European encouragement in construction equipment sales

While the construction equipment market remains tough in Europe, much encouragement can be drawn from the latest CECE (Committee for European Construction Equipment) figures showing a 10.2% increase in sales in the first half of 2014, compared to the same period of last year.

Within the overall figures, the notable improvement in construction equipment sales in Southern European countries such as Italy, Spain and Portugal was particularly pleasing to see, given the region’s much publicised deep construction sales downturn. The star performer among the European markets was said to be the UK – with earthmoving equipment sales growing by 44% in H1 2014 compared to H1 2013.

While the 7836 CECE warn that market demand might cool down in H2 2014 in countries such as Germany, the UK and France, there was a definite upbeat feel among delegates at the organisation’s recent congress in Antwerp, Belgium. This was perhaps best summed up by Eric Lepine, President of CECE and Managing Director of 395 Caterpillar France, during the official event press conference when he said: “Looking at 2014 as a whole, robust growth figures across product groups and countries still seem realistic.”

Some of the CECE’s leading senior industry figure members marked the start of a new European Commission mandate by calling for a fresh focus on smart regulation, trade, and competitiveness to boost jobs, innovation and growth over the Commission’s five-year term.  We will have to wait and see whether such an important and timely call is acted upon.

At the recent 470 Trimble Dimensions 2014 show in Las Vegas, US, it was very interesting to learn about 3599 Trimble’s latest technology-based solutions for the aggregates sector. Following last year’s acquisition of 379 Actronic Technologies and its 380 Loadrite weighing system for wheeled loaders, excavators, conveyors and waste collection vehicles, Trimble has integrated its technology with the Loadrite aggregate scales to create Insight HQ, a browser-based platform where individual operators can view data from their machines. At the same time, other operators at different locations are able to access the same information and determine the progress of a whole job site’s equipment fleet. The Insight HQ platform was launched at the Dimensions 2014 show where Trimble Loadrite General Manager Johan Smet spoke of Trimble’s eagerness to increase sales of Trimble Loadrite’s impressive solutions to European customers.

There’s a strong northern Europe presence in your latest issue of Aggregates Business Europe. Scandinavia is the focus of our latest Market Report, a region possessing an abundance of companies with a huge wealth of expertise on aggregates-related construction equipment. The thoughts of some of these firms on their home regional market makes for very interesting reading.

Our Quarry Profile looks at an advanced mobile crushing and screening solution from 448 Metso, which is said to be providing huge efficiency and productivity gains for a rock quarry supplying contractors involved in major multi-million euro projects in and around Finland’s capital, Helsinki.

In this issue you will also hear from Metso’s CEO Matti Kähkönen about the firm’s future priorities, emphasis on customer aftermarket care, and the exciting growth potential of Metso’s 50-50 joint venture with LiuGong, one of China’s leading construction equipment manufacturers.