29.03.2004

Bauma opens to busy first day.

With the sun shining, the 50th anniversary show of the Bauma construction equipment exhibition opened today in Munich with a bustling start. Most companies reported a good first day with strong traffic and orders being placed. The first day turn out from the UK crane and access hire industries was stronger than three years ago, with many of the country’s largest companies out in force.

Please register to see all images

The aisles begin to fill at bauma 2004.

Manitowoc UK booked several sales of all terrain cranes and tower cranes before lunch, while Demag UK received a substantial order from Select. The stand of The Netherlands-based mobile tower crane producer, Spierings, is also noticeable for the number of cranes on show decorated in UK rental company liveries.

The show kicked-off with JLG and Manitowoc announcing the former company's purchase of the Manlift aerial platform business, while JCB also announced its entry into the work platform market with CE compliant platform options for its Loadall range of telehandlers.

More announcements are on the cards for the rest of the week. The forecast is for good weather at least through Friday, so if you are undecided about attending, book a cheap flight to Munich as you will not be disappointed. The show runs through Sunday afternoon April 4th. And don’t forget to stop at the Vertikal Stand F702 to collect your free copy of Vertikal Bauma, the definitive guide to all lifting exhibitors as well as the best guide to the City of Munich.

We handed out over 3,000 copies during the first day out of the 10,500 unreserved copies that we shipped to the show. If you are arriving later in the week, however, then be sure to reserve your copy today by simply e-mailing: [email protected] and placing your name and 'reservation for Vertikal Bauma' in the subject field.