The trend of exporting machinery

While plant machinery is a big industry across and within the UK, there is an even higher demand and potential for profit in export markets. In 2018, the UK’s export of heavy machinery came to $2.4 billion, up 15.3% on the previous year. It was a similar case for lifting and loading machinery. This came to over $840 million and was up 14.4% on 2017.

So exporting machinery from the UK to locations across the globe is a big market and is only set to get bigger. Its key benefits are twofold. It provides better value machinery to other countries and bigger business for UK owners.

Better value for customers

In a lot of countries, machinery is more expensive than in the UK. Take the US for example. It’s often cheaper for US companies to import UK machinery – shipping expenses included – than it is to buy outright or even rent internally. Because of this, in the first 9 months of 2017, the US accounted for 23% of the UK’s construction exports. 

For companies completing big projects that need lots of machinery, the savings they’ll make from importing can be huge. If they choose to buy, they don’t have to pay the extortionate price of local machines. They can get a UK machine with shipping for a fraction of the cost. Or if they rent, they avoid the costly fees from renting internally. 

It also means that big projects get completed quicker. Because they’re getting machinery at a better value, they can afford to rent or buy more machines. More machines will make efficiency and productivity higher, meaning the job gets done in a much shorter time.

Business opportunity for owners

If the demand is already there, it makes sense for machinery owners in the UK to make the most of export opportunities. It opens up both their sale and rental potential. If internal markets are slow, export markets may be able to make up the difference.

Because the cost of buying machinery can be so high in other countries, UK owners can still make a profit from exporting. The difference in machinery prices across the world is big enough that the importing country can still make a saving while the UK exporter is able to make a profit.

Renting machinery for the duration of a project will always be cheaper than buying your own. Internally or externally, rentals remain the ideal choice for a lot of companies. When renting machinery to other countries, UK owners can charge a much higher rate than they could internally.

Other countries have a high demand for machinery but their internal costs are enough to put them off renting locally. So they look further afield. A UK owner can offer a better deal than they could get locally but still charge significantly higher than they could within the UK. For a month-long stint over in the US, a UK owner could charge more than they could for a month-long stint in London. 

Exporting to full potential

Exporting machinery has gained traction because it’s a win-win for everyone involved. In the case of the importing country, they get machinery at a better rate. As a result, they can be more efficient at a cheaper cost. But the UK owners also make a bigger profit. Because of the difference in price, they can make more money by selling and renting abroad.

But an owner’s exporting potential can be thwarted by unreliable, newer machines that contain either a DPF filter or an AdBlue system. Both emission control systems can make machines temperamental and so put off importing countries from choosing newer machines. As a result, they choose older machines that are less efficient.
What can you do? By overriding your machines DPF filter or AdBlue system, you take away the temperamental element. You restore your new machinery to be as reliable as pre-emission control machines. Your customers can enjoy the efficiency of new machinery and you massively improve your exporting potential. It’s another win-win.

At DPF Doctor, we provide straightforward kits that bypass machinery’s DPF filter or AdBlue system. It’s a simple and straightforward plug-and-done process. It’s minimal effort for big benefits. If you have any questions or want to inquire about a kit, get in touch today.