Conveyor equipment sales rose across the board in the first half of 2005, but once again, the growth was led by sales of bulk handling equipment. While bookings (new orders) of conveyor equipment overall increased a solid 8.8 percent in the first half of 2005 over the previous year, those results looked almost anemic in comparison to numbers from the bulk sector.

Sales of bulk equipment, for example, could only be termed robust, with bookings up 30 percent and shipments up 18 percent, according to data from the Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA). In the bulk conveying area, screw conveyor sales were especially strong, with bookings up 18 percent and shipments up 24 percent. Orders for bulk accessories were up 17 percent and shipments up 14 percent.

Still, the growth didn't come solely from the bulk sector. Sales of unit handling systems were solid as well, with overall bookings up almost 14 percent.