There are positive signs that this will be a million-plus unit year, with KION reporting that the global forklift market exceeded the million mark last year. The group, which includes the Linde and Boali brands among others, is already ahead of 2013 levels, thanks in large part to growth in the emerging markets of Eastern Europe, South America and China.
We have also seen optimism in North America, and this week, we note LiuGong's expansion which has led to a move to larger premises.
And one of the best performers in the forklift sector is the rental market, with a number of large players expanding their fleets to cope with increased demand. This, of course, further boosts the order books.
As the song says, "let the good times roll".