Issue 4/2004
07/02/04
Elevators and escalators in the Middle Kingdom
China World Elevator Expo – April 15 to 18, 2004 in Shanghai
While the construction industry in Germany is stuck in the doldrums, entire cities are being raised from scratch in China. For some years now China's booming metropolitan areas have tempted construction companies with gigantic contracts. Shanghai above all sparks visitors' enthusiasm with its breathtaking pace. There skyscrapers are rising skyward at record speed. This mega-city with its 17 million residents is taking bold steps in striving to attain modernity, regardless of the costs.
Category: Issue 4/2004
Posted by: Editor
And it was in this metropolis that the China World Elevator Expo, a trade fair spotlighting lifts and moving stairs, was staged. A joint German pavilion was organized under the auspices of the VFA.
Shanghai – the Pearl of the Orient, grande dame, den of iniquity – those were the associations this city conjured up during the "Roaring Twenties". Almost 60 years later Shanghai has set out to once again become a center in the region, an economic and cultural powerhouse for China and one of Asia's most significant cities. In the meantime, Shanghai has grown to become one of the world's largest conurbations. At the same time, it is the largest among the 57 Chinese cities which count more than a million residents. Shanghai in the 1990s had little in common with the above images, harking back to the boom years of the previous century. Then only the imposing historical structures – and above all the edifices along the Bund, the promenade on the Huangpu River – bore witness to Shanghai's past size and significance.
Shanghai – the Pearl of the Orient, grande dame, den of iniquity – those were the associations this city conjured up during the "Roaring Twenties". Almost 60 years later Shanghai has set out to once again become a center in the region, an economic and cultural powerhouse for China and one of Asia's most significant cities. In the meantime, Shanghai has grown to become one of the world's largest conurbations. At the same time, it is the largest among the 57 Chinese cities which count more than a million residents. Shanghai in the 1990s had little in common with the above images, harking back to the boom years of the previous century. Then only the imposing historical structures – and above all the edifices along the Bund, the promenade on the Huangpu River – bore witness to Shanghai's past size and significance.
Today there is a building boom beyond comparison. In just the past few years alone entire quarters were pulled down to make space for the towering, glittering skyscrapers which in the meantime define and dominate the skyline. Traffic, increasing at a relentless rate, wends its way through the streets and, in addition to the preponderance of locally produced Volkswagen Santanas, a Mercedes or BMW is by no means a rare sight – while people select clothing in bright and trendy colors, following western fashions.
Even during the trip from the airport to downtown the visitor marvels at the many construction sites and the newly completed business and residential complexes. In addition to Asia's tallest – and the world's third-ranking –television tower, some of China's loftiest structures are located here and the cornerstone has just been laid for what in a few years will be the world's highest building, rising to more than 500 meters. The demand for vertical transportation equipment is commensurate.
But progress has its price. Outdated industrial plant and the raging construction boom have made pollution a major problem. Air quality is poor, traffic is often catastrophic and even all the efforts by the government to limit the number of cars and install new and modern transit facilities cannot keep up with the pace set by this city.
In the ancient Chinese quarters or the venerable houses in the Foreign Settlements a simpler folk lives closely packed, following Chinese traditions. So you can still see many older people doing their tai chi exercises in the mornings, or hear people dickering over prices at the many markets; experiencing the tasty cuisine accompanied by Chinese tea in the numerous restaurants and small eateries, the visitor can learn something about the Chinese lifestyle.
Nonetheless, more and more critical tones are being heard in the otherwise euphoric voices of China observers in recent times. They see short and medium-term development as endangered by the creation of overcapacities in the real estate and automotive sectors, for instance, and by structural problems which continue to prevail in the financial sector. The restrictive lending policies imposed in response by the Chinese central bank could lead to a significant decline in both the economy and imports in 2004.
Those analysts who are forecasting a decline in growth for 2004 are of the opinion that the boom – particularly in 2002 and 2003 – was built primarily on credit. And there is increasing anxiety that expanding loan activity could cause the economy to overheat, which the government and central bank would have to counter with more restrictive fiscal and monetary policies.
Any slump in growth in the People's Republic would also have grave effects on other countries in the region. Since many Asian countries are placing their bets on the Middle Kingdom acting as a growth engine, and potentially even taking over Japan's position in the global economy, dependencies on China's fortunes are increasing. In some Asian countries confidence in China's business boom has taken the place of structural reforms and as a consequence any decline in the dynamics of the Middle Kingdom could have painful repercussions for the region as a whole.
In Shanghai the real estate sector, according to industry insiders, represents the fourth largest business sector, following finance, trade and information technologies; it contributes about ten per cent to the city's economic growth.
In the meantime, however, the construction boom in China is no longer restricted to the major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, but has expanded to become a nationwide phenomenon. Even in those cities where the market for privately owned housing is still in its infancy, demand is being driven by real estate developed on speculation.
Accordingly, the figures for the Chinese elevator and escalator industry are overwhelming. The president of the Chinese elevator association, Ren Tianxiao, lucidly explained in Lift-Report 2-2004 the Chinese elevator market's development and current situation. Evidence of the great interest in this market was demonstrated by the fact that almost all the major manufacturers, and by no means just those from the Asian region, took part in the Expo. The fair was held in a two- story exhibition building and an extensive outdoor area. The available space was fully used, right down to the last square meter.
Appearing at the German joint pavilion were AFAG, Bernstein AG, Böhnke & Partner, Dietz-Electronic, Drahtseilerei Gustav Kocks, Henning, LiftEquip, Lift-Report, Chr. Mayr, Ing. Wolfgang Schäfer and the VFA-Interlift organization. The booth's location on the ground floor was quite favorable, even thought he noise level at some of the neighboring exhibits was quite high. Other German companies appeared either alone or in cooperation with their Chinese partners. The organization at the trade fair was successful and arrangement by product groups made for easy orientation.
The amazement of some foreign participants who found their products or brochures "flying the Chinese flag" lasted only briefly. During the course of the fair visitors read in the English-language Shanghai News that the Chinese authorities are aware of the problem and that they are planning to undertake the appropriate steps to counter this phenomenon.
Running in parallel to the exhibit, in neighboring buildings, was an extensive program of forums in which foreign exhibitors, too, could stage informative presentations. Unfortunately some of the lectures were only sparsely attended and this was presumably due in part to the long distances that had to be covered.
Running in parallel to the exhibit, in neighboring buildings, was an extensive program of forums in which foreign exhibitors, too, could stage informative presentations. Unfortunately some of the lectures were only sparsely attended and this was presumably due in part to the long distances that had to be covered.
On the first day of the fair the organizers extended invitations to an imposing gala dinner at which Ren Tianxiao greeted the some 400 guests who were on hand.
The incredible stream of visitors on the first day – which prompted some exhibitors to distribute literature only in return for a business card – on the second day fell off to a more normal level. The comments made by the exhibitors at the close of the event were positive. Many top-flight trade discussions were held and new contacts were made. The next China Elevator Expo is slated to take place in 2006 in Beijing.
4/2004
