Global Material Handling Equipment

8th Edition

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This study analyzes the global market for material handling equipment by product, market (i.e., manufacturing, mining, construction, distribution, and other markets), and global region. Historical data for 2008, 2013, and 2018 and forecasts for 2023 and 2028 are provided for material handling equipment in current dollars for demand (including for each product and market), shipments, and net exports.

Material Handling

Among the products included in this study are:

  • forklift trucks, industrial trucks and tractors, hand lifts, and other lifting, loading, and unloading machines
  • conveying equipment – which can be unit or bulk handling; and overhead or floor-mounted – including:
    • gravity- or power-driven stationary conveyors
    • belt, chain, slat, and bucket conveyors
    • underflow tow conveyors
    • pneumatic conveyors
  • hoists, cranes, and monorails – including hand-, air- and electric motor-powered hoists; top-running single- and double-girder bridge, under-running bridge, gantry, and jib overhead cranes; and nonelectric cranes
  • automated storage and retrieval systems
  • automated guided vehicles, separately sold material handling software, and material handling robots

Excluded from the scope of the study are:

  • aerial work platforms
  • elevators
  • lift tables
  • construction-type cranes (principally mobile and tower cranes), wrecker cranes, and similar items sometimes considered to be material handling equipment
  • related services, such as equipment maintenance
  • spare parts

Material handling equipment demand is also segmented into:

  • manufacturing
  • mining
  • construction
  • distribution
  • other markets, including agriculture; airports, marine ports, and rail transportation; education; entertainment establishments; forestry; healthcare; oil and natural gas; sanitation and waste management; tourism; and utilities

Demand for material handling equipment is classified by the primary function of a building if the building includes multiple functions. For example, manufacturing facilities that include some warehousing operations are included in the manufacturing market, while buildings whose primary purpose is warehousing are counted in the distribution market if they include some manufacturing operations.

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