What will 2023 bring to machinery rental and sales? 

Will the new year 2023 bring notable novelties in machine sales and rental? We found Jean-Pierre De Nil, Sales Director of TVH Equipment, willing to take a look into his crystal ball for us. He already sees 5 striking trends.

1) An accelerated electrification ... 

This evolution has been going on for a long time, but especially for forklifts, the share of electric machines is increasing faster and faster, even when used outdoors. In addition to ecological considerations, the consensus is growing that it is not desirable to expose people to exhaust fumes from fossil fuels. Moreover, within the electric machine segment, more and more customers are exchanging the classic traction battery with lead plates for the completely maintenance-free sealed Li-ion battery.  

2) ... also on rough terrain

For the larger and heavier aerial work platforms (from 5 to 10 tons), a diesel engine seemed until recently to be the only workable solution. Especially on rough, uneven terrain, electric motors, with their limited battery capacity, proved insufficiently powerful and efficient to generate the necessary propulsion energy. However, the newly developed electric driving motors, in combination with a Li-ion battery, are now changing that. To such an extent, in fact, that many manufacturers are no longer investing in thermally powered devices. In places where purely electric machines are not yet possible, it is now possible to opt for a hybrid solution. A small combustion engine then acts as a generator that autonomously charges the battery while driving.  

3) There are the Chinese! 

For about two years now, the well-known American and European brands have been getting increasing competition from China, especially for the smaller electric scissor elevators. Besides the slightly lower price, the significantly faster delivery time is their biggest asset. On the other hand, they still have a long way to go in terms of after-sales service. They are currently still developing that network. Residual value is also a big unknown for the time being. No one can predict today what a 5-year-old Chinese-made device will still be worth when resold.  

4) Hi-Capacity breaks through 

There was a time when scissor elevators and aerial work platforms seemed to get bigger and bigger and had to be able to reach further, but that trend now seems to have been halted. The slightly heavier and more sturdily built Hi-Capacity units have meanwhile established themselves in the range. They have a working platform with a lifting capacity of 300 to 450 kg, where a standard machine goes into safety as soon as you exceed 250 kg. For certain specific applications, that allows you to work much more efficiently. 

5) Smart telematics

Meanwhile, new machines are becoming increasingly intelligent and user-friendly thanks to the use of telematics. The display on the control panel shows more and more useful information. For example, you know at any time how heavy your work platform is loaded and how high you can go with it. On the other hand, if a malfunction occurs, you immediately receive an error code. This enables our field service technicians to make a correct remote diagnosis and provide appropriate assistance. After all, breakdowns are often the result of incorrect operation by an operator who is not sufficiently familiar with the machine. Only in case of real defects does a technician come on site. But he then immediately has the right spare parts with him. Thanks to telematics and Google Maps, a technician can very easily locate a machine with his smartphone. Especially on large construction sites, this can save a lot of time. In the future, telematics will also make preventive maintenance possible. The next generation of machines will in fact give a timely warning if it is necessary to replace certain parts. This will bring us one step closer to the best possible deployment of people and equipment. 

The conclusion of Jean-Pierre De Nil

The industry continues to innovate and develop. New applications are constantly popping up and the industrial rental market in particular will grow a lot in the coming years. Naturally, TVH Equipment will keep its finger on the pulse. So keep following us and stay informed about all important new technological evolutions and trends!