Material Handling Manufacturing Outlook Favorable

According to the Material Handing Institute of America (MHIA, Charlotte, N.C.), the forecast for Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing (MHEM) will continue to be favorable through 2007. Per the latest MHIA Quarterly MHEM History and Forecast:

• MHEM New Orders grew at record pace, 28.1% in 2005.
  MHIA forecasts continued growth of 11.0% to 13.0% in 2006 followed by slower growth in 2007 in the 3.5% to 5.0% closing out the most recent expansion phase of the MHEM business cycle.
• MHEM Shipments grew 25.6% in 2005.
  MHIA forecasts continued growth through 2006 of 10.5% to 12.0% followed by slower growth in 2007 at 6.5% to 8.0%.
• MHEM Consumption grew 24.9% in 2005.
  MHIA forecasts that Consumption will grow about 12.5% to 13.5% in 2006 followed by 7.0% to 8.5% growth in 2007.

Source: MHIA