The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has called the inaugural CONEXPO Asia 2006 in Beijing last month a "great success".

The May 15-18 construction show featured 192 exhibitors using 16,099 square metres of exhibit space at the China National Agricultural Exhibition Centre. Half the exhibitors were Chinese companies, the rest international.

"The quality and international mix of attendees was viewed favourably by Chinese and international exhibitors," an AEM statement said.

The show attracted more than 13,100 visitors from more than 75 countries. Top attendee nations were China, Australia, the USA, Korea and India. International visitors accounted for 18 per cent of total attendance. Chinese attendees included those from Hong Kong and Macau.

Show manager Petra Kaiser said it was apt AEM's first show outside the USA took place in China, "the most dynamic construction equipment marketplace in the world".

US and Chinese industry professionals gave presentations on industry best practice and job processes in nearly 30 classroom sessions.

CONEXPO Asia's organisers were AEM, the China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Machinery & Electronic Products, the Transport Technology Exchange Centre of the Ministry of Communications and EJ Krause & Associates.

The triennial CONEXPO-CON/AGG international construction show held in Las Vegas in 2005, also organised by AEM, has been named the largest US trade show by Tradeshow Week magazine for the third consecutive time (Forkliftaction.com News #202).