It is difficult to say why exactly the rebar tier demos always drew the biggest crowds. Maybe it was the radical way it changes steel fixing work on construction sties. Or maybe it was the enthusiasm and charm of the cheerful, young demo staff as they showed how easily the DF 16 can be used to tie up to 1,000 knots per hour. Most likely it is a mixture of both.

And it couldn’t be simpler top operate: open the device in one easy move, load the tie cartridge, close, place the end of the device on the rebar mesh and pull. Watching it in action, however, is much more interesting. The young team of demonstrators were continuously putting the device through its paces and allowing visitors to try it out for themselves. And it seems to be a big hit judging by the sales figures.

BG Bau, the statutory accident insurance and prevention association for the German construction industry, seems to have been equally impressed. In recognition of how the DF 16 relieves the wrist and back strain usually associated with conventional steel fixing, the organization awarded the DF 16 a prize for its outstanding contribution to health and safety at the start of the week.

Usually at home in an office environment, the trainees and recently qualified industrial sales reps demonstrating the DF 16 at bauma were able to confirm this: “Our muscles were a bit stiff after the first training session, but apart from that, the week of working outdoors has been great.”

 
“Although I was aware of the merger between Wacker and Neuson-Kramer, I hadn’t really grasped the true value for my company until bauma.” This comment from one of Wacker Neuson’s customers perfectly sums up the overall response at bauma 2010. Thomas Lachenmeier, sales manager for the region Munich and stand manager at bauma, has been hearing a lot of comments like this over the past few days: “It’s further convincing proof that our strategy is on track and that the merger has put us on the path to success.” Furthermore, sales during bauma reveal the high level of trust customers have in the company. “Several of the machines we launched at bauma have become instant best-sellers,” continues Lachenmeier.

These successes together with the numerous innovations Wacker Neuson has unveiled at the trade fair have not only impressed visitors to the stand but also created a great atmosphere among the sales team. “In addition, we’ve made a large number of promising contacts,” states Lachenmaier. “We are also seeing a more international clientele now that air travel is picking up again.”

Wacker Neuson’s trade fair strategy brings direct sales staff and dealers together at the stand for the first time – a successful move according to Lachenmaier: “Including dealers in our stand team underscores just how important the indirect channel is to us. And the sales figures speak for themselves. They clearly show how efficiently and smoothly the entire team is working.” Lachenmaier certainly seems happy with results thus far: “All in all, I’m extremely satisfied with the way bauma is panning out. Our customers rate our concept and our product portfolio is proving a big hit.”

 
Some things in life are instant crowd pullers - and nothing is quite as magnetic as the smooth purr of powerful engines as they shift mounds of earth and kick up clouds of dust or make a real splash both in and out of water. And this is precisely the type of action to be found at the Wacker Neuson stand. However, the shows on the company’s demo site are without doubt the biggest hit. Held four times a day at 10.30 a.m., 1.00 p.m., 3.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m., these events are mainly used to present various products from the company’s compact equipment range. From the 803 track excavator, ideal for building renovation thanks to its 70-cm wide chassis that fits easily through standard door frames, to the latest 14-ton 14504 excavator, spectators are treated to the entire Wacker Neuson portfolio. Many customers caught their first glimpse of further firsts, including new compact equipment under the Kramer Allrad brand. The telehandler 2506, for example, has a compact footprint that places it firmly in the 2 x 2 m class, yet it also has a sensational lifting height of 5.75 m – providing the perfect platform for a group of free runners who put on an equally impressive performance as part of the demo show. The photos in the gallery only show part of the impressive acrobatics displayed by athletes and machines alike. Visitors to the trade fair should certainly take the opportunity to see this young, internationally renowned team in action.

The moderated shows last a fleeting half-hour and feature skilled drivers showcasing the full range and capabilities of the compact equipment portfolio. All classes of excavators and dumpers (track and wheel) are put through their paces together with articulated and all-wheel drive wheel loaders equipped with attachments for every application and high-performance telehandlers. And the response from spectators has been impressive: “Fantastic show”, “we use that wheel loader, it’s great”, “they’ve got everything here – we’ll definitely find the right machine for us,” are just some of the soundbites from spectator stand.

All the machines are also on display right next to the demo site for visitors to take a closer look. Wacker Neuson experts are always on hand to answer further questions about technological innovations such as the Vertical Digging System and the EASY LOCK attachment feature.

Martin Zeil, Bavarian minister of state for economy, infrastructure, transport and technology, was also keen to see Wacker Neuson’s portfolio. Accompanied by CEO Dr.-Ing. Georg Sick, he called by the stand on his tour of bauma and took a look at the company’s most important innovations. The minister was particularly impressed by the DF 16 rebar tier, which recently received an award from BG Bau, the statutory accident insurance and prevention association for the German construction industry, in acknowledgement of its outstanding contribution to health and safety.

Of course all other visitors have the opportunity to see the DF 16 in action and even try it out for themselves.

 
There is certainly no shortage of new and improved equipment at the Wacker Neuson stand, but one product in particular has caught the imagination of visitors – the DPU 130 compaction plate. Today, many customers had their first glimpse of this device in action, either during the shows on the demo site or at the display area for compaction equipment.

The extremely powerful vibratory plate is a true world first. Its dual base plate design gives it an outstanding degree of maneuverability, enabling it to be turned even when stationary. Furthermore, the infrared remote control means that the operator is always a safe distance away from the device.

“Here at the trade fair, the DPU 130 seems to be striking a particular chord among customers with around 10 to 50 employees,” explains Alexander Chalkas, head of sales and marketing for the Nürnberg region. “These companies mainly need vibratory plates for overground and underground construction yet also have to deploy rollers for certain tasks. The DPU 130 represents a huge saving for this segment as it can easily do the job of a seven-ton roller. It also does not need to be transported in a flat-bed trailer – saving costs on two fronts.”

Around 50 representatives from the international trade press took part in Wacker Neuson’s press event in the late afternoon. And they certainly had luck with the weather with no rain at all during the product demos. The following Executive Board presentation and discussions with product specialists proved the perfect opportunity for media representatives to raise any questions they had and get the low-down on the company’s innovative drive and strategic goals.

 
This Monday saw the bauma trade fair in Munich open its gates to bright sunshine and clear blue skies. At its new outdoor location, stand F9, Wacker Neuson was ready to showcase its combined offering of light and compact equipment for the first time. Its unmatched portfolio extends from handheld rebar tiers to 14-ton excavators, providing end-to-end support for the widest range of construction process flows.

Soon after the trade fair started, the Wacker Neuson stand was a hive of activity, with the company’s new products attracting large numbers of visitors keen to try out the latest innovations and to find out more about the benefits of the new models.

Many of the visitors to the stand were European customers, who had reacted quickly to current air travel problems and arranged alternative transport. Mariusz Pietraszewski, head of the Polish affiliate, was more than happy with how the exhibition had started. “My customers have been showing a great deal of interest, especially in our new products. I am extremely satisfied with the results of discussions thus far.”

The demo shows proved to be particularly popular. The spectator stands around the 1,000 m² demo site were full of visitors who had come to see the excavator, wheel loader and dumper drivers put the machines through their paces. Regular moderated exhibitions at the Wacker Neuson stand also gave visitors an informative and light-hearted view of various other machines in action.

Later on in the afternoon, the Executive Board and investor relations team hosted an event for some 30 analysts and investors. Aimed at demonstrating the company’s strong performance and innovative drive to the financial market, the program included a demo show and tour around the Wacker Neuson stand. This event gave financial players useful insights into the innovations directly behind the company’s strong competitive position. Important investment issues and questions from investors were addressed during follow-up talks.

The enthusiastic response of visitors at the end of day one speaks for itself – a visit to the Wacker Neuson stand is more than worthwhile!