Bocker expands hoist rentals

Robert Bocker, sister company to Germany hoist manufacturer Steinweg-Bocker Baumaschinen, is expanding its hoist rental businesses in Germany and the Benelux.

The company first started renting construction hoists in Germany in mid-2007 - it had been renting other material handling equipment in Germany before that - and has now established small hoist rental fleets in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Dirk Fricke, Bocker Group's key account manager, told AI that the business had 15 hoists in Germany, four LX transport platforms and 3 ‘Giant' hoists in the Netherlands and a small number in Belgium as well.

"We are right at the beginning", said Mr Fricke, "and we will expand the fleet. We will not compete with the big rental companies...it will be a niche business." He said Bocker Netherlands and Bocker Belgium will add hoists on a contract-by-contract basis.

The company currently has three Giant Steinweg-Bocker Giant 2260 FC hoists working on the new Maastoren tower in Rotterdam, which is due for completion this year.

Mr Freicke said Bocker had no plans to extend the rental operation beyond the Netherlands and Belgium.