Rental grows as contractors increase outsourcing

Worldwide equipment rental revenues grew significantly in 2011 as contractors and other equipment users increased their reliance on rental suppliers, according to the latest IRN100 survey of the largest 100 equipment rental companies worldwide published by International Rental News (IRN) magazine.

Total rental-related revenues at the world's top 100 rental companies grew by 13.3% last year, with revenues at the top 10 growing on average by 22.9%, after adjusting for currency changes. The full survey is published in the July-August issue of IRN.

North American rental companies in the list grew on average by 17% while European renters reported much more modest growth of 5.9%. United Rentals tops the list - even before accounting for its recent RSC acquisition - with power rental company Aggreko at number two.

The 2011 survey reflects wider trends in the global economy, with growth shifting to emerging markets and recovery in the US proving more robust than in Europe. Of the top 100 companies, 44 are from Europe, the lowest number since the survey was started in 2005 and the first time it has been below 50.

Emerging markets continues to increase their participation in the list, with Chinese and Middle East companies in the top 100 for the first time. Chinese tower crane rental company Shanghai Pangyuan Construction enters at number 90 with revenues of €77 million, while Dubai-based Rental Solutions & Services (RSS) and Byrne Equipment Rental enter at 85 and 93, respectively.

Capital expenditure on fleet was also up dramatically in 2011, with the top 25 spenders investing €5.7 billion, gross, in their fleets. That is more than double the €2.5 billion in 2010 and reflects high replacement investment by rental companies in the US, Japan and Australia.

The full list, including a smaller ‘top 50' for Europe, is published in the July-August issue of IRN, which can be downloaded in digital format from www.khl.com.

An expanded version of the magazine IRN100 will soon be available to buy from KHL's information store, www.khl.com/information-store, either as a report on single years, or as a multi-annual study.