MARKET REPORT MATERIALS HANDLING


Reasons to be GLAD


In the chaos created by the coronavirus, there are relatively few reasons to be cheerful. But the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) is hoping it has found a reason for us to be glad. LEEA is encouraging hires to take part in Global Lifting Awareness Day (GLAD) on 9th July.


Ross Mooney, LEEA’s CEO, said: “LEEA is proud to be taking part in what will be a very important day for the global Lifting Industry. We wish to encourage other associations and sector stakeholders to generate awareness of lifting standards, best practice and lifting’s vital role in end user supply chains.”


Hirers are encouraged to take to social media on 9th July, using the hashtag #GLAD2020. The aim is to share messages that drive home the vital role lifting plays in the supply chain, as well as highlighting best practice to minimise risk of injury.


LEEA has also quickly adapted its training packages in response to the Government’s lockdown to fight COVID-19, with almost all of its courses now available via e-learning. The association is also piloting live webcam courses, where trainers deliver live training to students across the world. These are aimed at learners who prefer real-time training outside of the traditional classroom environment.


Telehandler market


Telehandlers remain one of the most commonplace material handling solutions in construction and the UK is the largest market for telehandlers in the EMEA region, with sales of approximately 10,000 units per annum. AEM data assigns about 40 per cent of these purchases to hire companies, with agriculture and construction contractors taking the rest. However, manufacturer Doosan Bobcat reckons that rental actually accounts for half of all telehandler purchases in the UK.


It sees compact telehandlers playing a bigger role, particularly in urban work, where space on construction sites is increasingly at a premium.


Quentin d’Hérouël, product manager for telescopic handlers at Doosan Bobcat, said: “There is less and less space in our cities, so as manufacturers we need to create even more compact machines. We have a project currently running to address this issue.”


Doosan Bobcat’s TL30.70 Telescopic Loader.


As a precursor to our Market Report on material handling equipment, Dan Jenkins collates the market views of a relative newcomer and an established global manufacturer. He also talks to the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association about online learning in the face of COVID-19, and Global Lifting Awareness Day (GLAD).


JCB dominates its domestic market, but Doosan Bobcat has ambitious plans for growth. “We are still a small player; but we are experiencing quite significant growth,” added d’Hérouël. “We have been growing market share in the past two years and especially in the last 12 months.


“Across our range we have one or two specific advantages over our competitors. For high lift machines, it is best-in-class stability. For smaller machines it is ease of use as a differentiator - for example only one joystick for the controls.”


New perspective


Tracked Carriers is an Essex-based manufacturer of tracked material carrying machines and was part of the Executive Hire Show 2019’s Innovation Trail.


Tom Cannon, Managing Director, said: “Our objective is to add more general hire companies as clients who recognise the value add we bring and are willing to promote innovations like ours.


“There are huge productivity gains on offer for small builders, trades and contractor businesses. One advantage we are looking to focus on in the current light is the way our machines can reduce the dependency on staff. Even once the current situation is history it will remain an advantage, as the machines can do the work of many labourers, especially when used in conjunction with lifting equipment such as material lifts and spider cranes.


“Smaller companies have been a growing user base over the past year, as those business owners are the ones who have to find innovative solutions and new ways of working. They can’t always just throw extra bodies at a problem.”


However, Tracked Carriers is also gaining traction with national hire companies. “We did some Network Rail events with a national hire company which is trialling our products. Network Rail is always looking to push the boundaries in terms of improving their workers’ safety. National hire companies tend to take longer to convert as they are not thinking about buying one or two machines; they are thinking more strategically.”


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