The 49th edition of bauma, the world’s largest trade fair for construction and mining equipment, took place from 7–13 April at the Munich exhibition centre, reaffirming its status as a key barometer for the global construction industry.

“bauma is the heartbeat of the industry and has once again shown how crucial exchange and personal encounters are for progress and global trade,” said Stefan Rummel, CEO of Messe München. “We hosted around 600,000 visitors from more than 200 countries and regions.”

The event served not only as a showcase for innovation but also as a space where new partnerships were formed, and strategic conversations took place. Industry players confirmed that bauma continues to set the pace when it comes to shaping both technological progress and the emotional pulse of the sector.

“bauma 2025 showed a strong heart of the industry—with SENNEBOGEN representing its green core. We are delighted with the positive atmosphere in the sectors, which we hadn’t expected in this form,” said Erich Sennebogen, owner of Sennebogen.

“The who’s who of the German, European and international construction and extraction industries meets at bauma. Once again, it demonstrated its status as a leading trade fair and proved to be the beating heart of the industry,” added Holger Schulz, Managing Director at Zeppelin (CAT).

Sustainability and digitalisation emerged as dominant themes across the show floor, with CO₂ reduction and alternative drive systems featured heavily in product launches and panel discussions. “bauma 2025 has impressively demonstrated that trends such as CO₂ reduction and alternative drives have established themselves in the industry,” said Wolfgang Sochor, CEO of HAWE Hydraulik.

“At bauma, we showcased a number of important future topics, such as drive technology and autonomy. For us, bauma is much more than just a trade fair—it is the platform where the future of the industry is made tangible,” said Steffen Günther, a member of the Board of Directors of Liebherr-International AG. “My personal highlight was our bauma motto ‘Hands on the future’. For us, this is not just a phrase, but an attitude; one that was also well received by our customers.”

From North America to Asia, exhibitors praised bauma’s impact as a global business catalyst. Robert Hauser, CEO of Doka, described the experience as a resounding success: “The joint trade fair appearance of Doka and other brands of our parent company was a complete success. The interest in our innovations and further developments was overwhelming. For us, bauma is the most important platform for advancing future topics.”

“The trade fair is a great success and in some cases exceeds the business expectations of our member companies,” said Joachim Schmid, Managing Director of the VDMA Construction Machinery and Building Material Plants Association.

International participation reached new highs, particularly from Brazil, Portugal, Romania, the Netherlands, Turkey and Spain, with an uptick in visitors from China compared to bauma 2019. Toshiaki Ujiie, President and CEO of the Tadano Group, noted: “bauma offers the perfect stage to present our latest technologies and solutions to a global audience. It is an invaluable event that enables us to exchange ideas directly with our customers and industry experts.”

“bauma 2025 surprised us with an extraordinary level of international public interest from the very first day of the trade fair,” said Mehmet Varlik, Managing Director of the SCHWING/Stetter Group.

The AMXE160 expands ABB’s motor capabilities with configurations ranging from 30kW to over 600kW, ensuring high power density and operational efficiency. (Image source: ABB)

Global electrification and automation pioneer ABB will spotlight its latest innovations at bauma 2025—the premier international trade fair for construction and mining machinery—taking place from 7–13 April in Munich, Germany

With a 140-year legacy, ABB continues to drive sustainable transformation in mining and construction, offering technologies that advance safety, energy efficiency, and productivity. At Booth 413 in Hall C2, attendees can explore how ABB is revolutionising operations through cutting-edge electric and automated solutions.

Electrifying heavy vehicles 

A key highlight of the show will be ABB’s unveiling of a suite of products aimed at supporting the shift to electric and hybrid heavy-duty vehicles. These systems are engineered for both newly built fleets and retrofit applications, including:

• HES580 mobile inverter: Marking a world-first, this 3-level inverter reduces harmonic losses by up to 75%, boosting motor efficiency and extending equipment life by minimising stress on winding systems.

• Pro battery series: These advanced traction batteries for electric heavy vehicles are compact, lightweight, and built for safety and long service life.

• AMXE160 motor: The newest addition to the AMXE portfolio, the AMXE160 expands ABB’s motor capabilities with configurations ranging from 30kW to over 600kW, ensuring high power density and operational efficiency.

ABB will also showcase solutions for improving energy efficiency off-vehicle. These include:

• ACS880LC multidrive: A liquid-cooled drive cabinet designed for harsh conditions to ensure dependable operation.

• ACS8080 MV drive: ABB’s newest air-cooled medium-voltage drive, offering top-tier reliability, flexibility, and performance.

Beyond drives and motors, ABB will present a wide range of automation and electrification technologies, such as its eMine portfolio, B&R systems, and updated Harnessflex conduit solutions.

• Harnessflex EVO metallic conduit: Designed for electric vehicle systems in mining and construction, this flexible steel conduit meets stringent fire safety requirements. It protects key components such as Power Distribution Units, Motor Control Units, E-Axles, and High Voltage Battery Packs. It is part of the expanded EVO family, which includes the industry’s first EV connector backshells and robust nylon conduits.

ABB’s mission is to shape a more energy-efficient and sustainable world. By fusing engineering expertise with digital innovation, the company helps industries achieve peak performance while advancing decarbonisation. As ABB describes it: “Engineered to Outrun.”

With over 105,000 employees and operations in 100+ countries, ABB is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB).

Wirtgen Group advances zero-emission road repairs with efficient, high-performance milling, paving, and compaction solutions. (Image source: Wirtgen Group)

Wirtgen Group, a leader in road construction technology, has introduced a groundbreaking production system designed to operate with zero emissions, combining electrically powered machines with green hydrogen technology.

Unveiled as a modular solution, the system integrates a cold milling machine, a road paver, a tandem roller, an asphalt mixing plant, and a crushing plant, all tailored for sustainable urban construction projects.

With growing pressure to reduce environmental impact, particularly in inner-city settings, this innovation addresses the need for lower CO₂ emissions, reduced noise pollution, and improved energy efficiency.

Green hydrogen focus 

The system’s standardised components streamline maintenance and reduce costs by using shared service parts and a universal operating interface. Beyond operational benefits, it offers a quieter working environment, benefiting both site workers and nearby residents. Contractors adopting this technology gain a competitive edge, meeting stringent municipal regulations and appealing to investors who prioritise sustainability in project funding.

Mohamed Amer, managing director of ICC MENA

Towering skyscrapers and large-scale infrastructure projects continue to redefine the GCC's landscape, but alongside this rapid expansion comes an urgent need for more sustainable and resilient building practices.

Governments across the region are setting ambitious environmental targets, and the industry is responding with groundbreaking innovations in materials, technology, and regulatory frameworks.

From concrete to carbon-conscious

For the GCC, achieving net-zero buildings is a growing priority that is key to reducing energy demand and ensuring long-term sustainability. With air conditioning accounting for a significant portion of energy use, the region is uniquely motivated to lead in passive cooling and renewable energy integration. The adoption of high-performance insulation, on-site renewable energy generation and smart building technologies can significantly reduce operational emissions. A key challenge remains in demonstrating that sustainability and premium development can coexist an approach that is increasingly gaining traction.

As an example, concrete, responsible for a significant amount of global CO₂ emissions, has long been the backbone of GCC construction. However, innovative alternatives like Low Carbon Alternative Cement are gaining traction, particularly in the standardisation processes of various SDOs. This type of cement not only reduces carbon emissions and energy consumption associated with cement production, but also opens the door for enhancing the curing process through concrete admixtures. These admixtures improve the strength and durability of concrete, making it viable and sustainable choice for construction projects in the GCC.

The GCC is emerging as a leader in 3D printing technology, with the UAE already home to several additively manufactured buildings. The UAE’s 3D-printed office in Dubai, the first of its kind, showcases how this technology can reduce waste while enabling the region's signature intricate designs. The ability to combine sustainability with custom, high-performance structures make 3D printing a key enabler for the next-generation construction.

The extreme climate of the GCC presents operational challenges for traditional construction. Off-site, factory-based manufacturing including modular and prefabricated solutions offers a viable alternative. By shifting production to climate-controlled environments, these approaches enhance worker safety, minimise material waste and improve overall build quality.

With cooling systems consuming up to 70% of energy in some GCC buildings, the shift to smart HVAC technologies isn’t just an environmental imperative - it’s a financial one. The transition to energy-efficient HVAC systems, integrated with renewable energy solutions, presents an opportunity to optimise energy use while maintaining indoor comfort standards. Advances in demand-driven cooling technologies play a crucial role in achieving broader decarbonisation targets.

Aligning ambitions with action

A decisive shift is now underway, driven by Saudi Vision 2030 and the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 strategy. These national commitments are more than aspirational - they are actionable blueprints for a sustainable future. By aligning industry capabilities with government ambitions, the GCC is setting a global benchmark for green construction.

In 2021, the UAE launched its "Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative," making it the first nation in the Middle East to set a target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Similarly, Saudi Arabia announced its commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2060 during the first Saudi Green Initiative Forum in 2021. These initiatives are not just about reducing emissions: they are about transforming economies and securing a sustainable future for generations to come.

Technological progress must be matched by a skilled workforce capable of implementing high-performance construction practices. Training and credentialing programs, such as those offered by the International Code Council (ICC), have the potential to help professionals gain the necessary credentials. These programmes also equip them with the tools needed to effectively conduct their work on-site and apply codes, standards, and building safety regulations when designing structures and benchmarking to global practices. 

This piece was originally written by written by Mohamed Amer, managing director of ICC MENA, and has been edited for brevity.