Since the last issue I’ve visited numerous countries in Europe and further afield, attending exhibitions and visiting leading OEMs and smaller-sized aggregates production-related firms. During my travels, certain topics and issues within the sector have been constant.
Within Europe, there has been much talk about how sanctions imposed by the EU and the US against Russia over its role in the ongoing Ukraine conflict may affect aggregates industry trading. This issue came up during a press conference at the recent
One consequence of deeper sanctions could be Russia forming closer aggregates-related construction equipment trading links with Asian nations. However, it was interesting to hear during my recent work trip to China, Japan and South Korea, the eagerness of Asian firms to export their increasingly sophisticated equipment to Europe, with Germany and the UK cited as countries with growing demand within its aggregates sectors. The strength of the German market was certainly highlighted during Steinexpo 2014, a show which, according to organisers, drew more than 45,000 visitors over its four days. While in the UK, the recent annual BDS report on the aggregates industry stated that although aggregates volumes fell in 2012, they recovered by 6% last year with growth continuing to increase in 2014.
The importance of innovation within the aggregates sector has been a recurring topic during my visits to European companies. Amongst crushing and screening equipment manufacturers, there is much talk of a rise in demand for track-mounted mobile crushing plants capable of processing larger and larger volumes of aggregates per hour, while still retaining the highest production safety standards. Technological advancement is making this possible, but, given the investment needed to marry capacity with mobility, it’s hard for OEMs in this area to keep purchase costs down. Innovation is also being seen in the creation by firms of more and more niche crushing plants, as customers request very specific material grades for special applications. Again, keeping the purchase cost affordable to potential buyers given how bespoke these products are is a tough ask for manufacturers.
In keeping with what key aggregates market players are talking about, this issue of Aggregates Business Europe has a strong innovation focus. You can find this in our Quarry Profile looking at how a Ma-estro crushing plant automation solution is saving money and increasing productivity for a major Italian quarry and materials processing customer. The importance of innovation within the aggregates sector is also discussed in our latest opinion piece from independent industry analysts Aggregates Research Ltd.
As we move towards the end of the year, the European aggregates market will look to 2015, for new impetus on growth and new equipment lines, capable of achieving greater efficiencies and higher productivity. Perhaps Intermat 2015 in Paris, France the biggest construction equipment show in the world next year, will sate this appetite. We await news on this with great interest.
Guy Woodford, Editor
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