Strong UK demand for loading equipment

This started in 2017, and has become a useful tool for helping members to understand market demand and prospects for their products. 

ALEM members are companies that manufacture and/or distribute lifting, loading and elevating equipment in the UK. This includes scissor lifts, dock levellers, ramps, vehicle lifts and other solutions to ensure the safe handling of loads for products, vehicles, equipment or personnel. Many are used in the warehousing, logistics and retail sectors.

Results of the most recent survey, conducted during May and June this year, suggested that demand in the first half of the year was slightly ahead of the peak levels seen in 2018 and 2019. Respondents provided answers to questions relating to demand across nine different product groups in the previous six months. 

The survey also asked members about their expectations for demand in the next six months, and this also provided a very positive response suggesting further improvements in the second half of the year. This is consistent with the latest information about the warehousing and logistics sector in the UK, which is reporting continued strong growth stimulated by the switch to online retailing thereby creating additional demand for storage facilities. 

ALEM President, Andy Georgiou of Stertil Dock and Door Products, says, “It was a pleasure noting that Stertil’s performance mimicked the results of the ALEM and Glenigan’s surveys. It was also pleasing to note that, despite uncertainty surrounding Brexit, Covid and volatile steel prices, many ALEM members were performing similarly well and confirms that the UK remains active and open for business.”

Glenigan is a specialist company that assesses and forecasts activity in the UK construction market by sector. It has recently published its latest review of the UK construction market which measures activity by looking at the value of new project starts. For the industrial sector, an encouraging growth of 31% in project starts this year is forecast following a decline of 29% last year. Glenigan highlights that the warehousing and logistics segment continues to be the fastest growing part of the industrial sector, fuelled by the switch to online retail activity. This is consistent with the results of the latest survey by ALEM members, who are seeing demand reach peak levels this year.

The state of the market survey is one of the many benefits of ALEM membership.

If you are interested in becoming a member, please call 0208 253 4501, email [email protected]

For more information, visit www.alem.org.uk