August leader: Accept no imitations
19 August 2009As Frank Bardonaro said in the previous issue, when a manufacturer pulled him aside at ConExpo last year, and asked how they can help rental companies through the economic downturn, he replied: “Stop making cranes.” The point he was making is that the market has been saturated. And it’s not good for business.
Cranes aren’t the only example. Competition in all industry sectors is sterner than ever, and it represents the challenge and the opportunity that we all have to come to terms with.
Ironically, this fast-paced, digital, virtual world has in fact put greater emphasis on the value of doing business face-to-face. So when the conference and exhibition season begins again next month, you’ll be spoilt for choice. But, in the current economic climate in particular, it’s important that you plan strategically.
Cranes Today has announced its conference schedule for 2009 and 2010. Building on the success of Middle East Cranes, the magazine will be organising a new regional event in Singapore, covering the crane industry in Asia and Australasia.
We have organised three events in Dubai since 2007, charting the market from its peak. Now that some of the more prominent projects in the emirate have been postponed, the event is even more important: attendees at Middle East Cranes 2010 will receive crucial information on those regions and segments where growth is still strong. MEC will return to the Shangri-La Hotel in Dubai on 23-24 February.
Taking the model to Asia later this year, Cranes Asia, at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, will combine vital insight on business opportunities in Asia and Australasia with all of the latest in safe lifting operations from the world’s leading safety experts and standards committee members. The event will take place on 9-10 December. In this issue, we unveil the first speakers to sign up.
