HOIST magazine Blog - Page 2
Stay up to date with the latest HOIST magazine Blog updates from the global factory crane industry
The need to move with the times?
Welcome to this year’s final issue of Hoist. It has been 12 months characterised by innovation, developments, acquisitions and growth. Rather fittingly, all of these factors were perfectly encapsulated at November’s LiftEx exhibition, which took place at Bolton’s USN Arena in the UK.
Welcome to this year’s final issue of Hoist. It has been 12 months characterised by innovation, developments, acquisitions and growth. Rather fittingly, all of these factors were perfectly encapsulated at November’s LiftEx exhibition, which took place at Bolton’s USN Arena in the UK.
Place a spotlight on the future
Having spent a siginificant part of my time in journalism writing about the machinery used in the print and packaging process, it hasn’t taken long to notice some of the similarities between that world and the factory crane sector.
Having spent a siginificant part of my time in journalism writing about the machinery used in the print and packaging process, it hasn’t taken long to notice some of the similarities between that world and the factory crane sector.
Showcasing the game changers
When Firestone Tire and Rubber Company founder Harvey Firestone was asked what quality an entrepreneur should value above all others, he paused for a while. After several seconds he smiled and offered this simple but effective response.
When Firestone Tire and Rubber Company founder Harvey Firestone was asked what quality an entrepreneur should value above all others, he paused for a while. After several seconds he smiled and offered this simple but effective response.
Charting a course to healthier profits
If there is indeed a tide in the affairs of men, then port operators appear determined to take this tide at the flood and, should fortune smile, chart their course to a healthier profit margin. In this month’s issue of Hoist we cast a nautical gaze at the rise of Maersk's new Triple E, Super Post-Panamax, container vessel.
If there is indeed a tide in the affairs of men, then port operators appear determined to take this tide at the flood and, should fortune smile, chart their course to a healthier profit margin. In this month’s issue of Hoist we cast a nautical gaze at the rise of Maersk's new Triple E, Super Post-Panamax, container vessel.
Have a giant in every port
There was a wealth of activity in the dockside market last month, and since the start of the year. The opportunities in this market for the hoist manufactures is only set to grow as more ports join the list of those undergoing upgrades and expansions. The arrival of the giant dockside cranes at London’s newest port, London Gateway, is a clear signal for what is to come.
There was a wealth of activity in the dockside market last month, and since the start of the year. The opportunities in this market for the hoist manufactures is only set to grow as more ports join the list of those undergoing upgrades and expansions. The arrival of the giant dockside cranes at London’s newest port, London Gateway, is a clear signal for what is to come.
Material handling matters to Europe
For the last four years, much of European industry has been in the doldrums, stifled first by the global financial crisis, and then, for many economies, by problems with sovereign debt. While the politics of austerity followed by many more successful nations over recent years may balance national accounts in the short term, it is unclear whether they have helped or, through compounding a stagnant investment environment, hindered business development. Our industry though, despite a mood of pessimism in some quarters, shows signs of bouncing back well from the crisis. In the latest Eurostat figures on material handling as a whole, collected by the European manufacturer's association, the FEM, thereare signs that, up to 2011, the industry was rebounding well.
For the last four years, much of European industry has been in the doldrums, stifled first by the global financial crisis, and then, for many economies, by problems with sovereign debt. While the politics of austerity followed by many more successful nations over recent years may balance national accounts in the short term, it is unclear whether they have helped or, through compounding a stagnant investment environment, hindered business development. Our industry though, despite a mood of pessimism in some quarters, shows signs of bouncing back well from the crisis. In the latest Eurostat figures on material handling as a whole, collected by the European manufacturer's association, the FEM, thereare signs that, up to 2011, the industry was rebounding well.
Resolving a crisis
As another challenging year comes to a close, 2012 seems to have shaped up fairly well for the overhead lifting industry. With some companies reporting record profits and others a stronger than expected rebound, even while sales fell, finally the fallout from the global financial crisis is somehow starting to look less worrisome. Having said that no-one is expecting 2013 to be much easier. Although capacity utilisation for many manufacturers is still heading towards the magical 80 per cent figure, a leisurely pace has slowed to a crawl, and now the 80 per cent figure is expected nearer 2015 than many expected.
As another challenging year comes to a close, 2012 seems to have shaped up fairly well for the overhead lifting industry. With some companies reporting record profits and others a stronger than expected rebound, even while sales fell, finally the fallout from the global financial crisis is somehow starting to look less worrisome. Having said that no-one is expecting 2013 to be much easier. Although capacity utilisation for many manufacturers is still heading towards the magical 80 per cent figure, a leisurely pace has slowed to a crawl, and now the 80 per cent figure is expected nearer 2015 than many expected.
Steering the ship
Here at the offices at World Market Intelligence I have been bouncing ideas off colleagues about the best ways to ensure our content is relevant, timely and targeted squarely at our reader base.
Here at the offices at World Market Intelligence I have been bouncing ideas off colleagues about the best ways to ensure our content is relevant, timely and targeted squarely at our reader base.
Looking on the bright side
Here in the UK we’ve never been particularly prone to blind optimism. Of course many stereotypes about the British persona persist outside our shores, the stiff upper lip, reserved manner and our love of queuing. But during the process of hosting the 30th Olympic Games this Summer it was widely reported that we had somehow learned to cheer up a bit, with random displays of elation prompted by the carnival atmosphere around the Olympic stadium, further kindled by our respectable medal tally.
Here in the UK we’ve never been particularly prone to blind optimism. Of course many stereotypes about the British persona persist outside our shores, the stiff upper lip, reserved manner and our love of queuing. But during the process of hosting the 30th Olympic Games this Summer it was widely reported that we had somehow learned to cheer up a bit, with random displays of elation prompted by the carnival atmosphere around the Olympic stadium, further kindled by our respectable medal tally.
The more things change
Having worked as a construction journalist for much of the past decade I have learnt that engineers are among the most open and enthusiastic emissaries for their industry.
Having worked as a construction journalist for much of the past decade I have learnt that engineers are among the most open and enthusiastic emissaries for their industry.
Working with the unknown unknown
Back in the early days of the Iraq war, Donald Rumsfeld was mocked from all sides for telling a press conference, “There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. There are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know.
Back in the early days of the Iraq war, Donald Rumsfeld was mocked from all sides for telling a press conference, “There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. There are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know.
