Access manufacturers facing slow recovery

Linda Mayer, vice president global marketing and product management at Terex AWP, told Access International, that the company was expecting the recovery to be a ‘U' shaped rebound rather ‘V' shaped; "which means that it will be some time before we see demand levels like we saw in 2006 - 2007."

"We estimate that the market is down approximately 80 percent for aerials and telehandlers", said Ms Mayer, "The overall market is facing tough challenges in both the residential construction market as well as the commercial construction markets." She said residential construction had bottomed out while commercial construction "continues to indicate decline."

Major European access rental companies, meanwhile, were unable to offer any comforting words for equipment suppliers. Dick Schalekamp, managing director of Netherlands based Riwal, told AI that rental companies in Europe faced another few bad months in 2010 before the market picked up slowly; "However, in sales of new machines we think that it will take at least another 15 to 18 months from now before it will improve significantly."

Riwal is spending 65% less of aerial platforms this year than in 2008, and Mr Schalekamp said spending next year could be a further 50% down on 2009.

Alan Merrell, finance director of Lavendon Group, told AI that Europe's relatively young access fleet meant that renters could hold back on spending; "As an industry, we could take an [investment] holiday next year. It could even go on for the following year. If necessary, people will not buy equipment, because they will look to generate cash. People will spend some money, but major replenishing of the fleet - why do it?"

Read the full interviews in the September issue of International Rental News (IRN) magazine.