Equipment manufacturers Oshkosh Corp and Terex Corp lifted sales in early 2012.

Oshkosh, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, says its access equipment segment sales increased 61.4% to USD760.4 million for the quarter ended March 31 compared to the same 2011 quarter.

"Higher unit volumes and the realisation of previously announced price increases" led to the increase, Oshkosh says. "Sales grew by double-digit percentages compared to the prior year quarter in all major regions of the globe, with the largest increase in North America driven largely by replacement of aged equipment."

The segment's operating income jumped 285.3% to USD68.4 million, or 9% of sales, compared to the 2011 quarter's operating income of USD17.7 million, or 3.8% of sales.

The segment logged "higher raw material costs and higher new product development spending", offsetting a portion of the gains from volume, price increases, improved product mix and improved absorption relating to the higher sales volume, Oshkosh says.

The corporation reported a company-wide profit of USD37.3 million on sales of USD2.08 billion for the quarter. The prior-year quarter had a profit of USD67.9 million on sales of USD1.75 billion.

On 27 January, Oshkosh shareholders rejected activist investor Carl Icahn's effort to elect board members to pressure the corporation to possibly sell its JLG aerial lift business and pay down debt.

Terex, of Westport, Connecticut, also had a positive report for the first quarter ended 31 March.

"We are encouraged by the performances of our aerial work platforms and materials processing businesses, both of which achieved operating margins in the high single digits giving us confidence we will achieve our 2012 targets," says Ronald DeFeo, Terex chairman and chief executive officer.

Terex "continues to see recovery in North American rental channels for its aerial work platform products with demand continuing to strengthen", the company says. "The Australian market also continued to demonstrate strong sales growth."

The Terex aerial work platform segment reported a profit of USD42.6 million on first quarter sales of USD513.4 million. The comparable 2011 quarter had a profit of USD5.7 million on sales of USD378.2 million.

Backlog for the segment grew 51% to USD673.6 million from USD445.8 million in the comparable 2011 period.

The aerial work platform business is Terex's largest segment at 28%. The volume of boom lift and scissor lift lines is significantly larger than telehandlers.

"Telehandler [volume] is relatively small compared to our competitors," DeFeo says. The business segment designs, manufactures, refurbishes, services and markets aerial work platform equipment, telehandlers, light towers, bridge inspection equipment and utility equipment.

Terex Corp reported a profit of USD 23 million on sales of USD1.82 billion. In addition to aerial work platforms and materials processing, Terex has business segments for construction, cranes, and materials handling for ports.