AEC Online
Printable version Bookmark this page Notify a colleague or friend about this page Bookmark and Share

Over 2,700 Exhibiting Companies from 56 Countries - The Expanded, Biggest Ever Big 5.

 
  Other News
  Subscribe to newsletter  
19 Nov 2007

The Big 5 2007, which takes place from 25-29 November at Dubai International Exhibition Centre, will this year stage the biggest ever showcase of regional and international companies from the construction industry - there will be literally thousands of products and services on offer to visitors, including the very latest innovations and services that are essential to meet the rapid pace of project development across the region.

This year’s Big 5 will fill the entire floor space of Dubai International Exhibition Centre (some 37,000 square metres!), and feature major representation from the countries that comprise the world leaders from the construction sector.

As the pace of construction continues to gather even more speed, the market for plant, machinery, vehicles and equipment is also growing massively, with industry estimates forecasting an increase of up to 20% over the next five years as the region realises its ambitious programme of projects and developments. With this in mind, 2007 also sees The Big 5 introducing a new sister event - The Big 5 PMV (Plant, Machinery, Vehicles) - which will be staged at Airport Expo Dubai on the same dates as The Big 5, and linked to the Middle East’s most influential construction and contracting event via a free shuttle bus service.

Over 2,700 Exhibiting Companies from 56 Countries - The Expanded, Biggest Ever Big 5.

“Over 2,100 existing and planned projects, valued at US$1.2 trillion, are already underway in the GCC, and investment will rise even further as the countries of the Middle East continue with their essential infrastructure development and expansion plans,” said Bernard Walsh, Managing Director of dmg world media Dubai, organisers of The Big 5. “This has seen the region become the world’s largest market for plant, construction vehicles, machinery and equipment - having recognised this, we decided that a dedicated exhibition for this sector of the market was essential, hence the creation of The Big 5 PMV exhibition, organised in conjunction with the Streamline Marketing Group.”

The Big 5 PMV offers the ideal platform for plant, machinery, construction vehicles and equipment suppliers to meet face to face with key buyers from across the region and overseas. Covering a minimum of 10,000 sqm of exhibition space, it will feature an impressive international exhibitor line up that includes Volvo Construction Equipment, Al Bahar (Caterpillar), Terex Equipment Middle East (Genie Industries Tele handlers), Imer Group as well as other big name suppliers and service providers from the global construction sector.

In line with the massive expansion of the construction industry throughout the Middle East that has seen the region become one of the world’s most important markets, Germany’s representation at The Big 5 has consistently grown from year to year. The official German pavilion at The Big 5 2007 will cover over 6,500 sqm., making it the largest ever seen at any construction event anywhere in the world. More than 300 German companies will present their high-quality products and services.

“In 2006, Germany’s exports to the Near and Middle East rose by 12% to a total value of €23 billion (AED 106 billion),” said Walsh. “Around 25% of those exports were machinery products. Relations between the UAE and Germany have also continued to grow, and the two countries enjoy a very close trade relationship.”

Italy also has a major representation at The Big 5 each year - the number of Italian exhibitors continues to grow significantly (from 250 in 2005 to 318 in 2006). “Italian exports to the UAE in 2006 amounted to € 3.3 billion, up 28.3% on 2005,“ said Dr. Ferdinando Fiore, Italian Trade Commissioner, Italian Trade Commission - Dubai. “For the first half of 2007, Italian exports to the UAE reached € 2.1 billion, a 41.2% increase against the same period last year.”

“This year, the Italian pavilion at The Big 5 will showcase over 450 companies (a year on year increase of 32%), offering the latest products and services in building, earth moving and construction machinery, cleaning and maintenance products and equipment, water and environmental technologies, ceramics, glass and metal products as well as project management and consultancy,“ he added.

Italy will also have a presence at the Big 5 PMV in co-operation with Comamoter, the Italian Association of Manufacturers of Earth Moving Machinery.

Turkey is another country that will have a massive presence at The Big 5, with 78 leading Turkish companies exhibiting, covering a total area of 1,395 sqm in two separate national pavilions. “Major products to be exhibited in the Turkish pavilions cover virtually ever aspect of the construction industry,” said Walsh. A main driver of private and public investment, construction is one of the key sectors in Turkey. The concepts of advanced technology, on-time delivery, quick response, high quality, use of reasonably priced Turkish labour and goods, equipment and building materials of international standards have enabled the Turkish construction sector to compete throughout the world.

The countries of the Middle East have a particular love of high-rise buildings, and the race to the top has started. Buildings are getting taller and taller - the highest residential building in the world, the Q1 tower in Australia, with 80 floors and a height of 323 meters will be small in comparison with future projects. As we all know, a new record holder is on its way - the Burj Dubai, with its 160 floors and a total height of 705 meters being a true giant. But the taller buildings get, the greater the construction challenges.

In particular, when height and design are at a premium, there’s often little room for pipe work. Faced with these challenges, the Akatherm soil and waste system, another innovative product that will be on show at this year’s Big 5 offers a solution - it has been specifically created for high-rise buildings by Dutch company Akatherm International BV.

One of the most essential components of any new construction project in the Middle East, Air Conditioning is becoming ever more sophisticated as systems that do much more than just cool and circulate air are developed. Leading AC companies from around the world will be showing their latest product innovations at this year’s Big 5 exhibition, including Switzerland-based Belimo, a company that has over three decades of product innovation experience.

“This is our second year at The Big 5 - due to the success we experienced in 2006, our stand is 50% bigger this year,” said Hassaneen Al-Abdul Wahid, MD of Belimo Automation FZE, Dubai. “The show is very important to us - we generated many useful leads last year, and these were very beneficial during the launch of our Dubai sales office in January 2007. This year we will be looking to expand penetration of important growth markets, including the UAE, Qatar, KSA & Kuwait.”

Building safety is a vital component of any project, and Belimo’s latest Fire Protection System - Monico - effectively draws smoke out of rooms within a building in the event of a fire, preventing fire and smoke from spreading and thus increasing the time that is available for evacuation of occupants. A full demonstration of this potentially life-saving product will be made throughout The Big 5.

RAK Ceramics, one of the Middle East’s international success stories, will use The Big 5 as the launch platform for several new products, and to showcase its diversification into high-class faucets. The company has launched several new models in tiles and sanitary ware as part of its commitment to offer its customers new models on a regular basis. RAK Ceramics will display its latest sanitary ware suites on its pavilion at The Big 5.

Internationally acknowledged as the event that companies have to be at if they want to maximise their business opportunities in the region, The Big 5 covers every construction industry product sector, including air conditioning and refrigeration, water technology and the environment, marble, stone and ceramics and a totally comprehensive range of products and services related to building and construction.

The global significance of The Big 5 has continued to increase as the region’s importance to the international construction industry expands at a dramatic rate. “The Big 5’s success is based on its unique combination of all seven key sectors under one roof, making it a vital sourcing point for the region’s key decision makers,” said Walsh. “Exhibitors recognise that as well as attracting orders during the show, they can also make invaluable long-term contacts that will help grow their business throughout the Middle East and beyond.”



Skyscraper Banners