70
SMOPYC&SAMOTER REVIEWS
IRN JUNE 2014
Bobcat and Genie joined local Spanish players to
exhibit at the 2014 event.
Speaking to
IRN
during SMOPYC, Bobcat district
manager forSpainCarlosCamposwasconfident that
the worst is over for construction equipment sales
in Spain and Portugal, and forecast improvements
in 2014.
“Last yearwehit thebottom inSpainandPortugal,
but we started seeing improvements in the last
quarter. This has continued in the first quarter of
2014. Last year, we sold 100machines – that is very
lowwhen you consider that in 2007 we sold around
1800machines.”
At SMOPYC, themanufacturer was showcasing the
S450 skid steer loader – a 2.2 t machine that has
been launched into the Spanishmarket at the show.
Mr Campos forecast that the construction
equipment market in Spain would grow by up to
15% this year as contractors and rental companies
replenished their fleets. He said Bobcat expected
to sell up to 130machines in Spain and Portugal in
2014.
“The market is growing, we are seeing new
deals that are also taking less and less time to
complete. The end users have better access to
finance and need to replace their old machines.
Rental companies are also starting to get more
active in purchasing new machines. More or less
10% of our sales go to rental and the rest goes to
dealers.”
APAerial Platformswas also cautiously optimistic
about prospects for the rentalmarket. The company
is Hinowa’s dealer in Spain and also distributes JLG
accessequipment. Aspokespersonsaid larger rental
companieswere still struggling togainback ground
in the country, but more opportunities existed for
smaller operations.
“Smaller rental companies will find themselves
in better position for when Spanish market
recovers," the spokesperson said. "The big
rental companies still face a lot of debt and
rental rates are very low, but the smaller firms
that have been more conservative and started
with modest fleets are now in a position to start
growing.”
IRN
Ammann showcased its ASC70 single drum roller at SMOPYC.
Takeuchi had its TB216mini
excavator on display at
SMOPYC – a 1.68 t operating
weightmachine.
Make the rightmove!
TheAWP’sWHOLERANGE
IMER
ACCESS
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