Messe Frankfurt’s Materials Handling Middle East 2015, a biennial, three-day event focused on the intralogistics, warehousing and supply chain sector was kicked off by HE Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, who cut the ribbon and toured the 15% expanded exhibition.
Focusing on the Gulf region’s estimated $5bn market for materials handling equipment heading towards 2020, this year’s edition of the show (the 8th) is featuring 129 exhibitors from 21 countries, including six of the world’s top 20 materials handling producers, stand showcasing over 250 brands.
According to Frost & Sullivan, Saudi Arabia accounted for 46% of materials handling revenue in 2014, followed by the UAE with a 35% share, while the other four member countries accounted for the remaining 19% of revenue.
“The GCC is today among the most exciting markets for materials handling and logistics services, with the region increasingly gaining in importance as a major shipping and aviation hub,” said Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt.
“Market dynamics are changing and businesses need to upscale their operations to maintain growth and stay competitive, whether in FMCG to logistics, or from retail to Oil & Gas.”
The increasing complexity and evolving logistics sector in the region is also fuelling technical innovation form big producers like Daifuku from Japan, Germany’s SSI Schäfer and Kardex Remstar, Mecalux from Spain, Swiss company Swisslog, and the USA-headquartered Bastian Solutions.
SSI Schäfer, the world’s second largest materials handling system supplier, is 2015 looking to further their already considerable footprint in the market, and is showcasing its range of storage, industrial racking and fully automated warehouse solutions.
“SSI Schäfer has been present in this region for more than 20 years and can look back to hundreds of successful installations and projects throughout the entire region,” said Matthias Hoewer, MEA GM for SSI Schäfer.
“We manufacture more than 95% of the products required for intralogistic systems and we consider ourselves as very objective when it comes to the selection of the right solution for our clients.
From the UAE, the event is being headlined by UAE-based powerhouses including: the Kanoo Group, Al Futtaim Motors, GENAVCO, the SPAN Group and Al-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company (FAMCO).
A brand-new feature this year is the Forklift Operator of the Year, a battle pitting 70 hopefuls against each other in an effort to be crowned the region’s most skilled, safe and efficient forklift operator.
Returning is the popular Demo Area are some of world’s most trusted forklift brands, like Toyota, Raymond, Jungheinrich, and Hyster, as well as the two-day Warehousing and Materials Handling Conference on 15-16 September.
