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Intermat held an air of patient frustration, with some companies cancelling at the last minute, others holding announcements and product releases until Bauma 2010, others proudly charging forward in this bleak time of economic instability and market insecurity, while some are taking the slow time to focus on research and development projects.

And there are several shining points to be seen but not heard. Now companies can focus on improving the old and researching the new developments in their back pockets instead of frantically pushing out products with an update or small change to constantly stay ahead of market demand for the latest and greatest.

If the market, too, can be as patient and poised as the exhibitors at Intermat, 2010 could be a phenomenal year for innovation and invention.

The main tone of manufacturers was looking at the silver lining. Breaking even or slight gains or losses were showings of strength in the companies’ will to survive the downturn. What other choice is there but to look at the bright side?

The show pulled in over 200,000 visitors and saw an increase of 8% in the total number of attendees compared to the 2006 event. With over 1,300 exhibitors from 43 different countries, the show - often spoke of as a regional show - seemed far from it.

Companies like Lombardini, a Kohler company, 20 to 30 years ago were strictly an agricultural engine manufacturer. According to Nino De Giglio, this show to Lombardini is the best way to keep the name out there with its recent expansion into the construction market. Any exposure is good exposure, in a sense. The company is currently working on meeting emissions requirements for 2011.

Major heavy-duty engine companies used Intermat as a platform to announce their Tier 4 Interim/Stage III B emissions compliant engine technologies.

Caterpillar Inc. released two additional compliant engines, its C7.1 ACERT and the C9.3 ACERT. The engines covered the critical construction and material handling industry range of 175 to 440 hp (130 to 328 kW) while meeting emissions regulations.

Perkins Engines launched its 1200 Series emissions complaint engine line, which covers a power output range up to 225 kW achieved by its 7-liter, 6-cylinder 1206-E70TTA engine.

Scania Engines took a different approach, choosing instead to go with an SCR exhaust aftertreatment along with its own XPI (extra high-pressure injection) common-rail fuel injection for its DC line of emissions compliant engines.

A variable-pitch fan from Flexxaire Mfg. Inc. won Silver in the Intermat Innovation Awards. The fan improves productivity two fold. First, the reduced airflow needed to cool the engine redirects horsepower back to the engine, increasing the machine horsepower availability and therefore increasing overall productivity. Secondly, the fans ability to change blade position and fully reverse air flow allows it to remove debris from the radiator and engine compartment, eliminating engine overheating and machine downtime.

Another award winner at Intermat was France-local Poclain Hydraulics. Its MG02 motor won Bronze for the company, featuring architectural flexibility while offering a reduction in weight and dimensions.

Michelin tire showcased an impressive update to its tire offering with the XHA2 loader tire. The tire features a new tread pattern for extended life and increased tread volume. The shining point of the release was the 50% reduction in operator-felt vibrations, offering a comfortable and safe driving experience.

Beyond these few companies, there were hundreds more products released and promoted. Though the economy is definitely not doing well, the show proved that there is still research and development being done, engineers are still working hard to create the next best component, and equipment manufacturers are doing what they can to stay positive and still over updated equipment an owner and operator can be proud to drive.

Show attendance at many shows has been significantly up, which only furthers the sentiment that though sales are down, interest, design and engineering are only growing stronger.