MARKET REPORT COMPACT PLANT
Steady progress maintained
Kicking off our Market Report, EHN talks to manufacturers about the current challenges and hire opportunities offered by compact plant.
In 2011, approximately 9,500 mini excavators of up to 9 tonne were sold in the UK & Eire, and the consensus among manufacturers that EHN spoke to for this Market Report was that, by the end of 2012, an estimated 10,500 machines will have been bought. With 6,393 having been sold in 2010, this suggests that the recent upward trend has been maintained.
However, some caution is needed in assuming this growth will continue smoothly, due chiefly to the uncertain nature of the general economic background. “Sales rose by approximately 20% in the first half of this year, which was greater than anticipated,” said David Munns, Director of Road and Utility Equipment for Volvo Construction Equipment. “However, from July onwards, just before the Olympics, the market quietened considerably, and so we estimate that sales overall this year will have
Volvo has seen growth in mini excavator sales of 3 tonne and above.
increased by around 10%. The prevailing economic uncertainty and the reluctance of banks to lend is making people cautious.We could see the market flatten in 2013 before starting to rise again.
“Overall, however, business is still being done and hirers are buying as they replenish their fleets.We have seen particular growth in sales of machines of 3 tonne and
above.Most of the hirers we speak to are remaining busy - they are simply cautious about the future.”
“Hirers remain positive”
Yvette Henshall-Bell, UK & Ireland Sales Director with JCB Sales, agrees that “hirers generally remain positive, and our sales of mini excavators are reflecting that.When we held our VIP Hirer Day in May, we met a lot of busy independents and many have been buying our machines, particularly in the 1.5 to 3 tonne ranges. More are also showing interest in 5 tonne machines to meet customer demand.
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“In many cases, local independents seem to be bucking the trend. The smaller items of compact plant are ideal for the local builder or contractor who needs a machine for one or two days, and this customer base is remaining active as homeowners extend their properties and landscape their gardens. Independents have the flexibility to serve clients like these efficiently and should be able to get a good rate for the equipment.”
JCB reports that its 1.5 tonne class minis remain popular with independent hirers.
Kevin Zimmer, UK & Ireland Regional Director for Doosan Infracore Construction Equipment, whose brands include Bobcat, says that market forecasts are difficult given the changing nature of the economic background, and that it will be interesting to see how quickly the market gathers pace again in 2013. “We have seen sales across our range in 2012, with demand levels similar for models in the 1.5, 3, 5 and 8 tonne classes.We have invested steadily in recent years to develop our machines, with more R & D into models for the European market than perhaps at any time in Bobcat’s history, and these models are proving popular.”
Growth in dumper sales
Steady demand for mini excavators has been mirrored in sales of compact dumpers, according to Ian Brown, Sales
Director of Thwaites,
Thwaites says demand remains steady from hire industry customers.
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