German foreign exhibitions: Westward wind

For the first time the Deutsche Messe will become active on the Canadian market with an exhibition event. This additional facet will make the international energy exhibitions from Hannover even more prolific.

The United States subsidiary of Deutsche Messe, Hannover Fairs USA, has signed a partnership with the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA). The cooperation includes the formation of a company, the Canadian Wind Energy Conference Partnership, in which Hannover Fairs USA holds the majority stake. In addition, the new company assumes the organisation of Canada's largest wind energy event, with around 200 exhibitors and 2,000 visitors. Its name: CanWEA Annual Conference and Exhibition.   

“The Canadian Wind Energy Association is a strong and influential partner,” says Andreas Gruchow, the executive board member responsible for global affairs at Deutsche Messe. He considers the cooperation as part of the long-term goal to establish the company’s portfolio in the energy world. Gruchow numbers the recent milestones on the way there. “Over the past year we have introduced our own exhibition in Brazil and set up new partnerships – both in the U.S. as well as in Turkey.” In this context, the Hannover firm sees the arranged cooperation in Canada as an “excellent extension” to the previous activities. The new partner also finds praise for the deal: “Deutsche Messe has a long track record of success in the organisation of energy fairs and conferences,” says Robert Hornung, President of the Canadian Wind Energy Association. “By working with such a strongly established exhibition company we can appeal to an even wider international audience.”

The Canadian wind energy market has huge potential, with more than 7,000 megawatts of installed capacity and new projects in the near future that will contribute about 1,500 more megawatts annually. The CanWEA Annual Conference and Exhibition, moreover, injects important impulses into the public debate. As the outstanding platform it also promotes the exchange of information and business in this market. This year it will celebrate its 30th anniversary from ​​27 to 29 October 2014 in Montreal, Québec (www.messe.de).

The first edition of the African building technology trade fair was held last year under the name of bauma Africa. It celebrated a successful premiere with 754 exhibitors from 38 countries and 14,700 visitors from more than 100 countries. As part of its cooperation in international construction events, Messe München and the U.S. association AEM have announced a new shared activity: the establishment of a joint venture in Africa. The newly launched company will hold the next show under the name of “Bauma Conexpo Africa”. “The new, joint name reflects the close and trusting cooperation between Messe München and AEM,” says Messe München Managing Director Eugene Egetenmeir (www.messe-muenchen.de). 

His American partner and colleague Dennis Slater, President of AEM, the organiser of the important U.S. construction machinery show Conexpo, is convinced of the success of the collaboration: “Africa offers – especially for North American companies – great opportunities,” he says. “We are pleased to support our members in entering this market or in their further development there.” The next edition of the international trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining equipment and construction vehicles will be held in Johannesburg in September 2015. The exact venue for Bauma Conexpo Africa is not fixed yet, but will be announced at a later date (www.bcafrica.com).