Steinexpo gets underway with a bang

The Steinexpo exhibition in Germany has opened with around 40,000 visitors expected at the four-day event.

Organiser Geoplan said that more than 500 pieces of equipment were on show from almost 300 exhibitors. The number of exhibitors from outside Germany reached 75 this year as the percentage of international companies taking space at the show continues to increase.

Held in a working quarry at Homberg/Ohm in the centre of the country, the current Steinexpo – which takes place every three years – 2017 is its 10^th event and there was a firework show at the official opening to celebrate the special anniversary.

Launched in 1990 as a mainland European show along the lines of the popular United Kingdom-based Hillhead event, it has continued to grow – although Geoplan did admit to some teething trouble in the mid 1990s.

The 2017 event was not all nostalgia, however. One of the themes of this year is “Think Big”, an initiative launched at Bauma 2016 aimed at attracting more young people into the industries represented at Steinexpo.

Asa result of this initiative, more than 400 young people will attend this year’s event and get the chance to see the exhibits in action for themselves.