ReportsnReports.com forecasts the global demand for material handling equipment to rise 5% annually to 2018. Gains will be strongest for sales of advanced equipment such as automated conveyors and automated guided vehicles. Energy efficient products, such as electric lift trucks, will also see solid gains as end users seek to reduce costs.

According to the report, the U.S. will continue to be the world’s largest material handling product market, benefiting from an improved outlook for fixed investment spending. This will encourage US manufacturers to invest in new equipment, particularly labor-saving automated products.

ReportsnReports.com forecasts that automated storage and retrieval systems and automated guided vehicles will post the strongest growth of any material handling product type through 2018. Durable goods manufacturers will account for nearly 50% of material handling demand through 2018.

Advances will result from increased production in durable goods sectors such as machinery and fabricated metals. Sales of material handling products to non-durable goods manufacturers will also see gains, reflecting strong outlooks for the chemical and the food and beverage markets, according to the forecast.

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