The development of aerial work machinery in the various product categories of the construction machinery industry started relatively late, but in recent years, the speed of the industry's development has made the industry impressive. In 2020, the performance of aerial work platform manufacturers and leasing companies in the domestic market will show a trend of explosive growth. The annual sales are expected to exceed 100,000 units, far exceeding the sales scale of 48,000 units in 2019.
According to statistics, the explosive growth of the aerial work platform industry has lasted for about 7 years, with a compound growth rate of about 50%-60%. It is the most growing sector in the entire construction machinery industry. By the end of 2020, the number of aerial work platforms in China is expected to exceed 240,000 units, but compared to the 658,000 units in the US market and 308,000 units in the European market, the number of aerial work platforms in my country is still at a relatively low level.
As the demographic dividend declines and labor costs rise, the traditional scaffolding model that is time-consuming and laborious in high-altitude operations has shown a trend of being replaced by high-altitude operation platforms, and the value of high-altitude operation platforms has quickly gained market recognition. In addition, the expansion of infrastructure investment, the enhancement of safety awareness and the continued development of aerial work platform dividends, as well as the presence of aerial work platforms in the fields of shipbuilding, aerospace, and municipal construction, signify the huge growth potential of aerial work platforms. And market prospects.
Intelligence and electrification are becoming more and more important
The current domestic aerial work platform manufacturers are mainly divided into three categories: one is the traditional domestic aerial work platform manufacturers, such as Zhejiang Dingli, Hunan Xingbang Intelligent, etc.; the second is the global aerial work platform giant JLG (JLG), Gini; The third is the domestic construction machinery giants, such as Zoomlion, Xugong, and Lingong Heavy Machinery. With the improvement of product quality and customer recognition, domestic brand manufacturers have gradually increased their market share of aerial work platforms in China.
Judging from the product dynamics launched by various companies in 2020, new energy and intelligence have gradually become new growth points in the industry. Sunward Intelligent launched the first 5G scissor aerial operating vehicle in China, which uses 5G technology to integrate wireless communication technology, sensor technology, anti-collision technology, and remote monitoring technology to achieve cross-regional construction operations. At the Shanghai Bauma Exhibition in November, Zoomlion launched a number of intelligent and innovative products led by key technologies such as “green, smart, efficient, and reliable”, such as DC, HC lithium battery series scissor aerial work platforms, and the use of The ZT26J-880V straight arm sucker truck with modern design such as modularization, lightweight, generalization, and intelligence. Domestic and foreign companies such as XCMG, Jiexi Heavy Industry, and Jieerjie have also focused their attention on intelligent and electrified products. Among them, JLG released the ES series electric scissor aerial work platform for the first time at the Bauma Exhibition, and launched the "Electric Drive & Digital" development strategy.
Electric equipment needs to replace the battery every two years or even a year and a half, which is an extremely high cost for users and has become a major obstacle to the development of electric equipment. The lithium battery series products launched by Zoomlion are equipped with exclusive lithium-ion batteries that are maintenance-free throughout the life cycle. Compared with the traditional lead-acid batteries, the battery life is increased by 30% and the lifespan is increased by 3 times.
The full-ac lithium scissor aerial work platform ZS1212AC-Li can effectively charge and work under severe cold conditions at -20°C, ensuring reliable and stable operation of the equipment. According to the relevant person in charge of Zoomlion, the full-ac lithium-ion scissor aerial work platform will be an important trend in the next.
Major manufacturing companies have made efforts to "intelligent and electrified", which is also the current development trend of the entire construction machinery industry. Liu Guoliang, chairman of Hunan Xingbang Intelligent, believes that future products will become smarter based on the Internet and big data applications, while complying with the requirements of environmental protection and operational efficiency, presenting a trend of energy diversification. The promotion and application of intelligent and electrified technology and equipment, one is to cater to the current market situation, through the use of intelligent and digital technology to reduce equipment operation thresholds, and improve operating efficiency; second, from the perspective of energy and environmental protection, to open up a sustainable development for the industry The path of development.
Explore a new model of leaser cooperation
With the large-scale expansion of the aerial work platform market, market competition has become increasingly fierce. Behind the fiercer competition and severe tests in the post-epidemic era, with the large-scale release of production capacity, rents have continued to decline. The high-altitude operation platform has been extended from one or two years of investment recovery in the initial stage of development to four to five years. What is more, it is estimated that the current equipment investment recovery cycle has reached 8 years.
At present, small and medium-sized aerial work platform leasing companies have low equipment purchase desires, which is in sharp contrast with 2019. The reason for this situation is that 30% is related to the epidemic factor, and 70% is that the rate of rent decline has exceeded everyone's expectations. . Due to the consideration of the investment payback period and accounts receivable, the desire of small and medium-sized leasing companies to purchase new equipment is generally reduced.
On the other hand, production safety, high efficiency and low cost are the three important factors driving the demand for domestic aerial work platforms. The compression of the construction period in the post-epidemic era has promoted the high-efficiency advantages of aerial work platforms, but in terms of production safety guarantees, no strong regulatory policies have been introduced, and the substantive positive promotion is not obvious. From the perspective of the development of aerial work platforms, safety and reliability should be the primary considerations.
For equipment leasing companies, accelerating structural adjustment, transformation and upgrading, by continuously optimizing the industry structure, improving the overall business philosophy and operating methods, improving management levels, and accelerating the business upgrade of Internet + leasing, will help the overall service capabilities of the leasing industry The promotion and realization of the high-quality development of the equipment leasing industry.
On October 30, 2020, the press conference of Zoomlion high-tech partners was held in Changsha, Hunan. The partnership mechanism will unify the promotion of high-tech leasing business partners and the high-altitude operation platform of Zoomlion's high-altitude operation platform to enhance efficiency and transform and upgrade To help partners realize the "Internet intelligence + intensification + sharing" operating model, cultivate and strengthen the strength of leasing companies, build a new development pattern for the high-tech leasing industry, and empower the high-quality development of the industry.
Prior to this, XCMG and E Leasing reached a strategic cooperation, combined with its "Hundred Cities and Hundred Partners" plan, and continued to promote the segmentation of the domestic high-tech market. In addition, XCMG Fire also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Zhongneng, forming an in-depth strategic partnership between the two parties.
Olison established a customer support center in Shandong, focusing on small and medium-sized leasing companies, and supporting small and medium-sized leasing companies to get rid of their difficulties. Wang Zhijun, general manager of Olison China, said that small and medium-sized leasing companies are better than large leasing companies in terms of leasing model transformation and trial and exploration of application scenarios. Be more active and dare to think and do.
Although the current market competition is intensifying, industry insiders believe that the aerial work platform industry is still in a growth period and is also a period of opportunity for the high-altitude leasing industry. Major manufacturing companies have joined forces with leasers to innovate leaser cooperation models. This is also the long-term prospects of the current high-tech market. However, with the current competition and the continuous reduction of rents, the upstream and downstream of the industry chain coordinated to respond to market challenges and accelerate the industry A sustainable development path for high-quality development.
