MARKET REPORT COMPACT PLANT continued
JCB reports that its share of the skid steer market has increased.
JCB’s UK & Ireland Sales Director, Dan Thompstone, reports that “the market has increased by more than 10% this year to date, and JCB is increasing its share, particularly in the 1.5 to 3 tonne sector. The hire market is benefiting from private companies that have downsized their own fleets over the past three years. We are seeing consistent growth in the 1.6 to 2 tonne, and the 2.6 to 3 tonne categories, principally because the service support sector needs machines capable of working in confined areas.”
Stimulating construction activity
Demand for minis is being mirrored by sales of compact dumpers. “Our sales of compact dumpers have gathered pace and the Government’s Help to Buy schemes are stimulating construction activity,” says Ian Brown, Sales Director of Thwaites. “Sales are also rising as hirers restore their buying cycles to replace older machines, having delayed for several years. Feedback from our distributors suggests that the recovery started in the south east of England and is now spreading to other regions, as Thwaites dumpers are typically used at the early stages of building projects, and demand for other equipment is likely to follow.”
Marcus Rosenkranz, Regional Sales Director with Terex Construction, says that, having lagged behind some other European countries, the UK market is now benefiting from construction investment initiatives. “We have noticed stronger demand for 6 and 9 tonne dumpers, and, as well as increased building activity, this is partly due to the new Tier 4 emissions legislation requiring certain machines to be fitted with appropriate engines. Enquiries for smaller 1 tonne dumpers are also growing, and we are optimistic about 2014.”
While sales of minis and dumpers are increasing, skid steer and tracked loaders have not fared as well. Admittedly, annual sales have always been modest, typically below 1,000 machines. JCB’s Dan Thompstone says that “The skid steer market is down to date compared against 2012, but, as with minis, our share of it has increased. Traditionally it is the waste and recycling industry and road builders who purchase these machines, but greater interest is being shown from a Health & Safety perspective in our models, which have a Powerboom design that enables access through a side door. As they grow in popularity, more hirers are adding them to their fleets.”
Versatile machines and attachments
Kevin Zimmer, Regional Director for Doosan Construction Equipment, agrees that these machines offer opportunities for hirers, especially in terms of their versatility. “A number of hirers are capitalising on the returns arising from the ability to service different customer applications with just one loader combined with several attachments.”
Avant believes that the hire market for its versatile loaders will steadily grow.
This point is also made by Jukka Vaatovaara, MD of Avant Tecno (UK), who reports that growing interest from end users in the manufacturer’s articulated loaders and attachments is steadily arousing awareness amongst hirers. “Our brand is being recognised by more and more people who have jobs to do, but cannot justify buying a machine, such as for infrequent tasks on soft ground. Our new Avant Hire network initiative, which we will be promoting at the Executive Hire Show, will enable more hirers to benefit.”
Thwaites says that government initiatives have stimulated construction activity. 43
Hirers can take heart from the prevailing mood of confidence in the compact plant market. However, as demand continues to increase, stock availability could become a factor as manufacturers seek to step up production once more. Several have also announced price increases to reflect global currency fluctuations and rising component costs. So, in many ways, the recovery will bring challenges as well as opportunities.
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