MIDDLE EAST
17
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2014
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INTERNATIONAL
Sinoboomhas a five-year plan for the
regionwhich includes opening a branch in
Dubai with an incorporated parts centre for
its dealers within the next two years.This year
at BaumaChina, taking place inNovember,
the companywill launch a number of products
suited to theMiddleEast; they include a 30
mworking height telescopic spider, 12m and
14mnarrow chassis diesel scissors, a 16m
electric scissor and truckmounted platforms.
EwanMacAngus, JLGmarket development
director, believes themarket is opening up.
“Users recognise the value ofAWPs, as
a result of education by the rental sector,
so electric scissors up to 40 ft and various
other types of low level access solutions are
gaining in popularity.Previously considered
niche products are also gaining in popularity,
especially in the hotel and facility areas.”
As far as rental is concerned,market
development in the region is not that different
tomost othermarkets, saysMrMacAngus,
“When there is demand someonewill step in
andfill the void.”
He adds, “They [AWPs] are already very
popular,however legislation, as it relates to
Safety atWork,would be amassive driver,
probably resulting in the growth of products
under 40 ft.Today there are lower cost options
available, but none of them offer the safety
and productivity gains thatAWPs provide.”
From a rental company’s point of view,
Mr Selley saysARG is seeing strong rental
demandwithhigh utilisation and positive
rental rate development since the recession
and a growing trading customer base.Rental
conditions will improve thatmuchmore, “as
the general requirements of official safety
guidelines aremademoremandatory in
the tendering process together with amore
recognised training programme being rolled
out,”addsMr Selley.Needless to say,ARG
plans to continue its expansion in the region.
Rental growth
TerexAWP says the rentalmarket in the
region started in the 1990s with a few
European companies bringing in used
machines for specific projects - as people
started seeing the benefits ofAWPs, the rental
market grew significantlywithmultinationals
likeHertz,Gam,Riwal andLavendonmaking
theirmark.Local rental companies also grew
their portfolio.MrKordahi adds, “What
also has contributed to the development
and growth of themarket is the lack of such
equipment inmanymarkets as themarket
demand started growing rapidly.
“We have built a very strong and capable
dealer network in the region to serve a
growing end usermarket as well as a direct
presencewithGenie teammembers in focused
markets likeUAE andKSA and are looking at
having a branch ofTerexGlobal inKSAnext
year.”
Haulotte has watched the rentalmarket
develop over recent years.MrDanelian
comments, “The contractors turn to rental
solutions as the types ofmachines that are
required for their projects rapidly change
from oneworksite to another.Rental ismore
convenient and givesmore flexibility.By
usingAWPs, they also increase the safety and
productivity.”
MrDanelian adds, “Safety regulations
related to the use ofAWPs don’t apply in the
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platforms without an operator.”MrValli adds.
Applications for truckmounts aremainly
government operated power linework,while
end user utilisationhas not started in the
region.
China view
TheMiddleEast is a goodmarket forChinese
equipment.One of those producers Sinoboom
says 70% of sales in the region come from its
exclusive dealers inSaudi Arabia,UAE and
Turkey.
Itsmost popularmodels are 12m scissors,
15m electric articulated booms, 18m to
26m articulated booms and 30m to 36m
telescopic booms,plus 30m spiders.Specific
customers include Saudi Arabian oil company
Saudi Aramco, JeddahAirport, theHaram
GrandMosque inMecca, commercial vehicle
manufacturer Foton’s factory inTurkey and
the Istanbul Cevahir ShoppingCentre.
An Isoli PNT 27.14 truckmount
prepared formilitarywork in
Afghanistan.
