Peter Altmaier (CDU), Federal Minister of Economics, looks at a 3D printer of the Bauer brand at Bauma. (picture alliance/SinaSchuldt/dpa)
Full order books and strong sales: Germany's machine manufacturers were in a buoyant mood at the start of the Bauma construction machinery trade fair in Munich.
"The construction industry is booming," Economic Affairs Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) said as the fair opened on Monday. "It constitutes an important pillar of Germany's domestic economy, and we wish all participants good business and a successful event."
The latest figures from the construction equipment manufacturer Liebherr, one of the largest exhibitors at the fair, corroborate this: "Despite the slightly declining growth of the global economy, the Liebherr Group expects a further increase in its sales for 2019," a spokesman said.
Repairs to streets and other infrastructure are in particular providing for well-filled order books. "Here we have an enormous backlog; for many years, budgets were very frugal," said Dieter Schnittjer, board member at the German Association of the Building Industry, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering (VDBUM).
Bauma is considered the world's largest fair in terms of surface area. For one week, more than 3,700 exhibitors are showcasing their construction machines.
As in all industry sectors, digitalisation is primarily taking centre stage: electric drives, connected machines and automated processes are on the sector's mind, even if - according to Schnittjer - there is still significant scepticism among customers.
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