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UK rental company Vp plc said its businesses had made "good progress" since June 2008 despite a more challenging business environment.

Aggreko has agreed to buy Canadian power rental company Power Plus Rentals and Sales for up to C$38.7 million (£19.5 million). Power Plus is based in Edmonton and provides power for companies operating in the Athabasca Oil Sands areas in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Same-branch rental revenues rose 16% to drive Ahern Rentals second quarter 2008 rental revenues 20% higher to $83.9 million from $70.0 million last year. Three new stores since the second quarter of 2007 contributed $2.9 million, 4.1%, of the quarter's revenues.

Austrian and German anti-monopoly authorities have approved Palfinger's takeover of Wumag's Elevant, announced on 20 June.

Ramirent’s revenues grew by 18.9% in the second quarter of 2008 but profits fell because of further softening of the market, particularly in the Baltic States.

Wacker said there was a significant drop in demand for its light construction products in May and June, particularly from the US, Spain and the UK, and that it expected the slowdown to impact on sales of light and compact equipment for the rest of 2008.

Knuckle boom crane manufacturer Palfinger Group revenue of €423.5 million (US$631 million) in the first half of 2008 was 24.3% above the €340.6 million ($508 million) in the same period of 2007, writes Patrick Hill

The Deutz Group has significantly increased its revenue and sales figures in the first six months of 2008 compared with the same period last year, a statement from the company said.

Hochtief reported healthy first half results for 2008 (IHY08) with revenue up +14,7% on 2007 first half figures from € 7,9 billion to € 9 billion. Pre-tax profit rose +61% on like-for-like periods from € 182 million to € 292 million.

Canada's Finning International said that "increasingly challenging market conditions" in the UK rental business will continue to affect the performance of its Hewden subsidiary.

Cramo's latest results show no slowing down of its growth, with its central and eastern European businesses advancing by more than 50% and overall revenue growth at 32.3% for the quarter to 30 June. The company said the next 12 months would see a moderation of growth in the Nordic area and a continued downturn in the Baltic States, with sustained growth in eastern and central Europe.

Balfour Beatty has reported continued growth in the first half of 2008 with sales up +28% on the same period in 2007 to UK£ 4,3 billion (€ 5,5 billion). Pre-tax profit also increased +25% to UK£ 95 million (€ 120 million).

AVS System Lift AG, the German aerial platform rental co-operative, said it will expand membership and improve member services following record-high revenues in 2007. The group announced a dividend of €250 per share - equivalent to €5000 per member - at its annual meeting on 25 July in Dusseldorf.

Allied Construction products distributes hammers and associated products, including the Sandvik brand, in North America.

Iceland's Mest ehf, the importer for Bomag, Liebherr, Peri and Niftylift in the country and operator of a construction equipment rental business, has gone into bankruptcy.

Germany's Bilfinger Berger reported a +13% increase in first half (1HY08) sales on the same period last year to € 4,9 billion (€ 4,3 billion).

France's Bouygues has recorded first half (1HY08) sales of € 15,3 billion, up +15% on the same period in 2007.

Access Plus, the Ayrshire, Scotland based access rental company, is planning to enter the English access rental market in early 2009, probably in the north east.

One of South East Asia’s largest industrial equipment rental companies, Aegis Venture (M) Sdn Bhd in Malaysia, is investing heavily in new air compressors from Atlas Copco.

Auctioneer Ritchie Bros had unprecedented interest in its recent equipment auction in Queensland, Australia. Brent Stacey reports from the event where he talked to the major players