Positive 2011 for German equipment

Turnover in the German construction equipment and building material machinery industry rose by 17% in 2011 to €12.6 billion, of which €7.8 billion was accounted for by the construction machinery sector and €4.8 billion by the building materials, glass and ceramics machinery sector.

Johann Sailer, chairman of the German Engineering Federation's Association for Construction Equipment & Building Material Machinery (VDMA Bau- und Baustoffmaschinen), said, "In 2011 our customers simply invested more again."

He added that previously reticent investments as a continuing result of the crisis were now being made up for, especially by plant hire firms, with this trend set to continue in 2012.

Figures from the Association suggest that 2011 saw continued economic recovery in almost all sub-sectors, though not all at the same speed. Overall, demand for construction machinery worldwide was higher than for building material machinery throughout the entire year.

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