PEMA provides a forum and a public voice for the global port equipment sector, reflecting the industry’s critical role in enabling safe, secure, sustainable and productive ports; and thereby actively supporting international maritime trade.One of the Association’s primary aims is to foster dialogue and strong relationships across the ports industry. It does this by providing a framework for the exchange of views and data on trends in port equipment design and manufacture, and port operations worldwide.
PEMA also promotes the role of the port equipment industry in the wider community by raising awareness of issues with the media, port authorities, government agencies and non-governmental organizations. Furthermore, it forges partnerships with port industry bodies and contributes to best practice initiatives.
“It’s easy to take the global ports industry for granted, without realizing the extent to which it affects our lives. Every one of us relies on ports for transporting the products and raw materials that we need and demand on a daily basis,” says Ottonel Popesco, PEMA President.
“Our role is to help the industry ensure that ports – a vital element to world trade – become safer, more secure, more sustainable and more efficient,” says Popesco.
Burgeoning membership
All port equipment suppliers of any size and geographical origin, in both the container and heavy industrial handling industries, are welcome to join the Association; as are suppliers of ancillary components, technology that interfaces with equipment, and consultants active in the port and terminal equipment sector.
Since its formation in 2004, some of the biggest names in the port equipment industry have joined the Association. Founder members include Bromma Conquip and Kalmar (now part of the Cargotec Group), Hyster and Konecranes, among others. Rapid membership growth over the past few years has expanded the range of equipment and technology expertise represented by the Association. New members joining in June 2009 included Loxystem, designer of hi-tech remote automated twist-locks, and reach stacker manufacturer Terex Cranes, which has since increased its presence in the market with the acquisition of Fantuzzi-Noell.
August 2009 saw the addition of crane cabin specialist Brieda Cabins, port vehicle manufacturer Linde Heavy Trucks and port equipment and services group Portek, which also operates its own terminal portfolio. France’s Control Techniques and sensor manufacturer Advanced Microware Engineering followed at the end of the year. Growth has continued into 2010, with the Association announcing the admission of cable systems manufacturer Nexans and SICK AG, a leading supplier of equipment anti-collision and positioning technologies, this January.
Internal and external communication
As a platform for peer-to-peer dialogue, and external communication, Popesco sees PEMA as a catalyst for making ports safer, more secure, more sustainable and more efficient.
“Increasingly, suppliers and operators are seeing the potential advantages of the [ports] community sustaining its commitment to sharing ideas on best practice and data on equipment use and technology trends,” says Popesco. “Sharing our knowledge and approaches allows us to make substantive progress on issues such as environmental impact, safety, security and regulatory reform,” he adds.
Essential to this process is the creation of an environment where innovation can thrive, and equipment manufacturers and port authorities feel free to engage in an open and informed dialogue. One of the ways PEMA contributes to this process is with its annual report on equipment deliveries. It published the second edition of the report in 2009. Covering deliveries for calendar year 2008, the report focuses on smaller classes of equipment, where consolidated market data is not readily available, which encompasses reach stackers, FLTs (empty and laden), terminal tractors and terminal trailers. For each equipment category, the report provides a snapshot of market size both globally and by region.
“The survey is designed to contribute to the body of port equipment industry knowledge available in the public domain, and thus enhance efficiencies across the industry,” explains Popesco. “The second survey provided detailed geographical breakdowns on deliveries and a comparison of the 2008 market with the previous two years. The report was well-received and has
been acknowledged as a valuable resource for equipment suppliers
and buyers, throughout the industry,” he adds.
As with the first edition of the survey, published in June 2008, last year’s report was compiled, collated and presented under the strictest anonymity and confidentiality according to legal guidelines. The report’s authors contacted all known manufacturers of the equipment types covered. Responses came close to presenting a fully comprehensive picture of the market. For example, in the reach stacker category, suppliers representing an estimated 95 per cent of the market participated in the survey. A third edition of the annual survey is now underway.
