Outside events conspired to put a severe dent into Intermat’s aspirations to be regarded as one of the ‘big three’ global construction machinery shows.
Firstly, international visitors were comparatively scarce during the 13-17 May event in Paris. The combined forces of politics and economics meant that Americans were reluctant to travel to France, and the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus kept many Asians at home. Plans for a China Day at the show, including meetings and seminars to discuss China’s construction plans, were cancelled shortly before the week-long show began because of the SARS outbreak.
Secondly, French workers chose the first day of Intermat to begin strike action, primarily to air grievances about state pension reform. Flights were cancelled, trains ground to a halt and the ensuing traffic chaos and queues for taxis made the whole experience hard work. It was said to be just a one-day strike, but the repercussions could be felt all week.
Occasional bursts of rain added to the general gloomy atmosphere and several major exhibitors were heard to question why they had spent so much money on such an event. The late night opening on the Thursday – till 10 pm – was generally regarded to have been an interesting experiment that need not be repeated. Indeed, Manitowoc Crane Group chose that evening to take most of its employees and distributors away to a venue off-site for a customer dinner.
By the last two days, Friday and Saturday, the crowds did begin to swell and the show ground took on the more familiar feel of bustling activity with lots of local operators and contractors attending.
By the end of the show, 183,800 visitors had been registered, according to the organisers, 12% down on 2000’s attendance figures. Visitors were counted for each day they attended.
Despite the late rally, however, it may be that the damage had already been done.
North America has Conexpo in Las Vegas once every three years; Europe has Bauma in Munich once every three years. In recent years, Intermat has rotated with these two, so that there is one major show each year. A consensus is emerging that Europe does not need a second major show. Instead of Intermat, it is being increasingly widely suggested, the third big show – for the years without Bauma or Conexpo – will be an event in China, since it is now the world’s biggest market for construction machinery.
Intermat will survive the problems of 2003 that were beyond its control, but it may have to be satisfied with being a regional, rather than truly international, event.
