Global materials handling products primed for strong gains through 2018

摘要

Global demand for materials handling products is projected to increase close to 5% annually through 2018 to $140 billion, according to new research by the Freedonia Group. According to the report, gains will be strongest for sales of advanced equipment such as automated conveyors and automatic guided vehicles (AGVs), which help curtail labor costs. Energy efficient products such as electric lift trucks, the report added, will also see solid gains as end users seek to reduce costs. In a recent interview, Freedonia senior industry analyst Mike Deneen said the strong gains forecasted for automated equipment reflect a shift in manufacturers' preference toward products suited to integration into larger-scale factory automation and automated warehouse environments. Led by automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), Deneen said that AGVs and robotics in the United States are primed for strong growth of nearly 6%.