Export markets are trapped between old and new machinery

The global market for construction machinery is set to be worth almost $90 billion by 2020. It’s a massive industry that has seen significant development and advancement over recent years. Yet, in some places, there’s still a demand for older, out-of-date plant. 

Given recent technological advancements in this area, why do some people bother with older machines that will waste time and money? Well it depends on how you measure wasted time and money. Let’s take a closer look.

Let’s get this out of the way

Before we dive in we want to acknowledge that, yes,  older machines are less efficient because they’re, well, older machines. As technology and standards have improved, they haven’t. When compared to new machinery, they can’t keep up with the same usage, perform to as high a level, and will be more prone to breaking down and needing maintenance. 

Any work getting done will take longer, and operational efficiency is likely to drop significantly as a result. But not everyone is in a position to take advantage of these improvements. And certain improvements added in the name of green progress actually hinder operations in countries where they can’t fix them.

Why are they still chosen?

While old machinery is fundamentally less efficient, newer machinery tends to be unreliable. Everything made after 2013 comes with DPF or AdBlue emission control systems. While they might be better for the environment, they’re prone to issues. They need regular maintenance, present warning lights like an airport’s runway, and go into limp mode more than an old man with a cane.

Because of the issues associated with newer machines, companies looking to rent them will often choose older varieties. Sure, it might take an extra few weeks to get the job done, but at least the machinery isn’t likely to shut down halfway through the job. 

Case studies

In the case of Australia, they’re put off by new machines because their work often takes place in the middle of nowhere. While in the Outback, if an emission control system flags an issue, they can’t afford to waste money on a machine that’s in limp mode. The machine won’t be doing any work and it could be 2-3 weeks before the problem is sorted. This isn’t including the potential costs charged by the manufacturer for the mileage to go over and fix the problem or to send over any equipment that’s needed to perform repairs. And the person supposed to be operating the machine? They’re still getting paid.

In countries like Africa, they’re unable to deal with either DPF or AdBlue systems. Because they don’t have the means or knowledge to maintain or replace the systems, they avoid them altogether. In both examples, operational efficiency is sacrificed for the sake of ease of use and reliability. 

So with this in mind, wouldn’t it be great for all export markets to enjoy new or lightly used machinery? By bypassing emission control systems, other countries no longer need to avoid new machinery. They’re able to combine efficiency and reliability with new machines that have their problematic systems disabled.

At DPF Doctor, we can help expand your export markets. Catering for countries that usually avoid newer machinery, we provide kits to bypass DPF and AdBlue systems. It’s a simple plug-and-go process. If you have any questions or want to inquire about a kit, get in touch today.