MHIA forecasts 8 - 9 percent growth in orders for 2012

Orders of material handling equipment are forecasted to grow between 8 and 9 percent in 2012, and 6 percent in 2013, according to the Material Handling Industry of America.

In their latest Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing Forecast (MHEM), Hal Vandiver, MHIA’s executive consultant said: “Consumers’ and Investors’ confidence is best characterized as uncertain; unemployment, industrial production activity and factory operating rates (utilization) are improving modestly,

"All are favorably impacting MHEM; but, do not indicate robust growth. Residential and non-residential construction, if forecasts hold, will contribute greatly to positive growth 2014 and beyond. We have extended the forecast of 2012 to 2013; and in 2014, indicated the expectation for slower growth."

Material handling equipment shipments are forecasted to grow 9 percent in 2012, and 7.5 percent in 2013 and 2014, with domestic demand likely to mirror shipment growth until 2014.

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The MHIA are an international trade association which has represented the US material handling and logistics industry since 1945. The MHEM forecast of material handling equipment manufacturing is released each quarter by MHIA and looks 12 to 18 months forward to anticipate changes in the material handling and logistics marketplace.