay forward industry prospects with a promising outlook in the construction market for 2015-20.
The economic environment
Research by PriceWaterhouseCoopers indicates that worldwide spending in infrastructure will double between now and 2020. This expenditure should grow at between six and seven per cent per year over the next ten years, with faster growth in sub-Saharan Africa, estimated at an excess of 10 per cent per year.
Each year, Intermat welcomes more and more visitors from geographic regions belonging to the GCC, where economies are booming and construction is very active. This has been especially true since 2011, which saw the launch of Intermat Middle East. In the Middle East and also in North and West Africa, for example, a large number of infrastructure or construction projects are underway or emerging, and the opportunities have been highlighted at Intermat 2015.
In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has started up several large scale projects in order to adapt the country’s infrastructure to meet demographic needs, including a massive six-line underground metro in Riyadh, a 19-line and 990 km extension to the country’s railway network, and the Kingdom Tower, which will be the highest skyscraper in the world at 1,000 metres. Dubai has won the right to host the World Expo 2020, and so has resumed work on several projects that were designed before the economic crisis of 2008-09.
However, Dubai has also launched new mega-projects, including the Dubai Water Canal, which will connect Business Bay with the Persian Gulf, and the Falcon City of Wonders – a huge amusement park with replicas of the Seven Wonders of the World. Turkey has started work on a large investment programme, with a third bridge over the Bosporus, and a third international airport.
In North Africa, Algeria has planned to invest US$53bn in the development of road infrastructure and engineering structures as part of its five-year plan from 2015-19. This includes the construction of the High Plateaus motorway, the launch of the Grand Museum of Africa and the continued construction of the new city of El Menea. Morocco has kept up the rhythm of its investments to develop its infrastructure, with works on the Tangier-Casablanca high-speed line, the reconversion of part of the Casa Port zone, and the enhancement of the road network. Tunisia is investing millions of dollars each year on projects, including the construction of the financial district of Tunis, which will become the leading financial centre in North Africa for offshore banking institutions, and the construction of the deep sea port of Enfidha to connect Tunisia with the main commercial shipping routes.
In West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire is accelerating the delivery of its development programme, giving priority to transport, power and housing. Approximately 50 km of roads are being built each year. Also, an urban rail service is being built to connect the airport of Abidjan with the north of the country’s economic capital. Other plans include the construction of the Soubré hydroelectric dam, and new-build social housing.
Having become the leading African economy in April 2014, with a GDP (gross domestic product) of US$491bn, Nigeria plans to roll out a large number of projects in power, real estate and transport infrastructure. Examples of this are the constructions of a housing development on a man-made beach on the Lagos lagoon, a deep sea mega-port in Badagry, and hydroelectric dams in Mambila and Zungerou. Senegal has also launched major projects designed to equip the country with modern and effective infrastructure, including a tram system in Dakar, a water desalination plant to meet drinking water needs, and a special integrated economic zone near Dakar.
Showcasing equipment, machinery and processes
Since Intermat was founded, contractors, plant rental firms and operators have been able to observe the know-how, ergonomics, safety and productivity of machines at work. In a 30,000 sqm area, manufacturers of equipment and machinery displayed their products – excavators, loaders, mobile crushers, telescopic lifts, screen buckets, and other products.
Intermat paid tribute to invention and product development by distinguishing the most remarkable initiatives with its Innovation Awards and organised two major and unique events to support exhibitors in publicising new products and services. An international judging panel, chaired by FNTP president Bruno Cavagné and comprising 11 industry specialists, representative of building industry equipment and process users, examined the applications submitted by Intermat 2015 exhibitors and elected the winners of the 2015 Intermat Innovation Awards.
The awards are an illustration of the variety of sectors for which equipment is the most essential means of production. In the area of buildings, it is structural works, finishing works and demolition; in public works, earthmoving, roads and civil engineering; and serving both of these areas is quarries and prefabrication. The 2015 Intermat Innovation Awards were a reflection of the international spectrum of the product offering in worksite equipment. The awards were also in line with the leading priorities of businesses today – environmental protection, looking after the health of employees, and staff safety on work sites. The awards now also offer a special focus on the concrete sector.
The diversity of the 2015 Intermat Innovation Award winners is proof of the variety and quality of the number of applications submitted – 78 in all, of which 29 were nominated for awards and 12 ultimately elected as winners.
The aim of worksite equipment and machinery is to enable the construction of building and public works structures. The efficiency of their on-site performance is the primary feature that visitors to Intermat look for. The 2015 Intermat Innovation Awards give recognition to equipment and machinery that is capable of improving firms’ productivity.
Staff safety is also a constant concern for firms. Protecting the environment is subject of growing importance for responsible organisations. It is increasingly integrated into the experience of construction industry players. Each and every 2015 Intermat Innovation Award also distinguishes equipment and machinery designed with safety and the environment in mind. Award winners this year included Atlog, Liebherr, Merlo, MS and Wacker Neuson.
Representing the rental sector
Traditionally, the equipment rental industry has always been at home at Intermat. At each show, the event brings together the market ecosystem and its stakeholders such as equipment manufacturers, rental companies, fleet manager, engineers, and trade bodies. At the 2012 show, 40 per cent of exhibitors received a visit on their stand by rental companies. This year, a dedicated ‘Intermat Rental Day’ included a visit to a branch of one of the leading rental companies in France, LOXAM, located close to Intermat and Paris-CDG airport, providing an excellent opportunity to understand how these firms organise their branches, and to discover the operational aspects of rental. There has also been a presentation detailing operational factors such as reducing damage and accidents caused by equipment.
Dealing with demolition
Intermat also featured an overview of the regulatory framework with regard to waste traceability and a presentation of Ivestigo software, which simplifies work site waste traceability. With respect to demolition, CISMA offered insights into the latest developments of standards in rapid attachment systems. Finally, a workshop by Rivard highlighted hydro demolition – a method of selectively removing damaged concrete using water at high pressure.
Exhibitors at Intermat
The key corporate entities exhibiting power systems at Intermat 2015 included AKSA Jeneratör Sanayi, Balkrishna Tyres (BKT Tyres), Cummins, Deutz, ESCO SAS, Goodyear Dunlop Tyres, Haladjian, Hatz-Diesel, JCB Power Systems, John Deere Power Systems, Kaeser Compressors, Kohler, Kubota, Magna Tyres Group, MTS, MTU, Pramac, SDMO Industries, TEKSAN Jenerator Elektrik, TMS, Trelleborg Wheel Systems, Volvo Penta and Yanmar. Demolition and recycling firms included Bobcat, Doosan Portable Power, Indeco and Palfinger. In lifting and handling, the key corporates on stand were AGS, Haulotte, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Magni Telescopic Handlers, Merlo, Sennebogen Maschinenfabrik, Solmec, and Terex Corporation. Construction and maintenance of road infrastructure was represented by Ammann Group, Benninghoven, Bomag, Fayat, Fendt, Marini, and Wirtgen. Drilling, boring and special foundations for mines and quarries was represented by Bauer Maschinen, Hany, Integral Intermat Algerie, McCloskey International, Powerscreen, Soilmec, Talleres Nuñez, Terex Finlay, and FinAlgeria/HBXG Groupement Producteurs Chine.
Earthmoving and civil engineering equipment and services on display included products from Bell Dredging Pumps, Case Construction Equipment, Doosan, Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, Kobelco Construction Machinery, Komatsu, Kubota, Liebherr, LiuGong, MTB, MTG, MTS, Shantui Construction Machinery, Terex Trucks, Volvo Construction Equipment, Volvo Trucks, Wacker Nueson Group, and Yanmar Construction Equipment. Topography engineering, new technology and automatic systems were showcased by CDI Technologies, Trimble, Hitech Software, IMET, Irium Software Group, Mistral Informatique, Moba Mobile Automation, Panasonic, SITECH, Tata Technologies, Topcon, and Trimble. At Intermat 2015, manufacturers of vehicles and transportation for materials included Bell Equipment, Iveco, MAN Truck & Bus, Mercedes-Benz, Nooteboom Trailers, Scania, and Scheuerle.
