WorldWide Drilling Resource

39 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® JULY 2015 Construction Equipment Industry on the Rise Adapted from Information by the Construction Equipment and Building Material Machinery Association of the German Engineering Federation German manufacturing of construc- tion equipment grew more than ex- pected, reaching 8% in 2014. VDMA (the Construction Equipment and Building Material Machinery Association of the German Engineering Federation) and Managing Director of Liebherr EMtec GmbH put the figures in perspective. For the current year, the German construction machinery industry is expect- ing a sideways trend in total, as the busi- nesses in very good and less prosperous markets tend to equal out. Joachim Strobel, deputy chairman of VDMA, admits long-term plan- ning has become increasingly more difficult. He said, “In former years, we were used to seeing seven- year cycles, this is a thing of the past.” In 2014, there was a strong spring, a long summer slump, and finally a significant improvement towards the end of the year. The bottom line is, incom- ing orders were higher than in the pre- vious year. This is mainly due to the good demand in earth-moving and road con- struction equipment. Large equipment, however, hasn’t sold as much, due pri- marily to the difficult situation of the global mining industry, Strobel stated. The building construction machinery area is recovering slowly. In 2014, the German market exceed- ed all expectations with its growth of 9% and showed stability once again. Companies are expecting the market to also develop in a positive way in 2015. Portugal and Spain are slowly emerging again, however, starting at a very low level. Sales in construction equipment in 2014 increased by 15% in all of Europe compared to the previous year. The high- est demand was in road building machin- ery. Business with the USA is also on an upturn with companies increasing their sales by 19% in 2014. There are positive signs also for 2015. The same is true for the MENA-countries (Middle East & North Africa), particularly Saudi Arabia. In China, the industry had to cope with the third double-digit decline in a row. In India, the construction industry’s mood has improved, but no direct effect on sales has been seen yet. South America, as well as the African continent, is still behind expectations with Egypt providing a slight boost with the expansion of the Suez Canal. In 2015, construction equipment manufacturers will have to invest in mak- ing equipment which meets the European exhaust emission levels. Currently, the regulations are being reviewed. +3$ (1 -.2 )312 /0("$ !32 2'$ .4$0 ++ 1$04("$ -# $6/$0($-"$ .%%$0$# !7 '0../ ."* (2 .,/ -7 - $&(12$0$# 0& -(8 2(.- .6 9 .-* 5 6 , (+ 1 +$1 2'0../0."*!(2 "., 555 2'0../0."*!(2 "., WWDR ’s September issue is the perfect place to spotlight your history, equipment, people, and more!! Deadlines: Space Reservation: July 25 th Display & Classified Ad Copy: August 1 August 1 st