Latest IRN100 survey reveals impact of slowdown

The latest IRN100 survey of the world's top 100 equipment rental companies - covering the year 2008 - reveals an industry in transition between boom times and the current recession.

Overall, revenues of the top 100 companies (adjusted for currency changes to compare with 2007) rose by around 2.9% to €27.7 billion, while revenues at the top five companies - dominated by US firms - fell by around 7%.

The survey includes a separate list of Europe's top 50 companies, and this shows revenue growth of around 10%, reflecting the acquisition activity in Europe during late 2007 and early 2008 (and affecting companies including Lavendon, Boels, Riwal and BM Location.)

The downturn that impacted the market in the last quarter is reflected in capital expenditure figures - the top 25 investors last year spent a total of €4.3 billion on new fleet, down 22% on 2007. The fall will be far greater in next year's survey.

United Rentals again tops the IRN100, followed by RSC, Ashtead, Hertz and Aggreko. The company with the largest rental revenues in Europe is again Loxam of France.

New entrants to the list this year include Singapore-based crane rental company Tat Hong, Harsco Infrastructure (owner of scaffolding and formwork companies SGB, Patent and Hunnebeck) and Malthus, the Norwegian portable accommodation rental business.

The full survey will be published in the June issue of International Rental News (IRN).

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