Access 50

United Rentals remains in the top spot with a fleet size in excess of 65000 units – an increase of 3.6% on 2004 – with the next four places the same as last year.

New European entrants include Panther Platform Rentals in the UK, GAM in Spain and the Ring Lift franchise business in Germany. In the US, places are found for the first time for Seattle-based Star Rentals (number 39) and California High Reach (number 50). Another US company, The Home Depot, just misses out, having an estimated 1000 lifts. (The company has a very small number of platforms at around half of its almost 1100 stores.)

The survey also reflects the difficulties still faced by some in the business. Lavendon drops one place in the list to seven, its fleet having shrunk by almost 10%, reflecting changes at its German operation. Around 12 of the top 50 saw fleet changes stay within +/-5% of last year's figure.

See page 15 for this year's full results.