Access hotspot in Shanghai

The construction machinery market in China has been under serious pressure over recent years – one sector that is doing much better than others, however, is the access platform market. China is a real potential hotspot for the world’s access sector.

Sales of Aerial Work Platforms (AWPs) are growing by at least 35% a year and domestic manufacturers are plentiful – it is estimated that there are up to 200 producers in the country although it has to be said that only a fraction are significant producers.

Nevertheless, the bigger of the domestic manufacturers will be represented at the show and include Dingli, Mantall, Runshare and Sinaboom. Dingli, for example, will be showing the first self-propelled booms from its new venture with Italy-based Magni. Under the arrangement Dingli acquired 20% of Magni, which designs the booms in Italy, ahead of them being manufactured in Dingli’s premises in China (this was highlight in our first Bauma China Preview). The big four manufacturers from North America and Europe, namely Genie, Haulotte, JLG and Skyjack, will also be at the show.

Although growth of 35% is significant, it is thought that the potential is much greater. IPAF’s Rental Market Report for 2016 states there is less than one aerial work platform for every 100000 people in China. That compares to 165 per 100000 in the USA. It is therefore reasonable to believe that exponential growth is possible once all the stars align in terms of cost of labour, safety regulations and standards and the growth of the rental model.

One last word on the woes of the Chinese market: although sales figures for construction machinery have been falling for a number of years, Off-Highway Research figures show China has 16% of the global construction market and 12% in value (US$) terms.

Exhibition Stands

JLG: E.50, Genie: A38, Haulotte: A.16, JLG: E.50, Skyjack: E.70, Dingli: H.11, Mantall: A.50, Runshare: C.72, Sinaboom: C.48.