World's leading suppliers set sights on Gulf region's US$5 billion materials handling equipment market

Dubai, UAE: The Middle East’s dedicated trade show for intralogistics, warehousing, supply chain management, freight and cargo got off to a rousing start in Dubai today, as manufacturers and suppliers set sights on a GCC Materials Handling Equipment (MHE) market that is estimated to be worth US$5 billion by 2020.

Running for three days at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Materials Handling Middle East 2015 is 15 per cent larger than its previous outing in 2013, featuring 129 exhibitors from 21 countries, and showcasing over 250 brands.

Now in its 8th edition, the biennial three-day event arrives as research from analysts Frost & Sullivan indicate the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) materials handling equipment market was valued at US$3.8 billion 2014, while a steady four per cent annual growth rate since 2010 is likely to continue up to 2020, when the market will see revenues of between US$4.8 to five billion.

According to Frost & Sullivan, Saudi Arabia accounted for 46 per cent of materials handling equipment revenue in 2014, followed by the UAE with a 35 per cent share, while the other four member countries accounted for the remaining 19 per cent of revenue.

The increasing complexity and evolving market dynamics in the regional logistics sector is fuelling demand for more technical innovations in MHE, ranging from pallets, forklifts, automated storage and picking solutions, labelling devices, warehouse trucks, telehandlers, tow tractors, cranes, and packaging equipment.

The latest in tailor-made solutions for individual requirements will be the focal point at Materials Handling Middle East 2015, which features six of the world’s top 20 materials handling systems suppliers, including Daifuku from Japan, Germany’s SSI Schäfer and Kardex Remstar, Mecalux from Spain, Swiss company Swisslog, and the USA-headquartered Bastian Solutions.

Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, the organiser of Materials Handling Middle East, said: “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.”

“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.  Trade visitors to Materials Handling Middle East 2015 will have the opportunity to meet suppliers that can help streamline their businesses with the latest intralogistics technologies and solutions.”

SSI Schäfer is among the headline exhibitors at Materials Handling Middle East 2015 looking to further their already considerable footprint in the market.  The world’s second largest materials handling system supplier is showcasing its range of storage and logistics solutions, including standard industrial racking to fully automated turnkey warehouse solutions.

Matthias Hoewer, General Manager for SSI Schäfer in the Middle East and Africa said: “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.

“We manufacture more than 95 per cent of 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.  This year we’re showcasing our versatile R3000 multi-tier shelving solution made specifically for regional clients’ requirements. 

“Our industry focus is covering a very wide range; food and fashion retail, pharmaceutical, automotive and F&B production are core markets next to third party logistics providers,” added Hoewer.

The strong international presence at Materials Handling Middle East 2015 is also complemented by more than 30 UAE-based exhibitors, headlined by the show’s regular supporters Kanoo Group, Al Futtaim Motors, General Navigation and Commerce Company (GENAVCO), SPAN Trading, Al Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company (FAMCO), and Acme Industrial Hardware.

Navin Narayan, the Director of Acme Industrial Hardware, a supplier of warehousing and industrial automation solutions, said: “Acme has been participating at Materials Handling Middle East for many years and we’ve seen the show grow with each edition. 

“Over the last few years, there has been a surge in e-commerce, and this is substantially changing the way the supply chain has been managed. There’s a growing need for warehouse automation as well as automated order processing solutions, and we’re now seeing big investments made for efficient, accurate high speed solutions,” added Narayan.

With more than 30 exhibitors also making their debuts at Materials Handling Middle East 2015, the dedicated showpiece event is the most comprehensive and representative in its 14-year history.

A brand-new feature this year is the Forklift Operator of the Year, a unique competition where more than 70 contestants from throughout the UAE will go head to head in an effort to be crowned the region’s most skilled, safest, and efficient forklift operator.

Returning is the popular Demo Area where exhibitors are showcasing the unique capabilities of some of the world’s most trusted forklift brands, such as Toyota, Raymond, Jungheinrich, and Hyster; while the two-day Warehousing and Materials Handling Conference on 15-16 September puts a spotlight on the emerging trends and their impact on the regional materials handling industry.