Ausa says Spain's rental companies starting to invest in fleet

Spanish telehandler, forklift and site dumper manufacturer Ausa said there were signs of an improvement in the Spanish construction equipment market, with some small and medium sized rental companies starting to invest in their fleets after eight years of recession.

“Rental companies are beginning to buy some machines”, said Josep Soler, sales manager for Germany and Benelux, “because their fleets are pretty old.”

Ausa said that rental companies that had survived the prolonged downturn were now in a position to start modest investment, although the country’s bigger rental players were still hampered by high debt levels.

“Spending is mainly from small and medium sized companies, and mainly on dumpers”, said Mr Soler. The company’s sales in Spain are likely to reach €12 million this year, up from €9 million in 2014, although still a very low level compared to its peak sales of €100 million before the crash.

Meanwhile, Ausa continues to develop its exports. Having closed in US subsidiary in 2009 the company has now re-established a US office in Los Angeles.

Its previous plan to establish a manufacturing base in Brazil has been postponed because of market conditions in the country and because it has been able to reduce the import duties it pays.

Exports last year represented around 84% of Ausa’s €60 million revenues.

The company said it was planning significant product launches for Bauma next year. At Intermat, it was focusing on the use of new Kubota Tier IV engines on its 6 and 10 t dumpers and 3.5 and 5 t RT forklifts. The 6 t dumper can also be supplied with a Deutz engine.