Capital Equipment News February 2018

“Government infrastructure investment programmes are expected to continue despite pressure on public capital expenditure. That provides a glimmer of hope for the construction sector as up to 70% of all construction in South Africa is government driven.” Nomonde Kweyi, marketing & communications manager at Scania South Africa

“Recent political developments in Zimbabwe and South Africa may encourage renewed investment, while commodity price stability and increased demand for raw materials promises to reignite some under-performing sectors of the mining industry.” Lawrence Peters, chairman of CONMESA

“With a large number of brands competing there is value for users of equipment to be able to visit one location and be able to closely interact with manufacturers and distributors to help guide those critical buying decisions.” Mark Hughes, sales and marketing director at Bell Equipment Sales South Africa

KEY TALKING POINTS

raw materials promises to reignite some under-performing sectors of the mining industry. “This could spell good news for equip- ment suppliers and CONMESA has already called on its members to start to actively engage with markets in anticipation of future demand. Tradeshows like the upcom- ing bauma CONEXPO AFRICA will also be pivotal in forging communications between suppliers and users of construction and mining equipment,” says Peters. Elaine Crewe, CEO of the trade fair organiser BC Expo South Africa, is equal- ly optimistic, saying that the economic comeback of sub-Saharan Africa and the positive market opportunities in South Africa have already been reflected in the number of companies that have signed up for the upcoming bauma CONEXPO AFRICA. “We have already attracted industry leaders and we are also looking forward to having several newcomers at this year’s event,” says Crewe. While the exhibition has always been regarded as the launchpad for new tech- nologies making their way into the local African market, Stefan Rummel, MD of Messe München GmbH, says the supporting programme for this year’s show gives both exhibitors and visitors a comprehensive overview of the technologies of the future, adding that the focus will be on networking and communication between specialists from various fields. “bauma CONEXPO AFRICA is the largest trade fair of its kind in Africa and offers numerous innovations and interaction oppor- tunities,” says Rummel, adding that more than 400 exhibitors and about 20 000 visi- tors, including delegations from Botswana, Chile, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria and Zambia, are expected at this year’s show.

“We are particularly excited to bring one of JLG’s latest ul- tra-booms to our stand at bauma CONEXPO AFRICA. We will also be showcasing new products from JLG and Magni, including the JLG 520AJ, the Magni HTH16.10 and Magni RTH5.25 as well as the JLG 530LRT.” Larry Smith, national sales executive at Eazi Access

“As equipment becomes more technologically sophisticated and downtime a critical factor for contractors, the quality of the prod- uct and its ability to perform to optimal levels for long periods of time is a huge factor from an operator’s point of view.” Mitch Launspach, national sales manager at FUCHS Lubricants South Africa

“The show is very important for the African capital equipment industry at large. It is a great platform to promote and display our extensive and ever-growing product ranges. It is also an opportunity to continue our aggressive and accelerated African growth plans.”

Brian van Buuren, MD of ITR Africa

“Our expectations are generally addressed by customer feedback, which gives us a good idea of how our customers are expe- riencing the market. Any potential projects, as well as future investments, require information and planning.” Norman Maleka, national sales manager at SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa

Important platform Several key exhibitors who spoke to

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