Liebherr enters UK rental market

Liebherr will have a UK rental business running in England, Scotland and Wales by the third quarter of this year, with an initial investment of £7 million (€10,4 million) in a fleet of 55 machines located at three depots.

A separate UK company called Liebherr-Rental Ltd has been formed to operate the business and a management team, including managing director, are currently being recruited.

Liebherr-Rental will offer long and short term rentals and will be based at Liebherr's existing UK headquarters at Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. Other rental depots will be at existing Liebherr regional centres in Wigan and Bathgate.

The fleet will comprise earthmoving, quarrying, demolition and materials handling equipment. However, CE understands the fleet will not include lifting equipment – either cranes or the company's new telescopic handlers.

Liebherr said the rental operation would “in no way conflict with the capital equipment sales activities, but broadens the products and services already on offer to customers. This will provide the opportunity to operate specialist Liebherr equipment on a hire basis – and directly from the manufacturer.”

The initiative – previously announced by Liebherr – will add the UK to the existing Liebherr Mietpartner rental network in Germany, France, Italy and Spain. This network generated rental revenues of €143 million from 124 depots in 2005. The company also plans to establish rental operations in Poland and Russia.