Get ready for rental awards and IRE 2014

The 2014 European rental Awards will be held at the RAI exhibition centre in Amsterdam on 25 June, 2014, during the International Rental Exhibition (IRE) and the European Rental Association’s annual convention. Murray Pollok reports.

Rental companies and suppliers to the rental industry are invited to participate in the annual European Rental Awards, taking place in Amsterdam during the three-day rental ‘summit’ on 24-26 June, comprising the awards, the ERA’s annual convention, and the International Rental Exhibition (IRE), which returns after its usual three year gap.

On these two pages you will find details of the three events, all of which take place at the Amsterdam RAI exhibition and convention centre close to the centre of Amsterdam and just 15 minutes by train from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.

An added bonus for visitors to the events this year is that the well-established APEX aerial platform exhibition – the largest dedicated gathering of access equipment in the world – switches from its usual Maastricht home to Amsterdam on the same three days. Visitors to the IRE will have free access to APEX.

The Awards

If June seems like a long way away, then remember that the deadline for the rental awards is much sooner, on Friday 21 February.

This year sees a return to the broader range of award categories that is used every three years, with six categories as well as a special Lifetime Achievement award, as follows:

• Large Rental Company of the Year (turnover over €15 million)
• Small/Mid-sized Rental Company of the Year (turnover under €15 million)
• Rental Product of the Year (for product launched during 2013)
• ERA/IRN Rental Person of the Year
• Rental Marketing Campaign of the Year
• Rental Safety Campaign of the Year
• In addition, the judging panel may present a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The deadline for award entries is: FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2014.

The awards are open to any company operating in Europe, and companies do not have to be members of ERA to enter. Full judging criteria, together with the downloadable entry form, can be found at the awards website: www.khl.com/rentalawards

International Rental Exhibition (IRE)

The International Rental Exhibition (IRE) returns to the Amsterdam RAI exhibition centre in June 2014, although this year with the added benefit of being held concurrently with the APEX aerial platform show, taking place in an adjoining hall. APEX attracts thousands of rental visitors from all over the world.

ERA secretary general, Michel Petitjean, says APEX will give the IRE show a real boost; “IRE and APEX will benefit from increased visitors numbers from both exhibitions. ERA strongly encourages all rental companies to save the date of the next IRE and plan to be present at both the show and the ERA Convention.

"ERA also encourages all suppliers with a strong focus on the rental industry to consider exhibiting at the IRE show and to use this occasion to meet and exchange with their existing and prospective clients.”

According to Tony Kenter, managing director of show organiser IPI, the timing is right for the show; “The ERA is forecasting that 2014 will be the year when Europe’s rental sector starts to grow again, so the show will be well timed.

“The fact that we are adding APEX alongside IRE will only be an advantage, since the majority of APEX visitors are in the rental sector. The two shows make perfect companions.”

Many companies have already booked their places at the show, and more will be booking in the coming months. Already confirmed are companies including: Armada Dynamics AS, BBA Pumps, Brendon Powerwashers, Hilti, InspHire, KAESER, Terex Compact, Thwaites Dumpers, Tower Light and Yanmar Construction Equipment.

Exhibitors at the APEX show will include: Bronto Skylift, Terex AWP (Genie), JLG, Manitou, Merlo, Palfinger Platforms, Ruthmann and Skyjack, plus dozens more.

ERA Convention

The European Rental Association (ERA) is currently finalising the programme for its three day convention, but the broad outline is already established, as follows:

Tuesday 24 June

• Depot visits: 12.00 – 3.00pm
• CEO panel discussion: 4.00 – 6.00pm
• Welcome cocktail: 6.00 – 7.00pm

Wednesday 25 June

• Roundtable sessions: 10.00 – 12.00
• Plenary session: 2.00 – 6.00pm (with one hour break in the middle)
• Awards dinner: 7.00 – 11.00pm (dinner starts at 8.00pm)

Thursday 26 June

• Roundtable sessions: 10.00 – 11.00am
• ERA AGM: 11.00 – 12.00
• Guest speaker: 12.30 – 1.30pm
• ERA lunch: 1.30-3.30pm

Throughout the convention ERA has earmarked free time for delegates to visit the IRE show.

BOX STORY

Event details

Rental Awards: Elicium Centre, Amsterdam RAI

ERA Convention: Elicium Centre, Amsterdam RAI

International Rental Exhibition (IRE): Hall 2, Amsterdam RAI

Amsterdam RAI

Europaplein, NL 1078 GZ

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

www.rai.nl
Tel: +31 (0) 20 549 12 12

Organisers:

• The European Rental Awards are jointly organised by the European Rental Association and International Rental News.
• The IRE exhibition is organised by Industrial Promotions International (IPI) in association with IRN.
• The European Rental Association (ERA) convention is organised by the ERA.

BOX STORY

Contacts

European Rental Awards

Award entries submitted to:

Murray Pollok, Editor, IRN

E-mail: Murray.Pollok@khl.com