The Big 5 PMV, which was launched last year, will offer even greater opportunities this year as the region’s premier exhibition dedicated to plant, machinery and construction vehicles when it opens this month alongside the region’s largest construction exhibition, The Big 5 to create a mega trade show in Dubai.

The Big 5 PMV has relocated to a site adjacent to the Big 5 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre – adjacent to car park C opposite the Novotel – transforming the two events into the Middle East’s largest trade show for the construction industry.
Compared to last year, the show has seen a remarkable growth. Says Nick Webb, director of Streamline Marketing Group, organisers of the Big 5 PMV: “Last year’s Big 5 PMV attracted more than 195 exhibitors representing 243 companies/brands. This year’s exhibitor line-up features 353 manufacturers and suppliers – out of which 300 are international exhibitors, and 53 are local companies – representing 380 companies/brands, with exhibition space expected to top 40,000 sq m compared with 30,000 sq m in 2007.”
Out of the 300 international exhibitors, 241 companies are participating for the first time. The show will also house nine national pavilions, including France, Germany, Austria, Finland, US and for the first time, Spain. The Italian pavilion will alone take up 4,600 sq m.
The Big 5 PMV has the support of key international organisations including UbiFrance (French Foreign Trade Council); Builders’ Association of India, the UK’s Construction Products Association; UAE’s Society of Engineers; Spain’s Anmopyc – Spanish Manufacturers Association of Construction and Mining Equipment and Camara Ciudad Real; Italy’s Comamotor (Italian Earthmoving Machinery Manufacturers Association), Agency of the Chamber of Commerce of Ancona and Chamber of Commerce of Venice.
The event’s new location, next to the Big 5, has attracted three times as many French companies to the show this year as compared to last year, according to Violette Ghabali, UbiFrance, the organiser of the French pavilion at the Big 5 PMV.
Also, according to the French Trade Commission, there is a growing tendency for local real estate developers and contractors to award, design and build contracts to French companies, enticing many French companies to increase their presence in the UAE.
Remarking on this growing interest Pascal Roger of the French Trade Commission says: “The growing interest among French companies is mainly due to the changing market conditions in France as a result of increased tax rates and the effects of the economic slow down. While the French construction industry is not doing poorly compared to the rest of the world, French construction groups are keen to work in the UAE and further develop their activities in this region. These companies are more competitive in terms of price, and are winning more design and build contracts as a result.”
The French pavilion includes the Fayat Group, which manufactures road building equipment; handling and lifting equipment specialist Haemmerlin; as well as Lumiair, a world leader in lighting balloons. The Haulotte Group, which has set up an operation at the Dubai Airport Free Zone, will be once again displaying its very impressive telehandlers and work access platform ranges.

Prospects
Big 5 PMV, Webb continues, provides many exceptional prospects for visitors. “Key buyers of plant, machinery, construction vehicles and equipment can pursue contracts worth many billions of dollars, and we’ve created a platform for them to meet face to face with suppliers.
“There will be a dedicated outdoor area for outsized construction equipment where visitors can see an extensive range of large plant, machinery, construction vehicles in person, rather than in a brochure. Visitors will be able to see, touch and test the latest innovations and technologically advanced apparatus to fulfil current and future construction requirements.”
A highlight of the show is a strong international line-up of companies displaying a wide range of machinery, equipment and tools for cost-effective concrete production, including cutting down on cement usage.
Webb elaborates: “The strong line-up of these companies is good news for the regional construction firms faced with the increasing cost of cement, the most expensive component in the production of concrete. Developers and construction companies have been coming under increasing pressure from these soaring building costs in the UAE and the GCC region and the Big 5 PMV is an excellent opportunity for them to explore new technologies available for concrete production, which will cut cement usage and make big savings on concrete.”
Amongst these companies, UK-based readymix concrete specialists Hydronix will launch its new Hydro-Probe Orbiter, which cuts precast concrete production time considerably, ahead of its market release next year.
Warning that construction firms that do not keep up to speed with technology will fall behind in the market, David Serra, the company’s international sales manager says: “The rising costs of materials are making developers, contractors and producers more aware of their processes and procedures, and this will, in turn, increase cost-effectiveness in our industry. However, the industry can sometimes be quite slow in adopting new technologies, and as costs increase, the difference between those who keep up with the latest technology and those who don’t will grow.”
In the same category of cement-saving technology, Italian manufacturer Sacme will showcase its fully automatic block-making machines. General manager Luciano Badin explains: “Our machines are peculiar in the sense that they produce blocks on a steel plate. This system enhances the blocks' quality and permits a saving in cement of up to 25 per cent, with the use of higher water content, which helps in the optimal curing of blocks.” 
Another Italian exhibitor, Onyma Sistemi & Tecnologie, will display software and electronic equipment that can help process, control and manage the process of concrete production, accurately measuring and optimising the quantities involved in the concrete production cycle.
Among the American firms appearing at the show’s new US pavilion, CemenTech will spotlight its on-site cement mixers, Volumetric, which is expected find a niche market in the UAE, which is increasingly plagued by traffic problems. The mixers are attached to trucks and allow contractors to keep ingredients separate until they reach the work site.
Live demonstrations will be another attraction at the show. Says Webb: “A number of the exhibitors will be conducting live demonstrations on their stands, including Mikasa and Bobcat, who will manoeuvre their mini-excavators and medium-sized Bobcat skidsteer loaders, using buckets and other attachments such as a breaker, pallet forks, and sweeper during the Big 5 PMV show. Geda will also be operating its passenger hoist.”
New products on display include Hydronix’s Digital Microwave Moisture control, new excavators from Hyundai and the launch of the compact mini-excavator by Yanmar.