VDMA says machine sales now exceed previous year

The market for earthmoving equipment is booming, according to a report by the German construction machine manufacturers association, the VDMA. In the first six months of this year, the turnover of construction equipment manufacturers was around 19% higher than the already high value of the previous year. In addition, there is an increase in orders of over 18%, as construction equipment is ordered all over the world.
September 1, 2017 Read time: 3 mins
Steinexpo2017: in the Nieder-Ofleiden basalt quarry – the largest such quarry in Europe.

The market for earthmoving equipment is booming, according to a report by the German construction machine manufacturers association, the 1331 VDMA. In the first six months of this year, the turnover of construction equipment manufacturers was around 19% higher than the already high value of the previous year. In addition, there is an increase in orders of over 18%, as construction equipment is ordered all over the world. In the first half of the year, growth was 20% worldwide, 18% in Europe and 14% in Germany compared to 2016. More than 30,000 earth-moving machines could be sold again this year in Germany alone, according to Joachim Schmid, managing director of the VDMA Construction Equipment and Building Materials Machinery Association.

He made this statement at the Steinexpo quarrying machinery show in Germany, explaining that sales are however lagging behind in the market for mineral Processing technology. However he said that he thinks the sector will see an upturn. The suppliers to the raw materials industry have had a hard time. After a year of weak turnover in 2016, the sector is now expecting better business and a widespread upturn by 2018 at the latest. In 2016, processing technology worth around €700 million was produced in Germany. That is 16% below the record level of 2011. Machines and systems worth only €200 million remained in Germany and 73% of this output was exported.

He continued by explaining that the benefits of new technology will change the industry. Today, innovation processes are being driven more than ever by digitalisation. “Compared to other industries, the construction equipment and building material machinery industry has a long way to go.”

He said that this is due to the complexity of construction sites. Many mechanical engineers offer digitalised fleet management, remote maintenance, assistance systems and even driverless machines, but these solutions are manufacturer-specific and not compatible. Therefore, his Association is now pushing for a wider approach which focuses on customers, regardless of the technologies, brands and machines they use. “With new standardised and Industrie 4.0-compatible networking options, we want to utilise the potential for new, future-oriented business models and more efficiency,” said Schmid. In the coming years, together with the construction equipment manufacturers, international digital standards for communication between construction equipment and building materials machines from different manufacturers and brands are to be developed and established. At the same time, the Forschungsvereinigung Bau- und Baustoffmaschinen (Research Association for Construction Equipment and Building Material Machinesry – FVB), which is tied to the VDMA, is initiating a research project to study and develop innovative, powerful and flexible machine and communication technologies to support the medium-sized industry with the implementation of the Industrie 4.0 guiding principles for construction sites. Existing models and structures such as BIM or RAMI are to be used and adopted to sector-specific general requirements.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • European equipment sales up 15% in 2017, according to the CECE
    June 15, 2018
    European construction sales grew by 15% in 2017, according to the Annual Economic Report 2018* from the CECE After a strong first quarter, growth slowed in Q2, before rising in Q3 and Q4, according to the CECE - Committee for European Construction Equipment. Current levels of sales are on par with the levels seen in 2006 and 2008, but the industry is still 20% below the 2007 peak.
    Read More
  • German firms bullish reports VDMA
    March 17, 2016
    German construction equipment manufacturers say that they achieved better results than the overall world market for machines during 2015. While German manufacturers’ sales developed positively in this industry, the global market experienced a double-digit downturn. “German companies were not as much affected by the severe downturns, such as in China, Latin America and Russia. Instead, we participated in the above-average positive developments of the European, Middle East, and North American markets,” said J
    Read More
  • Construction equuipment market improves
    May 14, 2012
    The German manufacturers association, VDMA, has compiled data suggesting that following the slump in construction equipment sales in 2009, the market will recover in 2010. The VDMA reports that in 2009 German construction equipment sales fell in by some 43% to €9.5 billion. Dr Christof Kemmann, VDMA chairman said at a recent board meeting of the organisation, “...2009 has been the most difficult year ever for our industry.”
    Read More
  • VDMA reports 3% rise for German construction equipment makers
    March 16, 2017
    German manufacturers of construction equipment achieved a turnover of €9.3 billion in 2016, a 3% rise compared to 2015. The increase was despite a global sales dip of 1% and in 2017, German manufacturers again expect another 3% increase in sales. The German market was a big driver for sales, posting a 20% increase on 2015 to reach around €3 billion, according to the VDMA, the German Engineering Federation. “In view of this high level, a further growth seems hardly possible, even if our customers co
    Read More

Highlighted Content