At the 7th Sustainable Equipment Meetings held on 27 May in Nanterre, the founding members of CAMD rallied all stakeholders in the construction equipment sector to continue their efforts towards ecological transition by sharing ideas and concrete feedback.
A call for perseverance in the face of current challenges
In his introduction, Olivier Colleau, CEO of the Kiloutou Group and President of the CAMD, emphasised the importance of corporate action in the face of a faltering environmental machine.
‘Ten years after the Paris Agreement, the treaty that was supposed to mark a historic turning point in the fight against climate change has fallen apart. Economic, political and geopolitical upheavals have changed the game. We are seeing a decline in ecological thinking.’
Olivier Colleau, CEO of Kiloutou and President of the CAMD
These comments were echoed by Benjamin Fremaux, CEO of the IDEX Group and guest of honour at this seventh edition: ‘We need to convince our end customers that the cost reflects tangible added value and encourage them to accept it as such.’
Michel Denis, CEO of Manitou Group and Vice-President of CAMD, emphasised the importance of joint action to tackle climate change, as defined in the DNA of CAMD and Sustainable Equipment Meetings, referring in particular to the retrofit project carried out with Kiloutou and Bouygues Construction, a model of collaborative innovation that converts thermal telescopic handlers into electric versions with a 40% reduction in CO₂ emissions.
‘Together we can go further. And that’s what we set out to do when we started the retrofit project in 2023 to collectively create a world first by offering a virtuous solution to extend the service life of a telescopic handler.’
Michel Denis, CEO of Manitou Group and Vice-President of the CAMD
‘Let’s look at what we can do at 25 or 30, and imagine what we could do at 100. Our members represent the entire value chain. This is what allows us to take a pragmatic approach, share a common understanding of the challenges we face, and take action that can be implemented by everyone. Today, CAMD has the capacity to act as a network and positively influence the system.’
Patrick N’Kodia, Bouygues Construction and Vice-President of the CAMD
Encouraging feedback
This day of discussions featured several structured and concrete presentations demonstrating the viability of sustainable solutions:
Electrification without compromise: Detailed feedback on electrification has demonstrated that switching to electric power does not compromise equipment performance. Users report increased user comfort, sufficient range and no significant operating constraints.
A broader TCO approach: A study on total cost of ownership (TCO) offered a broader view of different types of equipment, including aerial platforms, providing companies with new decision-making tools for sustainable investments.
The day provided a platform for the five federations representing the sector (DLR, SEIMAT, EVOLIS, FFB, FNTP), whose joint action is now united under the name Cinergic. These professional organisations highlighted the promising synergy between their work and that of the CAMD, thereby strengthening the collective momentum for transformation in the sector.
Workshops to advance thinking
A new feature this year was the addition of themed workshops designed to advance the thinking of the CAMD working groups on two strategic areas:
- Equipment sustainability and life cycle: exploring issues related to reconditioning, repairability and extending equipment life.
- Energy supply and infrastructure: availability of energy sources (biofuels, hydrogen), infrastructure and charging facilities on site, energy supply chain.
About the Community of Sustainable Equipment Players
The Community of Sustainable Equipment Players brings together equipment manufacturers, rental companies and construction and public works companies to help them make the transition to a sustainable industry. The Community aims to pool the efforts, knowledge, best practices and skills of the various players involved, and to raise awareness among private and institutional stakeholders of the essential role played by site equipment in accelerating the sustainable and responsible transformation of the building and civil engineering sector, and more broadly, of local life.