I believe my feet have finally recovered from bauma, and we are already looking forward to the next event in three years. It provided an excellent opportunity to practice my rusty German and connect with several international colleagues. The US tariff situation was, of course, a major topic of discussion for many, but the overall vibe was extremely positive. The UK Pavilion was particularly busy, with several exhibitors reporting strong order books. It was encouraging to see the construction equipment industry so optimistic.
This spring, our focus has been on collaboration. While I am still busy speaking with potential new members, I have found myself engaging with more potential partners to further enhance the benefits we offer CEA members. The latest newsletter highlights two partnerships with ELITE Consultancy and IMechE, and there are more in the pipeline.
April started well with my attendance at the AEA Annual Conference and luncheon, where it was great to see so many CEA members for what turned out to be an excellent day. This was soon followed by a flight to Munich for my first bauma – wow! The opening ceremony provided a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with many of my international colleagues from CECE, AEM, and Anmopyc. The show was also very productive for meeting with the CCMA and the Confederation of Indian Industry, as well as the wonderful team from Messe Munich.
During our time at the UK Pavilion, there was much discussion regarding the US tariff situation. I continue to maintain close dialogue with the DBT as we navigate the details. However, the general sentiment at the show was very positive, with several members viewing the situation as a potential benefit for the UK. We will keep you updated on any developments.
Finally, in April, we had an excellent turnout for the globbal construction equipment market webinar with Off-Highways Research. My thanks go to Chris Sleight and his team for their efforts. You can catch up on the webinar here.
On Friday 2 May I will be traveling to Cheshire to meet with Blue Machinery and their local MP, Esther McVey. Following the General Election, we wrote to all MPs who have a member in their constituency and have been hosting a series of visits over the past few weeks. I'm very much looking forward to meeting the Blue Machinery team and Esther later this week.
We will bid farewell to Joanna Oliver MBE on 9 May, who has been an integral part of the CEA for many years. I know many members will join me in wishing her all the best for her future endeavours. Joanna will still be involved in PlantWorx 2025, so there will be opportunities to say goodbye in person.
A significant part of Joanna’s role at the CEA has involved international relations. We have now added a new International Area to the CEA website and have organised the events calendar into UK-only and International sections to assist with this. We continue to explore all international opportunities for our members, so please feel free to reach out to the wider CEA team if you have any specific queries.
The UK Pavilion at bauma also served as a meaningful opportunity for Joanna to bid farewell to many of her international friends and colleagues. It was wonderful to witness the strong connections she has built over her many years of service, and I want to thank her again for all her hard work during the show. The UK Pavilion will, of course, continue, and we are already in discussions to ensure everything is booked well in advance for 2028.
One final date for your diary is the next CEA Members’ Forum, which will take place on 8 and 9 July in Portsmouth, generously hosted by Danfoss. As we will be “beside the seaside,” we are working to make the networking dinner on the 8th more like a CEA Summer Party, so be sure to mark the date. The last Forum in Peterborough was a sell-out event, requiring us to introduce a waiting list, so make sure to book your place as soon as registrations open. In the meantime, add the date to your diary!