here are now 1,120,000 mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), also known as aerial work platforms (AWPs), in the worldwide rental fleet. That is up 8% from the previous year, reveals new research commissioned by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF).

　　The US AWP rental market recorded strong revenue growth of 10% in 2014 to reach approximately $7.9 billion, according to the IPAF US Powered Access Rental Market Report 2015. The US AWP rental fleet expanded by 7% in 2014 to exceed 500,000 units. Strong demand from the construction sector allowed for fleet expansion and rental rates improvement, while balancing the negative impact of decreasing oil prices.

　　The Chinese MEWP rental market grew at a rate of 25% to 30% in the past two years to reach approximately 9,000 units.

　　The European MEWP rental market grew slightly in 2014 (+1%) and is estimated at approximately €2.6 billion, according to the IPAF European Powered Access Rental Market Report 2015. Fleet expansion continued at a slow pace to reach 285,000 units. The 10 European countries surveyed were: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.

　　Most European countries improved their situation in 2014. France and Finland were the only MEWP rental markets where deterioration continued. Spain and Italy showed signs of recovery after several years of shrinking. The markets in the UK, Germany, Norway and Sweden grew at similar paces, driven mainly by fleet expansion.