On the up


Ruth Ling catches up with the key players in the
UK’s overhead lifting market to discover how they
are emerging from recession. March 2010

Recession? What recession? Ask the UK lifting and weighing industry how business compares to this time last year, and it seems things are looking up. David Ayling, managing director of Straightpoint (UK) says: “We’re up more than 10% on a year ago as a result of widening our dealer network, which has increased orders from new markets such as Korea; exports are better than UK sales at present.”

Straightpoint is also continuing R&D. “As a result, we launched five new products at the end of last year, with orders already taken,” says Ayling.

They include the Jumboweigher foundry, a crane scale designed for use in high temperature environments supplied with a heat guard, specially filmed high temperature front glass and an infrared remote control and charger. It can be used at temperatures of 1,600 degrees C at 2m from heat source. Also new are the Jumboweigher trade, a crane scale with an infrared remote control and charger, available in capacities of 1t.5t, 3t and 5t; the Jumboweigher ATEX, ideal for use in hazardous areas (zones 1 and 2) in accordance with Ex II 2G IIC T4 and available in capacities of 6t, 10t, 15t, 25t and 35t; the Compound Plus, a new handheld display which connects to Straightpoint’s Radiolink Plus loadcell range, allowing connection with up to 12 radio links to the single handheld and to view individual loads and a total lead; and Wirelink Plus, a non-indicating cable version of the Loadlink Plus, an electronic force measurement device.

Ayling believes Straightpoint is, “in the lucky position of not being hit by the recession, as we are such a niche product and service provider.

“Our area of the market is still growing and, due to our investment, we will continue to be ahead of the game,” he thinks. “In addition, with our different dealerships around the world, we’re able to spread the risk; for example, the Middle East is still very buoyant.”

“We are hoping for the worldwide slump to pick up in 2010. Although, as the pound gets stronger, export business suffers in profitability, so it is a trade-off between gaining additional business and less profitability. There are indications that recovery is on its way; increased stability with the banks and potential interest rate rises later in the year, as well as the pound growing against the US dollar. There also seems to be more confidence in the market now; we’re seeing an increase in quotations for bigger projects, and some big repair jobs are coming through now, whereas last year big repairs were put on hold due to the hesitancy in the market. As for 2011, I don’t believe the market will ever get back to how it was; as reckless lending is a thing of the past, so is reckless spending. However, the market will still continue to grow.” More...

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