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Above: The trend towards electric machines is well established in Europe
The company has made sideloaders for 55 years, and electric versions since the early 1990s. Sideloaders were born out of the needs of the timber trade. Their unique ability to carry long loads securely on their bed make them ideal for the job. Many of the UK’s biggest sideloader users are in the timber sector, including Metsä Wood, BSW Timber, James Jones and Ridgeons Timber. Despite the long history, and strong market presence, spreading the gospel inside and outside Europe involves a lot of these events. The airports, hotels and convention centres may look alike, but thankfully there are some ways to help you tell when you are not in Kansas (or Georgia) anymore. Baumann USA has been leading the charge with major investments in new systems, people and infrastructure and the team is doing superb work in developing the Baumann brand in North America. During the supply chain exhibition, Modex, US visitors are generally impressed at the electric machines, even though many are unfamiliar with the sideloader concept. Meanwhile, the irony of Team Baumann racking up the air miles in the pursuit of promoting electric machines is also not lost on us.
The trend towards electric machines is well established in Europe but it is less pronounced in North America. Perhaps this is a reflection of the customer base, which is dominated by metals and steel industries, who are more likely large diesel truck users. In the past few years, there has been a surge in demand for electric machines elsewhere. The order intake now is in the 80-85% range, 20-15% diesel, a complete
reversal from a decade ago. There are other technologies out there, such as the hydrogen fuel cell machine, but for the next five or 10 years, Baumann believes that electric’s the future.
Electrics offer zero emissions, are cheaper to run and maintain, and have a better operator environment. The initial investment is now on a par with engine models, whilst noise and vibration reduction provide almost as much satisfaction as the cost savings. Atlanta is, of course, home to Coca-Cola, and there’s a large company museum near the convention hall that literally gives you a taste of their success at marketing drinks around the world. Suitably inspired, we head to the bar and ask for a vodka and Coke, only to be greeted by confused looks all round. Evidently, in this part of the US, it’s not a (real) thing.
Imagine that! A concept that is firmly established closer to home is considered a little exotic and edgy on this side of the pond. We do our best to increase its popularity…
Back over in Stuttgart, the idea that everything is bigger in North America is quietly put aside as the logistics mega-show that is LogiMAT houses 1,610 exhibitors, attracting 101,649 visitors across a feet- numbing 67,000m2
chance to catch up with European customers and dealers who are facing challenging economic realities. The UK, France and Germany are all key Baumann markets and each are seeing a slow down after a post- Covid high. The mood remains buoyant at LogiMAT, nonetheless, as new orders are placed and friendships renewed to the loud strains of Europop.
Two weeks later and we are heading to Canada to visit dealers and see the delights of Montreal. Here, only a total solar eclipse can distract the timber convention members from their wood trade chat, but the mood is surprisingly positive. LT Gibson, the CEO of US LBM, one of the largest building products distributors in the US, with over 400 locations, sums up the optimism by believing the home building sector will soon pick up dramatically when interest rates ‘normalise’. All the speakers at the Montreal event agree change is in the air, adding that there is a real difficulty in retaining staff in the post- pandemic era of remote working. Coincidentally, we have just visited a new customer, Promise Robotics, that is developing a way to tackle both issues.
. Warehouse automation is
a huge part of the exhibition, a theme that we also saw at the very popular Boston Dynamics stand in Atlanta, complete with menacing looking, but allegedly harmless, robot dog. Our German guests are just as likely to be interested in the new Baumann Lego sets as the actual models, but the show is a great
Describing itself as a Canadian artificial intelligence company, it is developing a cloud-based industrial production platform for robotic construction and assembly, the aim of which is to use its technology to build homes faster, more sustainably and more economically.
Investors were impressed enough to stump up US$25m, confident of the potential it offers for the construction industry. ►
www.ttjonline.com | November/December 2024 | TTJ
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