Skip to main content

Weak European currency boosting exports of machines

Some European equipment manufacturers are taking advantage of low currency values to boost sales at the moment. Hamm’s marketing manager Gottfried Beer said: “We see that with the exchange rate it’s a chance for us.” Both for Hamm and its rival BOMAG, for example, the low value of the European currency against the US dollar gives a significant price advantage. For US rental customers, this means that they can buy premium products from Europe at prices that would have previously been restricted to second ti
January 6, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Strong sales of European machines are a result of a weak currency

Some European equipment manufacturers are taking advantage of low currency values to boost sales at the moment. 228 Hamm’s marketing manager Gottfried Beer said: “We see that with the exchange rate it’s a chance for us.”

Both for Hamm and its rival 172 BOMAG, for example, the low value of the European currency against the US dollar gives a significant price advantage. For US rental customers, this means that they can buy premium products from Europe at prices that would have previously been restricted to second tier brands. Beer said, “It’s very attractive for customers buying in dollars.”

And he added: “That is the reason why this INTERMAT is interesting.”

The British pound is similarly strong against the European currency. Beer said, “When they buy now, they get more machines than ever.”

In terms of sales, Hamm has had orders in the hundreds for its H7 soil compactor, even before the machine has gone into production. Although announced late last year, the H7 is only just going into production at the factory in Tirschenreuth. However, every one of those machines trundling off the production line in the next few months will have had a customer name assigned to it well in advance - and with a significant chunk of those sales going into the US rental segment.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • US tariffs harming trade worldwide - VDMA survey
    May 29, 2025
    Half of all machinery and equipment manufacturers polled anticipate declining competitiveness in the US
  • Soil compaction innovations abound
    October 26, 2012
    Manufacturers continue to innovate with sophisticated new soil compaction machines - Mike Woof reports This year has seen the introduction of a series of new soil compaction machines, as manufacturers develop their product ranges. Meeting emission legislation requirements in Europe and North America has helped drive firms to install the latest engine designs. Meanwhile machines have also evolved as companies further refine operating features. The global market for compaction machines has been dominated by
  • Worldwide machine sales growing
    July 18, 2012
    Steady growth in machine sales reflects global demand for construction equipment - Mike Woof reports Keynote speakers at the UK’s Construction Equipment Association (CEA) recent annual general meeting revealed steady demand for new machines worldwide. Although Europe’s economy remains troubled, worldwide machine sales are strong and exports are providing huge turnover for manufacturers. Colin Timms of Off-Highway Research said that global equipment sales last peaked in 2007 at $98 billion, falling to $55 b
  • Trimble’s latest advance in machine controls
    April 12, 2018
    Trimble is building on proven technology with its latest advances for the machine control segment - Mike Woof writes With new systems coming to market, Trimble is keen to retain its strong position in the machine control segment. The firm is now introducing advanced technology for the bulldozer segment, which utilises similar systems to the Earthworks package unveiled for excavators at the CONEXPO show in early 2017. Eric Crim is product manager for machine control systems in Trimble's heavy & highway