Haulotte is a leading supplier of lifting equipment

French materials handling manufacturer Haulotte Group is reporting a 45% increase in consolidated sales in the fourth quarter, earning EUR134.5 million (USD149.73), up from EUR92.7 million (USD103.2 million) in the same period in 2014.

Full year consolidated sales were EUR445.3 million (USD495.72 million) against EUR412.6 million (USD459.32 million) in 2014, an increase of 8% across the two periods.

Excluding currency movements, the group's cumulative sales were driven by a strong sales performance in North America (+32%), which has just completed its best two quarters of activity; and in the Asia Pacific (+27%), which, despite the slowdown of the Chinese economy, political tensions in the Middle East and developments in oil prices, is still dynamic in the aerial work platform market, according to the company.

In Europe, performance was affected by a wait-and-see attitude of major rental companies, with sales down 12%, while Latin America remains in a difficult situation, with sales off 24%.

Rental activity was stable over the year, but service revenue grew 5% over the year.

Driven by buoyant commercial activity at the beginning of the year, mainly in Europe, Haulotte Group expects to show sales growth of close to 5% in 2016.

Haulotte Group is a leading supplier of materials lifting equipment, focused on aerial work platforms.

It employs 1,500 staff in three divisions: design and assembly; distribution; and equipment rental.