NES sells hoist business

In the US, NES Rentals has sold its industrial hoist division to its current management team, supported by Chicago-based investment company Prospect Partners and the former NES chief executive officer Kevin P Rodgers.

Rodgers, who first acquired the hoist business for NES in 1997, will become chief executive officer of the new company, to be called Industrial

Hoist Services, LP. (IHS). James Kowalik, who was general manager of the business, is president, and current executives Mark Atnip (operations), Anthony Piwonka (sales) and Ed Gonzales (service) retain their positions.

Louis Kenter, a principal of Prospect Partners who also becomes chairman of IHS, said the hoist business did not fit with NES's general rental business; “We see significant opportunities for growth, including the ability to further develop the market for new construction as well as markets such as the certifying, load-testing and maintenance of hoists, overhead cranes and winches.”

IHS rents and sells chain hoists and winches ranging in capacity from 0.5 US tons to 100 US tons and inspects, maintains, repairs and certifies industrial heavy lifting and rigging equipment, including overhead bridge cranes. It is headquartered in Brazoria, Texas, and has depots in Columbus, Ohio; Atlanta, Georgia; and Geismar, Louisiana.