JLG's 1850SJ ultra boom aerial work platform

Managers at equipment manufacturers Terex Corp and Oshkosh Corp foresee the North American construction industry making gains and providing positive movement for sales of their aerial work platforms (AWP).

Addressing financial analysts, Terex reports its AWP business segment is at 90% of its previous economic peak and has shown positive trends in its book-to-build ratios. A 29 May Terex presentation was held in Boston during the industrial, automotive and transportation conference of Cleveland, Ohio-based investment bank KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

Terex says it has a USD30 million investment in Changzhou, China near Shanghai, where it is successfully producing AWPs. In 2011, the firm opened the AWP manufacturing facility, which incorporates lean production systems. Initial production involved the Genie-brand S-3200 and S-3800 telescopic booms for the shipbuilding market.

Terex says customers are tending to make more use of AWPs instead of temporary construction scaffolding and that rental companies are experiencing relatively more success in renting AWPs.

At another financial event, Terex reported that adoption rates for AWPs are rising in emerging markets with particularly meaningful sales opportunities in Latin America and China. The 5 June presentation in Chicago took place during the global industrials and basic materials conference of Frankfurt, Germany-based Deutsche Bank AG.

Westport, Connecticut-based Terex says it anticipates the possible improvement of AWP sales in Australia during 2014. Terex says the shift there reflects a movement in its client base to infrastructure applications from mining.

During the Boston conference, Oshkosh of Oshkosh, Wisconsin took note of statistical reports indicating that rental equipment companies are refreshing their fleets and lowering the number of months for equipment ownership periods.

Oshkosh's access equipment segment, primarily involving the JLG brand, is underscoring its innovations in the AWP line including the 1850SJ ultra boom AWP. The recently introduced 1850SJ has a platform height of 185 ft. 7 in. (56.56 m), a platform capacity of either 1,000 or 500 lb. (450 or 227 kg) and a working height of 191 ft. 7 in. (58.38 m).

Oshkosh characterises the JLG 1850SJ with its 19 stories of working height as "the highest reaching, self-propelled boom lift in the industry".

Both Terex and Oshkosh envision emerging countries improving their construction-related safety laws. The changes should enhance the manufacturers' long-term growth opportunities in China and Latin America.