Chinese grey import plant heads to EU

Europe faces a potential influx of thousands of second-hand excavators as the Chinese government has imposed new regulations and restricted funding to cool its overheating economy.

According to the Committee for European Construction Equipment (CECA) secretary general Ralph Wezel, the machines, mainly from Japan and Korea, are likely to head towards Europe as the dollar is weak and American enforcement is much more stringent.

These machines are unlikely to be CE-marked and probably do not meet European noise and emission regulations, Wezel said, but manufacturers fear enforcement in European countries will be too weak and disorganised to prevent the imports.

The UK witnessed a wave of grey imports during the Asian currency crises and the Construction Equipment Association (CEA) has been in talks with the Department of Trade & Industry to warn of the situation. CEA director of member services Tim Faithfull said the machines must conform to current legislation on noise and engine emissions (which is very unlikely) at first use in an EU country.