IPAF estimates worldwide MEWP fleet

IPAF has for the first time made an estimate of the size of the worldwide rental fleet for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs). This has been set at approximately 950,000 units.

At the same time, it has reported in the IPAF US Powered Access Rental Market Report 2013 that the US MEWP rental market experienced robust growth in 2012 (+6%) to reach approximately $6.6 billion. While rental companies kept fleet sizes steady in 2011, 2012 saw a return to fleet expansion (+6%). Fleet size and investments are expected to increase in 2013.

The Brazilian MEWP rental fleet is meanwhile estimated to have reached 19,000 to 19,500 units at the end of 2012, a phenomenal growth of 30% over 2011.

The European MEWP rental market in the 10 countries surveyed remained stable in 2012 (+0%) and is estimated at approximately €2.3 billion ($3 billion), according to the IPAF European Powered Access Rental Market Report 2013. The 10 European countries surveyed were: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

The European rental market shows mixed results and is marked by three groups: those who struggled in 2012 (Spain, Italy and the Netherlands), those who slightly increased rental revenues (Denmark, UK, France and Sweden), and those who experienced significant growth (Germany, Finland and Norway).

The reports highlight key facts and figures such as fleet size, utilisation rate and retention period, and can be purchased at www.ipaf.org/reports