The global material handling equipment market is projected to exceed Dh382 billion ($105 billion) in sales by 2010, according to Epoc Messe Frankfurt (EMF), organisers of Materials Handling Middle East.

The exhibition is scheduled to take place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 31 to June 2.

“There is a growing trend in the industry towards complete integration of material handling systems with procurement systems, manufacturing management systems and shipping operations,” said Elisabeth Brehl, MD of EMF. “This is expected to bolster demand for automation equipment and software both regionally and internationally.”

Rising per capita incomes, expanding manufacturing output and increasing investments in infrastructure development activities are major contributors to the rise in demand for material handling equipment in developing nations.

The growth is profound across developing regions in the Middle East including UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Iran and Iraq; Asian countries such as India and China, as well as in Russia, Mexico and Turkey. Increasing tendency towards integration of material handling equipment with other company systems has also contributed towards market growth.

Mahmut Gazi Bilikozen, senior show manager of Materials Handling Middle East (MHME), noted that increasing demand for equipment for handling smaller packages from the e-retailing sector, innovation, ergonomics, safety and environmental concerns, comprise general growth drivers. “Several emerging trends in lift truck market coupled with innovations continue to redefine the material handling business,” he observed.

Material handling equipment forms an integral part of any plant, warehouse or distribution system. Middle Eastern and Asian economies are set to play a significant role in production and consumption of industrial machinery in the imminent future.

The exhibition is being organised under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chairman and chief executive, Emirates Airline and Group.

MHME is the leading international exhibition for logistics, supply chain, freight, and cargo products and services in the Middle East.

Major players in the material handling equipment market who will be exhibiting at MHME include Cascade NV (Netherlands), Mohamed Abdulrahman Al-Bahar (UAE/USA), SSI Schaffer System Intl. (UAE/Germany), Interroll (France), Span Trading Est (UAE/Germany), ICAM (Italy), and Link Misr International (Egypt).

MHME has grown more than 30 per cent year-on-year, as the demand increases in the logistics industry. It will showcase over 250 exhibitors from more than 35 countries, to a visitor attendance of nearly 10000. – TradeArabia News Service