In the current tough economic climate, contractors are more likely than ever to look for low-cost solutions, but IPAF is playing its part in raising international awareness of mast climbing work platforms
A
t a time of economic downturn, many contractors naturally turn to tried and tested methods of work, with an eye
on reducing costs wherever possible. In terms of access, for many that means a reliance on scaffolding, as a relatively low-cost solution, despite the time and cost benefits of alternative powered access methods such as mast climbing work platforms (MCWPs). “The MCWP market has not been as
over-capacity as scissors and booms, which means there is a big opportunity for growth. But adoption is still relatively slow in some markets,” says Cameron Reid, European business development director for Harsco and IPAF’s committee chairman for mast climbing work platforms (UK & Ireland). “The big issue has been oversupply against
market contraction. This has led to limited capital being available for reinvestment.” MCWPs are a mature access solution,
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particularly in European countries such as Holland, Sweden and Italy. Overall, however, MCWPs account for less than five per cent of the total access market, so there is plenty of room for increased adoption. Markets such as Latin America, North America, the Far and Middle East are all expanding well, according to Reid, though developing territories such as China and India are only recently starting to accept the use of MCWPs. The flood of supply of other types of
access, particularly scaffolding, is having an effect on the growth in popularity of the MCWP. This is despite the fact that MCWPs can in particular circumstances, reduce the duration of an access installation by up to
50 per cent, when compared to conventional access methods, with installation costs and time drastically reduced. “With oversupply prices drop, rates drop
and access becomes a lot more affordable,” says Reid. “The problem now is that manufacturers
are suffering from not being able to produce and sell enough machinery – and this is leading to very little development in the product itself. The market needs to be there to fund that development.” Such new model development as there is
tends to be based in electronics and control systems, with manufacturers offering increased efficiency and features such as
NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICAN, MIDDLE AND FAR EAST MARKETS ARE EXPANDING, AND CHINA’S AND INDIA’S STARTED ONLY RECENTLY