Inaugural Conexpo Latin America a Success
The inaugural Conexpo Latin America was a success with strong exhibitor support, valued industry cooperation, and positive reaction from attendees. Nearly 32,600 registrants from more than 90 countries attended the event, exceeding organizers’ original expectations. In addition to the host country of Chile, significant numbers of professional attendees came from throughout the region. The top five Latin American countries besides the host country (in order) were Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia.
Conexpo Latin America was held October 21-24, 2015 in Santiago, Chile (Espacio Riesco), co-located with Edifica and Expo Hormigón. “We appreciated the opportunity to co-locate with these two prestigious exhibitions and bring another dimension and broader perspective with the addition of the equipment manufacturers,” said Paul Puissegur, Conexpo Latin America Show Director. “We are very pleased with the positive reaction to our exhibition. Our manufacturers understand the continued business opportunities in the region and Chile as a leader,” said Puissegur.
Conexpo Latin America featured the latest construction-related equipment, products, technologies and services for Latin America with the innovations that advance productivity, efficiencies, safety and sustainability. Attendees were able to discuss business solutions directly with the manufacturers and engineers. The event exceeded its original space goal by more than 60 percent, and covered 40,000 square meters of exhibits, education and networking, including more than 300 exhibitors from around the world. Five international exhibit pavilions provided added value and were organized by China, Germany, Italy, North America and United Kingdom.
Conexpo Latin America exhibitors express satisfaction
Conexpo-quality education complemented the innovations on the exhibition floor, with six seminars on industry best practices and featuring regional and international experts. Industry support enhanced the show experience with more than 80 industry official supporting organizations and media.
Together Conexpo Latin America, Edifica and Expo Hormigón brought 800 exhibitors to Santiago. Companies showcased the latest products and services on 75,000 square meters.
At the German pavilion companies such as Masa, Top-Werk Group, Wiggert, Progress/Ebawe/Tecnocom, Sommer, BFS, Ratec, MBK, Rampf and IDAT were present. The exhibitors almost unanimously stated that the Chilean and neighboring South American markets offered an enormous potential and that they have already customers and specific projects, but that the German-speaking exhibitors had not been located ideally in hall 3 regarding the anticipated stream of visitors.
“We had established 45 contacts in conversations at the Concrete Show in Brazil alone, some weeks ago,” stated Dr.-Ing. Martin Maass, Progress Group, who was optimistic anyhow. “There are current projects in other South American countries too, as in Ecuador, and we are participating in another trade fair in São Paulo at the beginning of November. Then, the NT Expo is particularly focusing on rail traffic, thus, among others, on the production of concrete railway sleepers.”
Philippe Marie and Wesley Gomes, Vollert Anlagenbau, reported that above all the development activities in precast concrete elements for home construction projects in earthquake-prone areas were gradually yielding fruits. And that they were already applied for patent as well as successfully implemented in projects in the Greater Santiago area.
Dr. Susanne Engelbach, VDMA, Friederike Wagner, German-Chilean Chamber of Commerce, and Gabriele Kraus, IMAG, noted in their statements that Chile would be a very interesting market for European companies not least because Chile has entered into the most free trade agreements all over the world. They reported that the mining sector is presently struggling with various problems despite still huge reserves of natural resources, which offers, among others, large potentials in the construction industry for German technologies.
Conexpo continues its commitment in Lima, Peru
In conjunction with Conexpo Latin America, Edifica and Expo Hormigón, the CChC hosted the 30th Congress of the Inter-American Construction Federation (Federación Interamericana de la Industria de la Construcción, FIIC). Nearly 80 high-level contractor delegates from FIIC‘s 18 member associations throughout the region attended the event at the show venue.
Conexpo Latin America continues its commitment to the Latin America region, returning in October 2016 with a high-level seminar program in Lima, Peru.
