The Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA) reports that 2012 shipments in North America were up 22.44%. CEMA estimates that shipments totaled $10.410 billion for 2012, an increase of $1.908 billion from 2011 shipments of $8.502 billion.

CEMA estimates that new orders totaled $10.620 billion in 2012. New orders in 2012 were $1.31 billion more than 2011, representing an increase of 14.1%.

CEMA President, Ron Arkema, announced the results at the Association’s 80th annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona earlier this month.

CEMA tracks new orders and shipped sales volume in nine classes of unit handling equipment and four classes of bulk handling equipment. The executives representing CEMA member companies who attended the annual meeting expressed continued optimism for 2013 and forecasted a 5% increase in shipments.

Founded in 1933, CEMA is the trade association of leading North American conveyor equipment manufacturers and engineering firms.