The growth of the second-hand forklift market has been well documented and was reinforced by the inclusion at this year's CeMAT of used equipment for the first time.
This week, we get some insight into the market - among other things - in an interview with Toyota's Matthias Fischer. He points out that it was not just the economic downturn which boosted the market segment. There are many businesses which only put their materials handling equipment to light use, and it makes sense for them to buy second-hand gear.
And, of course, the other aspect is the manufacturers' desire to capture more marketshare. Why should third-party traders cash in when the majors can retain relationships with customers who may, in future, require new equipment?