It repeats what Manitowoc president and general manager, Eric Etchart, warned earlier in the year, “2010 is going to be equally challenging, if not worse”.
The view from rental companies isn’t any rosier. Those flexible enough are downsizing their fleets in units but upsizing in capacity to meet demand for bigger cranes, where there is demand at all.
Geoffrey Marsh, the chairman of UK firm Marsh Plant Hire, says, “Two and a half years ago we had 25 Japanese 25t truck cranes; we’re down to 12 now. Typically, the cranes go abroad but that’s getting harder.”
The point is, we are agreed that things aren’t good, and they are unlikely to pick up any time soon. But, while 2010 might be hard, we’re unlikely to come out of it as bad as we went in.
I’ve recently completed my first Cranes Today media information pack—it will be available on the website by the time you read this—since taking the reins in February. It struck me during its production that the next 12 months or so will shape your destiny as end users, manufacturers, dealers, indeed, whatever you do related to cranes.
So while the jury is still out on whether the industry will start to turn the corner in 6, 12, or 18 months time, make sure your business is prepared for the recovery when it does happen. And it will.
For suppliers, look no further than the commercial opportunities presented by Cranes Today. For end users, it helps in a different way, giving you access to an unrivaled source of expert opinion and analysis.
In other words, Cranes Today is positioned to help your business as we prepare to enter what is, frankly, another year of financial uncertainty.
