Power Systems Research (PSR) is an international research company based in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. It operates a second North America office in Detroit, Mich., and has offices in five other countries. PSR analysts have been collecting and analyzing global engine and powertrain data and information since 1976, and we use this data to develop targeted forecasts by industry segment and region.
Our team of experienced analysts works with OEMs, engine and component manufacturers, dealers, fleet managers and industry experts to compile detailed and focused data that has become an industry standard. It’s the leading source of global information on engines and power equipment powered by IC and alternate sources. Whether you need detailed global data, forecasts or customized local market studies, we can provide you with Data, Forecasting and Solutions. Let’s start today.
Recently I was at a dinner with visiting members of my family discussing the noble transition that many manufacturers are making from producing their typical goods to producing essential goods and equipment for the coronavirus fight.
Tyler Wiegert
One that came up was Tesla’s transition to making ventilators, and one member of my family began to say that they wouldn’t want a Tesla ventilator if they were hospitalized, because it would probably catch fire and explode.
My fiance is in medicine rather than in our industry, so she took that to be a serious comment about the risk of ventilators sparking in an oxygen-rich environment. But it quickly became clear that this critic just has a deep and abiding skepticism of battery technology, because they repeatedly brought the conversation back to battery fires and cars exploding, despite there having been only 14 reported cases of Tesla vehicles catching fire between 2013 and 2019, with most of those happening after accidents.
At Power Systems Research our business is based on being informed: Globally, and in several important industry segments.
Even as the coronavirus affects markets and industries and companies worldwide, we’re continuing to work effectively for our clients. We’re adjusting our operations hourly to meet the changing needs caused by coronavirus. Our IT staff has adapted PSR systems so our analysts around the world can work at home and communicate easily and effectively with each other and with the home office.
This
information comes from industry interviews and from two proprietary databases
maintained by Power Systems Research: EnginLink™ , which provides information on engines, and
OE Link™, a database of equipment manufacturers.
Market
Share: With combined plant totals of 32%, Polaris leads in production of
utility vehicles in North America. Polaris has plants in Mexico and the US. In
second position is Honda with 13%, followed by Deere with 12%.
The batteries on these machines run 60 minutes and charge in 80 minutes, which Wacker believes is enough for a typical work day. The machines are surprisingly quiet, given the type of work they do, and they have the added benefit of not emitting fumes into deep excavations with no air flow. The shock system is sufficient that the vibrations barely reach the battery, and they’ve had no issues with vibrations affecting the batteries so far. Unlike with other larger construction applications, and more like in the lawn and garden segment, Wacker believes the demand is already there for battery-powered equipment, and customers will be the ones driving a complete transition to battery rather than OEMs.
Toro e-Dingo is a battery utility loader released two weeks ago and scheduled to ship in late April. Toro plans to develop remote controlled and/or programmable machines in the future.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Eric Best, engine research analyst at Power Systems Research, is walking the floor at CONEXPO 2020, looking for new engine and power train products.Here is his report on two innovative companies.
Eric Best
FPT Industrial
FPT has bought out a methane/natural gas company, a battery company, and a hydrogen company, and my contact has no worries about the future of electrification or alternative fuels.
This information comes from industry interviews
and from two proprietary databases maintained by Power Systems Research: EnginLink™ ,
which provides information on engines, and OE
Link™, a database of equipment
manufacturers.
Market Share: With combined plant totals of 47%, Caterpillar leads in production of Wheel Loaders/Dozers in the United States. In second position is Deere with 22%. Third, is Case New Holland with 8%.
SUMMARY. The North American economy remained stable in 2019 and pure economic conditions as well as fundamentals in the region were favorable. Most industries performed very well, and the short-term outlook remains stable to flat for most market segments. However, we see many new developments that could suggest a shift in the trend.
Yosyf Sheremeta
Consumer confidence declined slightly in December, following
a moderate increase in November. The
Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index stood at 126.5 in December, 1.4
points higher than in September 2019.
Per Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators at
The Conference Board: “While consumers’ assessment of current conditions
improved, their expectations declined, driven primarily by a softening in their
short-term outlook regarding jobs and financial prospects. While the economy
hasn’t shown signs of further weakening, there is little to suggest that
growth, and in particular consumer spending, will gain momentum in early 2020.”
CONEXPO-CON/AGG is
North America’s largest construction trade show representing the construction
and concrete industries. Even though
we’ll have a full team at the show with nearly a dozen PSR representatives, it
will be difficult to hit all of the 2,800 exhibitor areas so let us know how we
can meet up with you.
We always welcome
the opportunity to engage and meet with the industry. An in-person meeting provides that chance to
place a face with a name, discuss industry trends as well as explore any
challenges that we might be able to help you tackle!
If there’s a time
that works best for us to visit with you at the show, please let us know. Just call or drop us an email.
Email us at info@powersys.com or call us at 651.905.8400, and we’ll plan to get together. PSR
SUMMARY. The North American economy
remained stable in 2019 and pure economic conditions as well as fundamentals in
the region were favorable. Most industries performed very well, and the
short-term outlook remains stable to flat for most market segments. However, we
see many new developments that could suggest a shift in the trend.
Yosyf Sheremeta
Consumer
confidence declined slightly in December, following a moderate increase in November. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence
Index stood at 126.5 in December, 1.4 points higher than in September 2019.
Per Lynn Franco, Senior Director of
Economic Indicators at The Conference Board: “While consumers’ assessment of current conditions improved,
their expectations declined, driven primarily by a softening in their
short-term outlook regarding jobs and financial prospects. While the economy
hasn’t shown signs of further weakening, there is little to suggest that
growth, and in particular consumer spending, will gain momentum in early 2020.”
Batteries Are Coming. We Saw Lots of Them at CONEXPO and GIE+Expo 
