Good News For Shipping As Materials Handling Recovers Strongly

WORLDWIDE – There is an undeniable link between the global requirement for materials handling products and services and the health of the freight and logistics markets. Extra revenue from sales of fork trucks, cranes and general equipment to any sector serves as a casual barometer against which the health of the shipping world can be measured. Now figures from international manufacturer of a variety of fork and pallet trucks and stacker cranes, Jungheinrich, make encouraging reading.

According to figures recently released by the group, worldwide demand for handling equipment was up 45 per cent in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the same period a year earlier. Asia recorded the strongest rise, advancing by 86%. Jungheinrich Group’s incoming orders grew in the first quarter of 2010 to reach 433 million Euros. Increased revenue from after-sales service was a major contributor to the Group’s success.

The Group expects to achieve net sales of 1.7 billion Euros and an operating profit in the double digit Million Euros for the current financial year. A company statement indicates the company expects the recovery to continue and projects that the world market for forklift trucks will reach in excess of 650,000 units in 2010 – a year-on-year increase of 20 per cent. Encouraging reading for any hard pressed logistics executives out there, some of the rise will undoubtedly be down to belt tightening last year but the fact that money is now being laid out on handling equipment indicates a definite upswing in the amount of traffic being moved.

Photo: Jungheinrich factory production line.