Equipment manufacturers and dealers weren’t immune to the headwinds that dominated 2024. Like their customers, however, they faced these challenges head-on and came out on top.
They have high hopes for 2025.
“As we enter 2025, we do not forecast any softening in market conditions,” says Riley Arndt, strategic account manager at Superior Industries. “Now that the election is behind us and interest rates have shown a positive outlook for continued reduction, we should see the market shift more toward buying versus renting processing equipment. With federal funding more in place for 2025 and 2026 and manufacturing lead times normalized, the future looks strong for construction aggregate materials.”
From one dealer’s perspective, the outlook for next year is reliant on several factors going the right way.
“In 2025, equipment purchasing will grow more complex with new electric technologies and potential tariffs on key parts,” says Clement Cazalot, CEO of Machinery Partner. “Supply agility, nationwide coverage, a wide selection and industry expertise will be crucial in gaining market share in 2025.”
Manufacturers have long prioritized working closely with their dealers. That will continue to be an emphasis in 2025.
“By leveraging our expansive portfolio of equipment solutions and collaborating closely with our distributors, we will focus on addressing specific customer needs and exploring strategic market opportunities to grow our market share in 2025,” says Russ Burns, sales director at Terex MPS.
Equipment & technology
Several equipment and technology trends emerged and grew in 2024.
Among the most preeminent were autonomy, predictive monitoring and electrification. As the technology available to manufacturers continues to evolve, so will their equipment.
“By leveraging real-world data from a large sample size, we can proactively support customer operations, driving improved uptime and productivity,” Burns says. “Additionally, this data empowers us to refine machine designs, ensuring continuous innovation and better performance for our customers.”
One manufacturer is most focused on developments in the AI realm.
“We would prioritize developments that advance the integration of artificial intelligence and autonomy, as these are expected to drive significant efficiency and productivity gains,” says Patrick Weaver, product line manager for mineral processing at L&H Industrial. “Additionally, we see substantial opportunities in products and services aligned with the industry’s growing focus on sustainability and carbon reduction. These areas are poised to deliver both operational and environmental benefits, making them key drivers of future growth.”
Diamond Z, an Idaho-based manufacturer of grinders, trommels and stackers, was recently acquired by Metso. The company looks forward to the opportunities resulting from that acquisition.
“We will be launching some very exciting new products in 2025,” says Dave Stewart, director of marketing at Diamond Z. “We will be unveiling a new trommel line, a new screening line and a new stacker line.”
Continued caution
Despite this optimism, companies are still keeping their eye on factors that defined 2024.
“The recent political shift in government is expected to impact key economic factors such as interest rates, tariff policies, deregulation and infrastructure spending under the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act,” Weaver says. “These developments will undoubtedly influence overall industry growth and spending in the coming year. While we remain optimistic about the positive trajectory for the industry, it will be crucial to closely monitor these evolving dynamics to assess their full impact.”
Burns is following impacts both regionally and internationally.
“As we head into the new year, we will closely monitor several critical factors given the dynamics of the global markets, technological advancements, and operational challenges,” Burns says. “Regionally, some areas are recovering, while others may face slowdowns. We will track how factors like inflation, interest rates, the used equipment market and potential shifts in governmental policies – particularly in major markets like the U.S. and Europe – impact the market.”
One factor Stewart is focused on for 2025 is consumer confidence.
“We are starting to field a lot more inquiries from areas that were relatively quiet in 2024,” Stewart says. “Interest rates will play a role in that confidence, as well. With the momentum we are seeing now and hope to see continue and build in early 2025, it is very likely it could be a very strong year.”