CeMAT to stick with annual plan for Asia

One option would be to stage it biannually with CeMAT India (launched in 2007), which is currently also fulfilling an annual schedule, held on alternate years at a similar time.

This year, CeMAT stages its Asia event from October 27-30 in Shanghai, while Bangalore hosts CeMAT India, December 10-13. Many feel this is too much too often, even in developing markets.

Alexander Kuehnel, director, Deutsche Messe AG, which puts on the CeMAT shows, said: "It will remain an annual event for the foreseeable future. At present we have no plans to the contrary, but we are naturally keeping an eye on market developments so that we can react quickly to changes."

There's no doubting the potential of the Chinese lifting business - it was expected to achieve 25-30% growth this calendar year compared to last, and is expected to achieve 10-15% growth the following two years - but its major material handing show is yet to attract consistent global interest.

Kuehnel admitted: "From the premiere event through to 2006, the number of exhibitors taking part in CeMAT Asia had grown steadily, but last year saw this figure stagnated at around 350 exhibitors." But added: "This year we are expecting the numbers to go up again to 380 exhibitors, with a display area of approximately 10,000 sq m."