Around 430 companies are showcasing their latest products and services at CeMAT Asia in the Shanghai New International Expo Centre this week.

The show, which started in 2000, has a record number of exhibitors this year, a 22% increase from 2006's 352 exhibitors. The show had only 136 exhibitors in 2002 and that figure has more than tripled over five years.

Show organiser Deutsche Messe AG says China, Taiwan, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US are the strongest exhibitors. Exhibitors include leading forklift suppliers like Toyota, Linde, Jungheinrich, OM, Komatsu and Nichiyu; crane suppliers such as ABUS and Konecranes; system suppliers like Hörmann and Danaher; component manufacturers and software suppliers.

The show is jointly organised by Deutsche Messe AG, Hannover Fairs China Ltd, China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing and Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society.

Overseas supporters include the German Engineering Federation's Materials Handling and Logistics Technology Association and the Asia-Pacific Logistics Federation. More than a dozen Chinese associations and government agencies are involved in the event.