Stuart Anderson: How is demand right now?
Jim Hasty: We’re seeing strong demand and growth in the mining industry due to high commodity prices: mining operations around the world — particularly copper, gold, iron ore and oil — are purchasing not only our mechanics trucks and lube trucks, but also our large articulating cranes and TireHand tyre handlers.
Equipment dealers are another strong part of the IMT customer base right now, mostly as a result of pent-up demand. The recession caused many dealers to extend their replacement cycles. Now they’re replacing the worn-out trucks and equipment to continue providing their customers high-caliber service.
While segments such as mining are trending upward, demand for service trucks in the construction industry — specifically the housing and building materials sectors — remains sluggish.
Overall, we’re noticing renewed commitments to right-sizing equipment and fleet management. Customers are refraining from buying a fleet of the largest service trucks available. Instead, they’re reducing costs and improving efficiency by purchasing a mix of service-truck models and carefully managing the fleet.
SA: Now that it’s been a few years, how has being part of Oshkosh had specific benefits to IMT?
JH: Oshkosh Corporation partners with customers to deliver solutions that safely and efficiently move people and materials at work around the globe and around the clock. Being part of Oshkosh enables IMT to leverage the resources of a much larger organisation to provide superior solutions and value innovations for our customers’ requirements.
SA: Tell us about your latest products.
Tim Worman: IMT recently introduced a line of new telescopic cranes, which enabled us to respond to increased industry demand for cranes with greater reach and capacity. The new cranes — the 6000, 7500, 8600, 9500, 10000, 12000 and 14000 — have model numbers corresponding to their maximum capacity in pounds and feature a patent-pending PentaBoom design. They each offer up to 30ft (9.15m) of reach and increased capacity over previous models. To support the cranes’ expanded capabilities, IMT upgraded the structure and stability of our Dominator mechanics trucks.
SA: You’ve had a long-standing supply agreement with HMF of Denmark for articulating boom loaders. What are the latest developments?
John Field: The 50/345 (50tm) model offers a lifting capacity of 22,840lb (10,360kg) maximum rating at a radius of 15ft 1in (4.6m) and features a dual power plus link arm system (DL) that is well suited for long reaches and lifting in high positions with demanding equipment (such as fly-jib and winch). The DL system provides precise and regular movements in the entire working area while offering the best lifting capacities under almost any working conditions.
Another feature of the 50tm articulating crane is "over-bending" which means the working area between the main boom and the outer boom is no less than 195°. Over-bending offers greater flexibility when working through narrow passages and under overhead obstructions, the ability to lift maximum loads in all boom positions, and a lower total height when the crane is stowed on the truck body.
Additional features of the latest articulating crane model include a radio remote equipped with an information center that controls stabilizer functions and feedback of loader operation conditions; an internal hose routing system; continuous rotation; optional stabilizer solutions for each side; and, an innovative, flexible stow bracket design that secures the boom for transportation but does not allow bracket damage.
The complete line of IMT articulating cranes has a maximum reach ranging from 10ft 2in to 70ft10in (3.1-21.6m) and offers lift capacities ranging from 1,740lb (790kg) to 38,185lb (17,320 kg) maximum rating at 14ft 5in (4.4m).
IMT focuses on offering customers a wide range of lifting capacity and reach options, and we plan to show that commitment by introducing new articulating crane models in the coming months.
SA: What are your main export markets?
JH: Exports is another area where being part of Oshkosh has helped strengthen IMT. While we have sold lube trucks and Tirehand products around the world for decades, we are now seeing an increase in export business for mechanics trucks and articulated cranes. A good deal of this equipment is sold as a component of larger fleet purchases — including refuse, fire and emergency, and access equipment — that is being purchased for developing infrastructures around the world.
SA: How does IMT see 2012 and 2013 versus 2010 and 2011 market demand?
JH: Demand in our markets bottomed out in 2010 and began to recover in 2011. In 2012 and 2013, demand is expected to remain high due to continued strength in global mining operations and pent up replacement demand by equipment dealers, as well as slow growth in the general economy that will spur demand from construction companies.
SA: Gentlemen, thank you.
