European Rental Award shortlists announced

The shortlists for the European Rental Awards have been announced following the meeting of the judging panel in Paris on 15 March.

The shortlisted companies are:

Large Rental Company of the Year (>€15 million revenues)
AFI-Uplift (UK)
GAP Group (UK)
Kiloutou (France)
Nixon Hire (UK)

Small Rental Company of the Year (<€15 million revenues)
Johnny Servis (Czech Republic)
Naboen Utleie (Norway)
NRC (Russia)
Rentforce (Russia)

Rental Product of the Year in 2011
Caterpillar (300.9D mini-excavator)
Hilti (TE 3000-AVR breaker)
Hinowa (IIIS system for aerial platforms)
JLG Industries (1500SJ aerial platform)
TowerLight (VB9 LED Battery Ibird lighting tower)

Rental Person of the Year
To be announced at the awards dinner in Oslo.

Lifetime Achievement Award
To be announced at the awards dinner in Oslo.

The winners will be revealed at the European Rental Awards dinner in Oslo, Norway on 15 May, during the European Rental Association (ERA) annual convention. The awards are a joint venture between International Rental News (IRN) and the ERA.

More than 40 entries were received for the four main categories.

The judges said they were looking for rental companies with a vision and evidence that this vision was being implement, and not just for a successful financial performance and growth; "It was gratifying to see a number of very active and innovative companies. On this evidence Europe has no shortage of world class rental businesses.

"In the product categories it isn't realistic to expect manufacturers to reinvent standard products every year, but the entries this year show that they are making significant improvements to products and in many cases these refinements are made specifically with rental companies in mind.

"One of the things the ERA wanted to accomplish when it was created was to encourage manufacturers to think about the rental sector when they develop new products. The products entered this year demonstrate that this is increasingly happening."

The judges were Gérard Déprez (CEO, Loxam, and ERA President), Geert Follens (President, Atlas Copco Portable Energy), Kevin Minton (Senior Manager, Construction Plant-hire Association), Murray Pollok (Editor, IRN) and Magnus Rosén (CEO, Ramirent).

To reserve your place at the awards dinner on the 15th please contact the European Rental Association (ERA). Places can be reserved online at www.erarental.com