KHL Group - Access

The Access Rental Company of the Year

A-Plant
Investment of £30 million in access equipment over the past three years illustrated A-Plant’s commitment to its Powered Access division, a commitment that was rewarded in 2008 with a projected 20% increase in revenues and 26% increase in net profits.

With almost 2000 units in its fleet, A-Plant says its policy of buying high-spec machines is paying off: the company equips all its diesel machines with on-board generators, 4WD and puncture proof tyres. The company’s fleet, which has an average age of less than three and a half years, also changed to suit market needs in 2008, with a doubling of the number of over 100 ft booms and the acquisition of 120 JLG 1230 vertical mast models.

A-Plant continues to invest in the business, with the number of dedicated powered access sales staff doubling to 10 in 2008. Powered Access was A-Plant’s best performing division in 2008.
 
Lavendon Access Services
Lavendon Access Services, the UK arm of Lavendon Group, was extremely busy in 2008, integrating the newly acquired Platform Company business and also finding time to introduce a number important training, safety and technical initiatives.

In May the business opened its new Academy, a facility to induct new employees and to provide training for the company’s existing 1000 staff in areas such as engineering and management development. The TechX project, meanwhile, was launched to implement planned preventive maintenance procedures – and resulted in a 40% increase in machine reliability at the three locations where it was trialed.

In September the company stated a new apprenticeship scheme, with nine students beginning a three year NVQ programme, and in November it introduced the new Safety Starts with You Campaign – which is shortlisted in another award this year.

If that wasn’t enough, the integration of the Platform Company last year was undertaken at the same time as a major reorganisation of the business in the UK, with Lavendon Access Services now operating under two UK brands – Nationwide Platforms for its national businesses and Panther for its local operations.

LTECH
Moscow-based access rental company LTECH has been at the forefront of pioneering both the rental concept and access equipment in Russia. Founded just five years ago by brothers Mikhail and Dmitry Malvinskiy, LTECH now has a fleet of 1500 units and operates from four depots in the country.

2008 was a significant year in the company’s relatively short life: revenue grew by 33% and it established two new depots to open up strategically important areas of Russia in the South and the Volga region. The company invested heavily during the year, in particular boosting its boom fleet to more than 250 units and its telehandler holdings to 100 machines. A characteristic of LTECH is its commitment to using new equipment, including its fleet of delivery trucks, which is still unusual in Russia.

Nacanco
Italy’s Nacanco is an access rental company that has successfully managed itself through a period of extremely rapid growth. Its attention to detail has seen it grow dramatically since it split from its sister Spanish business two years ago. Now focusing entirely on Italy, the business grew its revenues from just over €15 million in 2007 to more than €23 million last year and EBITDA profits almost doubled to €8.6 million.

Like the other companies on this shortlist, Nacanco had a busy 2008. It invested €20 million in new machines and added two new depots to bring its network up to eight. Innovative and forward thinking, Nacanco is not afraid of using the latest technology, such as GPS tracking systems.

Riwal
One thing that can be said about Netherlands-based Riwal is that it is not afraid of challenges. Although focused on some of Europe’s major access markets – including the Netherlands, France and Spain – the company and made a reputation as a pioneer of developing areas. This strategy began several years ago but accelerated in 2008, with Riwal establishing operations in Brazil, the Baltic States, Poland and Croatia.

At the same time it expanded its French operation and made a major acquisition in Spain, buying the Clem business.

The company, under the leadership of Dick Schalekamp, is not afraid of investing in large or niche machines. Last year it ordered 70 Teupen Spider machines and three of Wumag’s 104 m truck mounts. It now has a total fleet in excess of 12000 units, one of the largest in Europe. Riwal is a true pioneer in the access rental business.