Rental news highlights

Gerard Deprez, managing director of Loxam and president of the European Rental Association has urged Europe's rental companies to exploit fully the opportunity offered by the ERA's annual convention and the International Rental Exhibition. Interviewed in this issue of IRN, Mr Deprez said; "it's a fantastic opportunity for the European ‘rental family' to meet: suppliers, rental competitors, big companies and small. The convention gives us time to talk about rental away from the day to day pressures of running businesses. We can learn from each other, learn what the ERA has been doing, and - importantly - help shape what it will do in the future."

IHIMER used the Samoter exhibition in Verona in March to launch the first tracked skid steer loader to be built by Japan's IHI. IHIMER is the European joint venture between Italy's Imer and IHI of Japan. The CL35 is powered by a 67 hp Yanmar engine and has a 0.36 m3 capacity loader shovel and load capacity of 735 kg. Dimensions are 3.45 m (L, including the shovel) by 1.67 m (W) by 2.13 m (H). The new tracked model, which was launched in North America in February, will complement IHIMER's existing range of US-built Mustang wheeled skid steers.

Italian Hitachi dealer SCAI continues to develop its rental business, SCAI Servizio Noleggio. The company has 10 locations and 800 items of equipment, from Hitachi's 0.8 t mini model up to a 120 t excavator. Alessandro Cesaretti, SCAI rental manager, told IRN that the company aimed to increase its fleet to 1100-1200 units within two or three years. Likely additions to the fleet include a number of the specialist material handling excavators, the 350LC-3.

GreenMech's Multi-Task 120 mobile tool carrier, introduced as a prototype at Bauma in 2007 and developed jointly with rental company MVS Zeppelin for the German market, is now available globally. The 4880 kg model was designed for Deutsche Bahn Railways, which was looking for a machine to clear plant growth on embankments on its tracks. The Multi-Task can carry a chipper, a 1.5 m mulching head from Italian manufacturer Seppi, and most Bobcat and Caterpillar skid steer attachments. The latest version of the steel-tracked carrier is powered by an electronic 118PS Deutz engine and have air conditioned and heated cabs. It can negotiate lateral gradients up to 45º, and its 30º side-swivelling seat compensates for chassis tilt up to the same amount to keep the operator level.

The Smopyc show in Zaragoza is Spain's most important construction exhibition and takes place on 22-26 April. The show will play host to many of Spain's equipment manufacturers - including Ausa, Matilsa, Camac and many others. See Events Diary for details.

Workx (formerly Jaston Groep) has extended its rental operations in the Netherlands by acquiring two small companies in the east of the country, BHS Verhuur and Rodijk Bouwmachine Verhuur. The buying prices were not made public. BHS was established in 1990, employs 8 people and operates two locations south of Nijmegen, at Cuijk and Boxmeer. Rodijk was founded by brothers Jan and Tonny Rodijk and operates from a single location at Raalte.

Atlas Copco Compressors in the US has become an approved supplier of small compressors to the Cat Rental Stores network. Scott Carnell, vice president portable air business line at Atlas Copco Compressors, said he hoped the link could add between 5 and 10% to its compressor sales.

Kubota has added a U30 model zero tailswing excavator to fit between the company's U25 and U35 models. A new size of the company, the key feature of the 3.36 t rated U30-32 is its width of 1.55 m, 20cm narrower than the U35. Manufactured in Germany and available from June this year, the U30 uses the same cab and engine and the U25/35 models. The excavator is pictured at the Samoter show in Italy in March where it was launched.

Finland's Cramo has entered the Czech and Slovack rental markets having acquired Techniline spol.s.r.o. (Techniline). Techniline, founded in 1990, is headquartered in Prague and has depots in Prague, Pardubice and Ostrava, as well as in Bratislava and Kosice in Slovakia. Sales were over €8 million in 2007. Cramo has also recently made acquisitions in Latvia (Tapeks Noma) and Sweden (Stockholm-based aerial platform renter Kranab and general rental firm Hyrmaskiner i Bollnäs AB).

Carrier Corp's rental division, Carrier Rental Systems, is to rent 22 air-cooled chillers for use at the Beijing Olympics International Broadcasting Centre. The centre at the Beijing Olympic Park will provide facilities for over 16000 journalists. Carrier said its Chinese company, Carrier BSS China, "has obtained a nearly 70% share of the total [permanent installed] HVAC contracts for Beijing Olympic venues and related facilities".