April’s two major international shows in Europe and the USA, are, among other things, good barometers to assess the climate and plan your next move in the through- the-air materials handling industry.
A widely held belief is that, and here’s that overused word again, ‘globalisation’ is the only way forward. If this is your view, and your domestic market is not enough, what is the next step. One way is to go it alone and handle all your own sales, service, distribution and marketing in those export markets. Another, and increasingly popular, approach is to form partnerships.
Either way there are many things to consider. Complying with regulations and standards in many export markets can be a nightmare, not just with the equipment itself, but also for its use, safe working practices, testing and maintenance.
The field of standards and regulations, and knowing who follows which ones, remains a minefield. Will there ever be an escape from the problem of diverse (and often protectionist) local, national and international standards? Apart from anything else, it makes it difficult to make true comparisons of, for example, figures quoted for a winch’s line pull.
While many manufacturers are looking to ‘go global’, to minimise exposure to a downturn at home, they do not seem as ready to commit themselves to the process of developing, or even adopting, internationally accepted standards. Without some kind of world class standard, there can be no truly global market. This may suit those who perceive no need, or are unable, to compete on the world stage. To the others, we urge you to visit Hannover Fair or NA 2002, or both, and talk to colleagues from around the world with a view both to forming partnerships and to moving towards the acceptance of a single set of standards.
