Paris welcomes the world

12 February 2018


The triennial Intermat exhibition takes place in April. We look ahead at this key French event for the lifting industry.

When and where
Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre
ZAC Paris Nord 2, 93420 Villepinte, France
The exhibition centre is 30 minutes from Paris by public transport (RER line B) and 5 minutes from Paris-CDG airport. 23–28 April, 09:00–18:00

Intermat, the international exhibition for construction and infrastructure, will take place from 23 to 28 April 2018 at Paris Nord Villepinte, France.

Around 1,500 exhibitors will show equipment, materials and solutions for civil engineering and structural building works. Exhibitors from 40 countries will be represented—70% of the exhibitors are from outside France—and some 180,000 visitors are expected.

Known as the trade show for the construction industry since 1988, and claimed as the third largest exhibition in the sector, Intermat has this year adjusted the organisation of its sectors to give greater clarity and to tune itself more finely to matching supply and demand. It will be arranged around four activity centres.

Three of them are earthmoving and demolition; roads, mineral and foundations; and buildings and concrete. For the first time, and of particular interest to our readers, lifting, handling and transportation gets a sector to itself and will host 200 exhibitors. We will highlight some of them in March.

Above all, say the organisers, there will be a greater emphasis on innovation. More than 100 new products will be introduced at the show. The Intermat Innovation Awards competition will seek out and recognise equipment, techniques, services and products that most notably contribute to progress in the industry.

Three new services are offered this year. Selected professionals with investment and procurement plans have been invited, with their expenses paid by Intermat, and will meet relevant exhibitors. There will be networking events to foster dialogue and develop client portfolios; and a free matchmaking service will put visitors in touch with exhibitors, targeted to maximise business development opportunities for both.

Live demonstrations of machinery in action on outdoor sites will demonstrate the performance of machinery and equipment in real-life worksite conditions.

With its strong position in the EMEA zone of Europe, the Middle East and Africa the exhibition has over the years become an opportunity for profitable meetings between players in the international construction market. The 2018 edition aims to give new perspectives on French and on high-potential and developing markets. A new ‘Economic Observatory’ will focus on the construction sector for the years to 2025–2030.

The six days of the event will also feature a number of special theme days, talks, lectures, round tables and visits by foreign delegations.

An overview of the outside area at the last Intermat, in 2015