Rental festival: Guide to the IRE exhibition

The latest mini excavators, hybrid power generators, lighting towers, compressors and much more will be on show at the International Rental Exhibition (IRE) in Amsterdam on 24-26 June. IRE previews the show.

The 3^rd IRE show offers lots of opportunities for rental delegates: the chance to engage with suppliers in an unpressured environment; to see genuinely cutting-edge, new technology alongside the product ‘mainstays’ of rental fleets; plus the added extra of suppliers new to industry offering something different from the norm.

Visitors can also dip into the sessions of the European Rental Association’s annual convention (at a cost, see booking page at www.erarental.org) and network at the European Rental Awards dinner on the Wednesday night. For those visitors interested in aerial platforms, a ‘sold out’ APEX show being held in an adjoining hall and outside the RAI offers yet another benefit.

In short, IRE - plus the convention, the awards and APEX – constitutes a three-day ‘festival of rental’. Here, we focus on the more than 60 companies who are exhibiting, which spans established suppliers like Kubota, JCB, Hitachi, Wacker Neuson, Terex Compact, Yanmar CE, Volvo CE, Kaeser, Hilti and Husqvarna, as well as companies that are less well known, such as attachments specialist Cangini Benne, or US company Schaefer, which makes the Americ branded portable fan.

The big names will have some important products to show. Kubota, for example, uses IRE to showcase its latest ‘dash-4’ mini excavator, the 2 -3 t class U27-4, a model that Kubota describes as a “tough zero-tail swing mini that features the largest and most luxurious cab in its class.”

The manufacturer says the new model has a working range, including 2820 mm dig depth, that rivals higher-end excavators, and that its stability is achieved without the need for additional weights.

Hitachi says it is not yet in a position to disclose details of what it will show at IRE, except to say that it will “add a new range of compact products to our range for the rental market. We think that the IRE is an excellent opportunity to introduce these products.”

Wacker Neuson will have a selection of is small and compact equipment, with rental companies perhaps most intrigued by its new 803 mini excavator with electric or diesel ‘dual power’ system, which is now being commercially launched following its premiere at Bauma last year. Wacker Neuson says that for rental companies; “In only one device, both diesel and electric drives are combined and ensure optimum machine utilisation.”

The German manufacturer will also show its mini telehandler, the TH412, the EH100 electric breaker, and vibratory plates with the Compatec compaction control system. Wacker says the EH100 weighs 10 kg less than a pneumatic unit but with the same demolition performance.

Hilti will showcase a wide range of its products, with the highlights being two recently launched items from its surveying and breaker tool ranges. The Hilti Rotating laser PR 30-HVS is notable for its robust construction, which Hilti says will allow it to withstand a drop onto concrete from a height of 1.5 m.

Also on show will be what Hilti calls the “world’s strongest 12 kg breaker”, the TE 1000 AVR, featuring a “maintenance-free, brushless motor drive” and designed for “tough demolition work with the lowest, unmatched tri-axial vibration in its class.”

Thwaites, the site dumper specialist, meanwhile, will be exhibiting models from its compact range which “are ideally suited to the European rental customer”, says the company. The key model in the line-up is the hydrostatic 1 t Hi-Tip dumper, which is ideally suited for applications in restricted areas and an ideal partner for both mini and micro excavators.

Compressor suppliers at IRE include Kaeser and the relative newcomer MAC3. Kaeser will show its Mobilair M 27, with a free air delivery of 2.6 m³/min (at 7 bar). Optional features include an integrated 6.5 kVA generator and/or compressed air treatment equipment.

Kaeser says it is ideal for simultaneously powering two 20 kg breakers, or other tools such as air lances, impact borers and sandblasting equipment. Another useful option is the hose reel which comes with a 20m lightweight hose, as this enables the compressed air line to be safely stowed away.

A perfect example of innovative technology at IRE is hybrid generators, with two specialist companies in this field exhibiting – Off Grid Energy and Firefly, both UK companies.

Firefly has been delivering hybrid temporary power for events and festivals throughout Europe since 2007, and in Amsterdam will show off its Cygnus Hybrid Power Generator (HPG), a 24 kVA unit that can combine with a range of power sources such as solar, wind, battery, mains grid and with diesel gensets up to 60 kVA (full load back-up) or 100 kVA (part load back-up).

One of its competitors, Off Grid Energy, will showcase two new models at IRE, the 3-3 phase and 3-1 phase versions of its Grid to Go product. The Grid to Go – which was Product of the Year at the 2013 European Rental Awards – has found success among UK rental companies, including A-Plant.

Off Grid’s managing director, Danny Jones, says: “Three-phase power has higher capacity, so the new models will be suitable for larger sites. With our technology proven, there is an appetite for higher output.”

Several manufacturers will be showing lighting towers at the show, including one company that is launching a compact tower into the mainland European rental market for the first time.

Ritelite (Systems), based in Stamford, UK, is a manufacturer of portable, industrial work light products, and will use the show to launch its K50 and K65 towers. Already successfully in use with major UK Hire companies, the K50 & K65 are 5.0 m or 6.5 m high towers powered either by battery pack, mains or a generator, and can be fitted with four or six metal halide lamps or LED lights. The rechargeable battery pack is for the LED versions.

The big benefit of the towers is that they can be collapsed into a compact shape – closed dimensions are 192 x 77 x 75 cm – and they are also lightweight in comparison to most conventional towers, weighing between 150 and 200 kg depending on specification.

Italian-based Tower Light, meanwhile, is already a key player in the rental sector around the world, with a wide selection of conventional and LED lighting products, including in recent years many ‘eco-friendly’ products with lower fuel use.

At IRE, the company will highlight several of its new LED towers, including the VT-LED and the Linktower-LED. The VT-LED can be fitted with either 300 W LED or 450 W LED lamps, with the smaller lamps providing “a very similar light intensity to 1000 W Metal Halide lamps, whilst the 450 W LED lamps have an even higher illumination factor.”

The Linktower-LED is an LED version of Tower Light’s well established link tower system, which allows individual lights to be linked in series, “resulting in a row of powerful lighting sets all from one power source – mains or generator”.

Europe’s pump sector has had a busy winter season, with so much flooding in the continent, and IRE will see two of its major suppliers show new pumps and accessories.

BBA Pumps is now using a new dashboard as a standard accessory. The LC30 is for electronically controlled engines and the LC20 is for mechanically controlled engines. Both have the same modern housing and automatic start/stop control by means of floats. The dashboards can be deployed worldwide and are prepared for the new Stage IV and Tier 4 Final diesel engines.

The company will also highlight its new four year warranty policy, with all BBA products sold after 1 January this year - for the PT, BA and BE ranges - supplied under the warranty policy. On its stand will be two pumps, the BA100K D193 diesel driven, sound attenuated dewatering and sewage pump, and the BA150E D285, a diesel dewatering unit.

Italy’s Varisco, meanwhile, will show pumps from its new ranges, including the high efficiency dry prime Z Series, the Thor Series piston pumps for well point applications and with low fuel consumption, and the new Titan A range of submersible, aluminium drainage pumps.

Heating & cooling

In the site heating and cooling sector Dantherm will show its updated CDT range of mobile dehumidifiers with capacities from 30 to 94 l per 24 hours and a maximum working temperature of 32°C.

Recent changes to the range include the use of digital controls, with a finger touch display allowing accurate setting of RH-values to automatically turn the unit on and off when the desired relative humidity is met. The display also specifies exact energy consumption, a feature that Dantherm says will be welcomed by insurance companies “who normally have had to pay an estimated energy consumption based on running time.”

El-Björn, on the other hand, will focus on its new TF 36EL units, which joins its existing TF 9EL and TF 18EL products. The TF 36 provides “high-efficiency drying and heating, with a maximum output of 36 kW and three power settings”, says the company.

The new unit has already found favour in the Nordic rental market, with Skanska Maskin AB, for example, using eight to help dry out concrete at the massive Universitetsholmen project in Malmö.

A new-ish company in Europe is Schaefer, which is well known in the US for its Americ branded fans, designed for rental use. Its blowers are available in ratings from 750 cfm (1275 m3/hr) up to 10000 cfm (17000 m3/hr).

Designed for rental, the blowers are “rugged and reliable while providing unrivaled performance to ensure a safe, comfortable and controlled environment in the most extreme areas”, says Schaefer. The products can provide positive and negative airflow (blows and extracts), are designed to be lightweight for easy portability, and are stackable to save storage work area space.

Also new at IRE is a company from Sweden that is part-owned by former El-Bjorn CEO Lars-Owe Kron. Mr Kron is now an investor in a Swedish company called Flue Gas Recovery Sweden AB (FGRS) which is “committed to reducing the carbon footprint from construction sites and buildings.”

The company’s products include a twin container solution for heating/drying/cooling of construction sites. Mr Kron says the company is “currently in discussions in several major construction projects.”

Both Schaefer and FGRS are exhibiting under the umbrella GlobalRep brand, a body set up by US rental consultant Charles Miller to help companies market their products to the rental industry.

Site equipment

Fuel storage tank manufacturer Fuel Proof Ltd is to launch a new range of bunded fuel storage units for fuelling generator sets. The generator tank (GT) units will be sold in mainland Europe by distributor EuroGate International, and will be on show at IRE.

“In the last 12 months our partnership with EuroGate International has brought our products to the attention of some key players in the European market", said Fuel Proof director Andrew Hargreaves, “and the feedback we’ve received from these companies, together with some new design and production capabilities on our side, has led to the development of the new GT range.”

Western Global is an established name in worldwide rental markets with its fuel tanks and other products, and the company will highlight its newly developed Transtainer Standby fuel tanks and bulk fuel transfer skids, as well as the original, time-tested Transcube Global portable fuel tanks.

The Transtainer Standby, a bulk fuel container tank, is a 100% bunded tank available in four sizes: 9590 l, 12000 l (non-UL), 25500 l and 58470 l. They are built to ISO Sea-Can dimensions for manoeuvrability and lower freight costs, and can be stacked.

Western’s Transfer Pod Heavy duty pump skid for bulk transfer, fuel and tank cleaning operations is described as “an ideal tool for remote tank farms, temporary generator power stations, mining operations and construction equipment industries”. It offers high accuracy metering for when the transfer of fuel is taking place.

Also exhibiting at IRE is Austrian portable accommodation specialist Containex. The company has its own rental fleet of site huts, sanitary cabins and storage containers – mainly for the eastern European market – but a large part of its business is the manufacture of units for rental companies.

Containex has six production sites round Europe and produces around 40000-50000 units every year. At IRE it will focus on its status as a supplier of huts to Europe’s rental sector.

Brendon Powerwashers says 2014 has seen a good start, with the company “receiving many repeat orders from…European rental customers.” The company will show its latest models at IRE, including the Brendon Mini-Bowserwashers and its well-established hot and cold water bowerswashers.

Meanwhile, the company is this year celebrating its 30^th year of trading. To mark the occasion, Brendon has linked up with local cider producers Sheppy Cider – one of its first customers in 1984 – and will be offering customers at IRE a cider glass and a couple of bottles of cider.

Surface preparation

In the surface preparation market, Trelawny Surface Preparation Technology will show how its latest range of grinding accessories “has transformed [our] grinders and polishers to a multi-purpose range of products for numerous applications regardless of the surface area.”

Italy’s Klindex will also have a selection of its products on show, including its new line of industrial vacuum cleaners, the Supervak, featuring a ‘automatic cleaning filter’ that allows non-stop operation Also on show will be the Levighetor 640 for polishing floors in apartments, villas, hotels and shops, the Levighetor Max for terrazzo floors, the large area product Expander 750, and the Hercules grinding machine for floor preparation and resin coating removal.

French manufacturer Accessa will meanwhile have a selection of its sanding and grinding units for walls and ceilings.

Groundcare equipment will be on display from several companies, including GreenMech and Postpullers.

GreenMech will show three of its wood chippers and green waste shredders: the CS 100 is compact (only 760 mm wide) and easy to move, and described as “perfect for ‘on-the-spot’ chipping and the ideal chipper for big jobs in small spaces.” It will receive solid timber of up to 100 mm or large volumes of bushy material.

The Arborist and ArbTrak 150 are in-line chippers and have a wide 970 x 790 mm in-feed chute, the latter having crawler tracks to operate on difficult ground. The Arborist 150 is a “simple-to-use, road tow chipper designed in a traditional in-line format.”

Postpullers UK designs and manufactures a range of machines for the removal of all kinds of posts, from fence posts to street signs, gateposts and motorway barriers. Its machines can remove posts with any concrete footing up to 60 cm across in less than 2 minutes, with no digging or breaking necessary. The company says its machines are already available in UK rental fleets “and we have plans to make Postpullers available for hire across Europe in the future.”

Rental IT

IRE will be a good place to catch up with the latest development in rental software and IT, with at least four suppliers from the IT sector.

New from inspHire are important enhancements to its recently launched inspHire BI Dashboards and inspHire Mobile. inspHire BI Dashboards have been designed using customers’ input, giving users key business information, in a simple graphical format, streamlining many different operations within the rental business.

inspHire Mobile provides users with the ability to access important, up-to the minute business data out on site and execute changes on the move directly from your Android device.

French supplier Dagico shows off two development in its Vary rental ERP system. The new Vary customisable E-Catalog is an IOS application (multi-lingual) that will allow rental customers to look through a rental company’s catalogue, order equipment and plan the delivery on the move.

MCS will demonstrate its Android Transport Manager Mobile application alongside the Microsoft.NET rental software solution, MCS-rm. With route planning functionality, the new Transport Manger 'App' means that field-based drivers are able to work more productively and provide proactive customer service.

"These technologies can drive costs down by minimising the dependence on traditional paper-based processes such as delivery notes and printing and reduces fuel consumption by optimising driver routes", says Guy van der Knaap, MCS managing director.

Finally, Denmark’s Trackunit will show its Trackunit 401 SmartID, an access control and GSM/GPS tracking unit in one single box. A fleet management tool incorporating user identification, the system is designed to prevent unauthorised use of machines and equipment on work sites.

The company says it is the first system on the market to combine two user identification solutions in a single box. The innovative solution allows the operator to gain access to the machine by entering a unique PIN code or with a personal identification card.

BOX STORY

Show details

What: International Rental Exhibition (IRE)

When: 24 – 26 June, 2014

Tuesday 9.30 – 18.00.

Wednesday 9.30 - 18.00

Thursday 9.30 - 17.00

Where: Hall 2, Amsterdam RAI, Amsterdam

Address: Europaplein, NL 1078 GZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

www.IREshow.com

Organisers

IRE is organised by Industrial Promotions International (IPI) in association with IRN and KHL Group.

Travel to RAI:

By Plane

The RAI exhibition centre has a dedicated train station and is 15 minutes from Schiphol Airport on a direct line. This line is different from the trains to Amsterdam Central station. The single fare to RAI is less than €4. Schiphol train station is accessed directly from the arrivals area of the airport.

Taxi

The taxi rank is located at the airport’s exit. Dependent on the traffic, a taxi can take you to Amsterdam city centre in half an hour and will cost around €40.

Exhibitors

(As on 31 March 2014. See www.IREshow.com for latest list.)

ACCESSA

American Rental Association (ARA)

Annata

Armada Dynamics AS

BBA Pumps

Brendon Powerwashers

Cangini Benne

CLMiller Consulting

CONTAINEX

CNSE

Dagico Software

Dantherm

Dehaco

Dieci

DIS Sensors

Ditch Witch

El Björn

Eliet Europe

EuroGate International

Firefly Solar Generators

Flue Gas Recovery Sweden (GlobalRep stand)

GlobalRep

GreenMech

Hilti

Himoinsa

Hitachi

HTC

Husqvarna

InspHire International

Intermat

Irium Software

JCB

Jura Filtration

Kaeser Kompressoren

KHL Group

Kubota Europe

Kunzle & Tasin

MAC3

MCS Global

Off Grid Energy

Paclite Equipment

Postpullers (UK)

Pullman Ermator

Ritelite Systems

Schwamborn Gerätebau

Schaefer Fans

Sibilia

SPE International

Stanley Hydraulic Tools

Swepac

Terex Compact

Thermobile Industries

Thwaites Dumpers

Tower Light

Trackunit

Trelawny

Trotec

Varisco

Vermeer

VF Venieri

Wacker Neuson

Western Global

XTRUX s.r.l.

Yanmar C.E. Europe S.A.S.

Volvo CE

BOX STORY

Fun-run to support children’s charity

Exhibitors and delegates to the IRE and APEX exhibitions will have the chance to raise funds for a deserving Netherlands-based charity by taking part in a 5 km fun-run to be held at the RAI convention centre on 26 June.

The run, which will start at the RAI exhibition centre at 7.00am, is in support of the children’s charity CliniClowns, which provides entertainment for children undergoing treatment in hospitals throughout the Netherlands as well as hospitals in Europe, Australia and the US.

The charity's aim is to offer a welcome diversion for children in hospital; "Not only because these kids deserve it, but also because they benefit greatly from it. Distraction and fun both work to relax the children and reduce their stress levels."

Runners are encouraged to obtain sponsorship for the run, either personally or through their employers. The IRE and APEX exhibitions are covering the costs of organisation, so every Euro raised by runners will go to the charity.

A similar run during the 2011 APEX show raised €3690 for the Ronald McDonald Huis in Maastricht, a charity that provides accommodation for families visiting their children in hospital.

The start and the finish of the run are close to the Amsterdam RAI exhibition centre, and most of the trail is off-road in the Beatrix Park. A cyclist will accompany the runners.

The show organiser, IPI, would like to have an idea of the number of runners who will take part, so if you are planning to run please send an e-mail to Han Heilig at: han@practica.nl