European rental award winners announced on Wednesday 15 May

The winners of this year’s European Rental Awards will be announced on 15 May during the European Rental Association’s annual convention, being held in Paris on 15 and 16 May.

The awards - jointly organised by International Rental News and the European Rental Association – will be held at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile Hotel (formerly the Hotel Lafayette), which adjoins the Convention venue, the Palais des Congrés at Porte Maillot in west Paris.

The convention will again feature expert speakers from the industry, including US rental consultant Dan Kaplan, HSS chief executive Chris Davies, Christine Le Forestier from the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC) and Basile Benoit, director equipment and Services EMEA at Deutsche Bank.

Senior executives from Loxam, Ramirent, Kiloutou, Boels, Cramo, Riwal and Bergerat Monnoyeur will also participate in the workshops and round-table sessions.

This year's Convention also sees Gérard Déprez, founding ERA president, step down from his post and a new president voted in. The association will also vote for a new board.

The shortlists for the rental awards are as follows:

Large Rental Company of the Year (turnover >€15m)

• Boels Rental (Netherlands)
• Riwal (Netherlands)
• VP plc (UK)

Small Rental Company of the Year (turnover <€15m)

• Dromad Hire (Republic of Ireland)
• GGR (UK)
• Industrial Access (Romania)
• Italnolo (Italy)
• Storent (Latvia)

Rental Product of the Year 2012

• El Bjorn - TF 50 Fan Dryer (Sweden)
• Haulotte - HT23 RTJ boom (France)
• Himoinsa - Power Cube Generator (Spain)
• Husqvarna - K760 Oil Guard (Sweden)
• Off Grid Energy - Grid to Go Generator (UK)

Rental person of the Year

• To be announced on the night.

Lifetime Achievement Award

• To be announced on the night.

For more details on the two-day event, see www.erarental.org.