BUDMA Fair 2023 - SUMMARY

BUSINESS MEETINGS WITH PROFESSIONALS

The offer and programme of the BUDMA International Construction and Architecture Fair is addressed to four customer groups: traders, architects, contractors and investors. Representatives of retail chains were the most strongly represented group at this year's fair, accounting for as much as 42% of the total number of participants attending the event. Contractors and professionals accounted for 37% of the total number of professionals. The remaining 21% of visitors to Budma 2023 were investors and developers as well as architects and designers.

THE MANAGEMENT STAFF IS THE LARGEST CUSTOMER GROUP AT THE FAIR

People making procurement decisions in their companies accounted for more than a half of the fair participants, i.e. 54%. Employees, on the other hand, who had the opportunity to learn more about the latest product proposals thanks to the presented offer, accounted for 44% of the total number of fair visitors.

INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION OF BUSINESS

The international character of the fair is emphasised by both the exhibitors (from 26 countries from all over the world) and the trade visitors (from 39 countries from all over the world). Representatives of the Baltic countries were the most strongly represented group of BUDMA 2023 participants. Germany was ranked second, and the "podium" was completed by representatives from Scandinavia. The representation of clients from Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Slovakia was also considerable at the fair.

Among thousands of professionals hosted in Poznań, buyers from the most important chains and purchasing groups from 22 countries who participated in the Budma fair as part of the HOSTED BUYERS Programme, were a strong group.

- We were positively surprised by the size of the fair and the number of exhibitors. Both small companies and construction giants exhibited at the fair and such diversity was very valuable to us. We have established contacts and are now discussing the details of our collaboration.

(Representative of Contour Windows & Doors, Israel)

CONSTRUCTION UNDER THE MAGNIFYING GLASS OF EXPERTS

The BUDMA fair was accompanied by a number of substantive meetings with authorities in the construction and architecture sectors as well as conferences on current trends and challenges facing this sector of the economy. During the two-day BUILD4FUTURE Construction Economic Forum and the Poland-Ukraine International Construction Convention (30-31 January 2023), eminent industry experts, management boards and directors of the largest construction companies, economists, financial analysts, investors, contractors and construction material distributors summarised the past months and set directions for short- and long-term changes in their sector. A lot of attention was paid to housing and industrial construction, economics and finance, new technologies in construction, the stabilisation of production costs or the complex situation on the labour market. The Poland-Ukraine International Construction Convention, held on 31 January 2023, was the first such meeting of construction industry representatives from Western Europe, Scandinavia, Ukraine and Poland in our country, devoted exclusively to the issue of construction in the overall plan to rebuild the infrastructure of our eastern neighbour after the still ongoing war. Expert debates addressed the topics of the Polish construction sector's participation in the reconstruction of Ukraine, areas of cooperation, mechanisms of government support and the opportunities of removing barriers to enter the Ukrainian market.

The BUILD4FUTURE Construction Economic Forum and the Poland-Ukraine International Construction Convention were organised by the MTP Group and the Polish Construction Employers' Association, which brings together the most important construction companies operating in our country. Substantive support was provided to the events by: Polish Investment and Trade Agency, Export Credit Insurance Corporation, Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, PFR Real Estate and Łukasiewicz Research Network.

Construction in the green colour

Four days of the BUDMA fair were full of numerous accompanying events, training sessions, conferences and lectures dedicated to various professional groups associated with the construction sector. The programme of this year's Engineering Days organised by the Wielkopolska District Chamber of Civil Engineers was extremely interesting, with the keynote topic of “Prospects for obtaining energy from new and renewable sources in Poland”. For the first time at Budma, the Industry Alliance for Energy Efficiency and the Polish Smog Alarm, in cooperation with the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, organised a meeting dedicated to the new version of the “Clean Air” Programme and a discussion of the challenges and opportunities created by “Clean Air” in terms of reducing household energy bills and the development of the construction industry during the slowdown in the construction market. On behalf of the Forum Branżowe Publishing House, an event was prepared during the Budma fair concerning the established Thermo-modernisation Coalition, which is intended to assist the industry in acquiring new customers through funding programmes for the replacement of windows and doors.

It was also the first time that the EPPA Association arranged a conference at the fair, addressed to the window industry in Poland, in order to start a discussion on the necessity of implementing window replacement with a view to processing and using the raw material for re-manufacturing. Wood - the building material of the future - is the title of a conference organised during the fair by the Association for Energy-Efficient Finished Houses. The prefabrication technology is currently gaining more and more importance in the construction market and is one of the most rapidly growing sectors worldwide and in Poland. The production of prefabricated buildings under controlled conditions, regardless of weather conditions, the use of environmentally friendly renewable materials, the reproducibility and high quality and the short lead times are assets appreciated by investors all over the world.

Spaces in the spirit of RE-USE

The reuse of the architectural and urban fabric, the RE-USE trend, the effects of concrete removal, superstructures and the regeneration of estates were selected issues raised by participants at the D&A Design and Architecture Forum on 1-2 February 2023, organised as part of the events surrounding the Budma 2023 fair. The two-day meeting was full of lectures and debates, held under the motto “REUSE - consciously about energy”. The Forum's programme included presentations and debates on the most interesting spaces that have recently been created in the RE-USE spirit in Poland. In the face of the challenges of climate change, economic and environmental crises, this trend appears to be most important in architectural practice. The special guest on the first day of the D&A Forum was Rafał Grzelewski, representative of Group 5 Architects, who was the leader of the Monopolis project - a successful revitalisation of the now defunct 1902 Vodka Monopoly plant in Łódź. The two-day D&A Forum culminated with a lecture by special guest, Alexander Schwarz of David Chipperfield Architects from Berlin - professor of “Public Building and Design” at the University of Stuttgart and partner at the David Chipperfield Architects in Berlin where, as design director, he is responsible for many projects and competitions, including the Neues Museum and the James-Simon-Galerie on Berlin's Museum Island, the Museum of Modern Literature in Marbach and the Folkwang Museum in Essen. In Hall 3A, where the architectural part of BUDMA took place, it was also possible to visit the 1m/ARCH zone - a review of dozens of projects by architectural studios and the  exhibition of works by the winners of the Architectural Sketches competition - Adaptations, Conversions, Refurbishments. 

Honorary patronage of the D&A Design and Architecture Forum was provided by: Chamber of Architects of the Republic of Poland and the National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning. The D&A Forum was held under the auspices of the Poznań branch of the Association of Polish Architects and the editors of the “Architektura & Biznes” magazine.

Demonstration areas for professionals and enthusiasts

Anyone who visited the MONTERIADA stand (in the new green colours) at BUDMA, organised by the Polish Windows and Doors Association and its 12 partners, had the opportunity to see how to build economically and ecologically. Participants in the event had the opportunity to see live how modern and environmentally friendly installation of products from leading companies in the Polish joinery industry looks like. Windows, doors and garage doors were installed by professional fitters, using the best accessories, installation systems, tools and protective clothing. The interactive exhibition of MONTERIADA 2023 Partners' products, located in the immediate vicinity of the event, was also very popular.

Professionals who came to Poznań were captivated by the exhibitors with hundreds of new products and market launches, while the organisers and partners invited them to participate in special events. Numerous workshops, demonstrations and training courses prepared by the Polish Roofers' Association and the Polish Parquet Workers' Association attracted dozens of participants and crowds of spectators. Young roofers showcased their extraordinary skills during the final of the Inter-school Industry Competition “Youth Champion of Roofing”. The parquet flooring demonstration zone was complemented by an exhibition of partner companies, expert lectures and the launch of the new book “Parquet worker. Fundamentals of knowledge and professional practice” published by SPP.

The Finishing Works Group zone, which featured practical training courses, presentations of technologies, building materials and tools used in finishing works, was of great interest to DIY professionals and practitioners.

During Budma, the central finals of the “Golden Trowel” Building Competition organised by the National Association of Building Education were held. It is one of the few competitions intended for pupils of vocational schools with a construction profile, which gives pupils an opportunity to present their skills in such categories as bricklayer, painter, floor layer, roofer, drywall fitter or sanitary installation fitter.

A novelty at Budma was the FIRE ZONE, where BUDMA visitors had the opportunity to get acquainted with various solutions of ecological fireplaces, the offer of equipment and fuel manufacturers and obtain advice from fireplace specialists. A highlight of the zone was a live demonstration of a bread oven and a tiled cooker construction. 

BUDMA AND WinDoor-tech  - together for joinery

The BUDMA fair was accompanied by an exhibition of WinDoor-tech Fair of Machines, Tools and Components for the Production of Windows, Doors, Gates and Façades, creating an excellent addition to the woodwork industry. As a response to the market's search for innovative solutions in demanding times, numerous novelties, world launches and automation and robotisation solutions were presented. Exhibitors presented machines, equipment and software to improve and optimise production processes in joinery. This year's dual strength of WinDoor-tech and BUDMA proved that Polish windows and doors set standards and reach global markets, while their expansion starts right here at the Poznań fair.

Already today, we would like to invite you to participate in the 32^nd edition of the BUDMA International Construction and Architecture Fair, to be held from 30 January to 2 February 2024.

More on:

budma.pl/en/

https://windoortech.pl/en

build4future.pl/pl

forumdia.pl/pl

BUDMA - EXHIBITORS’ OPINIONS

 “...We are quite a young company on the roofing market, therefore we believe that we cannot yet afford not to exhibit at such a prestigious industry event as the BUDMA International Construction and Architecture Fair. This year's edition was a very fruitful event for our company with an impressive number of visitors as well as meetings and discussions held.”

(Witold Pałyga, President of BLACH-POL Krzysztofik, Pałyga Sp.j.)

“As every year, the BUDMA fair in Poznań did not disappoint us. It is the ideal place to exchange valuable information about the construction industry and establish new contacts with business partners. The opportunity to showcase the products in a show format - the Mini Crane Operator Challenge - allowed the products to be tested in practice, which provided additional value for visitors.”

(Angelika Barska-Badowska - Sales Specialist Catchshift Poland)

“This year's BUDMA fair was very intensive and exceptional for Eko-Okna. This year marks the company's 25th anniversary and it was in Poznań that we started the celebrations. As every year, the professionally prepared BUDMA event attracted crowds and so it was at our stand. The attendance was record-breaking! For us, the fair is not just an exhibition space, it is a place to meet, build relationships and hold business conversations.”

(Alina Staniszewska, Deputy Head of Marketing at Eko-Okna S.A.)

“The BUDMA fair is a brilliant place to showcase the latest products we have developed in our latest offer. The opportunity to “meet” our product, to present new products was provided by a very good attendance.  We are very pleased with our participation in the event, many new contacts, many refreshed, valuable discussions with the Competition. Encouraged by the good reception after the Fair, we have the energy to act for the forthcoming months.”

(Patrycjusz Bujak, President of the Management Board of Gdańska Fabryka Okien sp. z o.o.)

 “In 2023, as the BP2 Group, we had the pleasure to participate once again in BUDMA, presenting our latest brand and products of SOLROOF - the integrated photovoltaic roof - as part of the official launch. The popularity and position of the BUDMA Fair on the European arena met our expectations, giving us the opportunity to have hundreds of conversations about our new product and gaining many interesting business contacts.”

(Grzegorz Bizoń, Chief Sales Office CSO BP2 Group)