4.8% p.a. growth for 2005-2010
On a global basis, growth in sales in agricultural equipment has averaged 6% p.a. during 2000~2005. For the period 2005~2010 the growth is forecast to be 4.8%. Tractors and harvesters will remain the 2 largest categories, accounting together for nearly half of all product shipments.
In the US, 4.7 million tractors are in service and annual tractor sales are close to 250,000 p.a. Sales in Western Europe average around 160,000 p.a. with UK tractor sales averaging 15,000 p.a.
The Top 3 producers of farm machinery collectively account for one third of the global market.
Making farming a safer occupation
Farm tractors and other mechanised agricultural equipment such as tele-loaders perform in similar ways to construction vehicles and forklifts.
Compared to other industries, farming is a dangerous occupation and fatalities are not uncommon. Tractors involved in roll-over incidents are a regular occurrence, even in developed nations.
Only in the last 15 years have there been initiatives to fit ROPS. Contemporary tractors do not have stability systems fitted. The need to (retro) fit Gravlocs to tractors to ensure that they operate in safe inclines, prevent anti-gyration movements and lift without tip-over is well overdue.
Over 1m ATVs sold each year
All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) manufacturers and producers of Utility Terrain Vehicles and Side-By-Side vehicles have annually sold over 1 million units since 2004.
The combined worldwide market revenues for 2007 was $1.23bn. ATV sales marginally decreased but the side-by-side market is proving to be a fast growing power-sports category.
North America is the No1 ATV market. Three key manufactures command 75% market share. 16 million American ride ATVs, 70% ride as a family recreation activity.
Rollovers are a very real safety concern
In 2005 there were 780,000 ATVs sold in the US. An additional 200,000 Asian Side-By-Side vehicles were also sold.
In 2006, 555 ATV-related deaths were reported in the US, 30% of which were children under 16 years of age. Some popular makes have lateral tip-over angles less than 30 degrees, almost making an accident a certainty.
Gravlocs fitted and calibrated to safe operating inclines can lessen these risks. They can even be adapted for SUVs, where in the US over 4 million are sold each year.
Manual handling avoidance
Lifting hoists are used in many industries. In an industrial capacity, they perform ‘dead lifts’ and facilitate the movement of equipment usually over short distances. They are often used to move or situate engines. Worldwide there are estimated to be over 500,000 in commercial service within the automotive industry.
In a medical capacity, hoists are increasingly being used for conveying patients. The need to avoid the manual handling of patients, particularly in Western Civilisations, helps to mitigate the risk of litigation. The worldwide market demand for these hoists is growing with annual revenues expected to exceed $500m p.a. by 2010.
Safe lifting and transfer
Many organisations are now operating a ‘zero’ approach to manual handling, recognising the dangers to short-term and long-term occupational health.
Medical hoists by their very nature need to ensure the safe point-to-point transfer of patients and perform the same ‘dead lift’ operation as industrial hoists.
Almost all hoists in service today rely on the judgement of the operator to gauge the risks to safety. An adapted Gravloc can take away the guesswork and ensure that no lift proceeds that is beyond the rated capacity of the hoist.
Industry to grow at over 5% pa
US demand for wheelchairs and other personal mobility devices is projected to increase 5% p.a. through 2010 to over $3 billion.
Three main contributing factors have influenced the rise in demand for powered mobility, these are (1) the incidence of disability, (2) the rise in the age of the population, and (3) the rise in levels of obesity.
Other factors that have led to growth include the change in buying patterns and the rise in large (concentrated) shopping centres; the economics (fuel efficiency, parking ease, etc) that comes from using personal transport; the carriage capability and the speed at which all these activities can be accomplished.
Only low inclines can be safely negotiated
These modes of transport are now crossing over into other industries to effect the safe point-to-point movement of personnel and light goods.
Most forms of powered mobility characteristically have short narrow wheel bases, irregular weight distributions and only passive means of stability.
The potential for a tip-over is greater than many owners are led to believe since most vehicles can only safely negotiate inclines less than 12 degrees, the average is as little as 8 degrees, before there is a risk of an accident. A customised Gravloc can decrease the risk.