All Rental Management Articles

Before the recession the aim was profits growth. During recession the aim was to remain cash positive. Businesses now face the task of doing both simultaneously. Will Leftwich and Peter Thomas of WL Associates look at the dangers as rental businesses emerge from recession.

With fleets getting older there is even greater need to have a lean and efficient equipment maintenance operation. Murray Pollok reports.

The Australian rental market was relatively lucky last year – the country’s economy was one of the few to grow, and the government helped with a substantial stimulus programme. Murray Pollok talks to renters in the country.

Revenues at the world’s top 100 rental companies fell by 15% last year, and the reduction was closer to 20% for the largest companies. Murray Pollok reports in the IRN-100 survey for the year 2009.

‘New Opportunities’ was the theme for this year’s European Rental Association (ERA) Convention, held on 26-27 May in Prague. Murray Pollok reports from the city’s Corinthian Towers Hotel.

When United Rentals announced Operation United as its strategy nearly two years ago, the emphasis was – and remains – squarely on differentiation through excellent customer service. In this exclusive interview with Lucy Peterson, CEO Michael Kneeland explains why the strategy also includes a focus on national and strategic accounts as the key to long-term growth.

Netherlands power rental company Bredenoord is unusual in that it likes to develop and build its own gensets, including some rather special designs. Murray Pollok visited the company’s Apeldoorn facility.

Godwin Pumps is known worldwide for its Dri-Prime pumps manufactured in the UK, but the company also runs a massive pump rental business in the US. Murray Pollok spoke to John Paz, Godwin’s president.

The UK's largest rental company, Speedy, wants to be a £2 billion business by 2020. Steve Corcoran, the company's chief executive, explains how they aim to do it.

For the first time since consolidation played out earlier in the decade, the US rental industry has had to weather a severe downturn. Two industry veterans describe what it’s like to be back in the dance, managing independent rental operations in a tough economy. Lucy Peterson reports.

Speedy Hire held its own ‘mini-exhibition’ at which hundreds of its employees viewed the latest equipment from as many as 60 of its core suppliers.

Spanish rental company GAM is starting to rent in Iraq, Chile and Colombia this month in a continuation of its policy to expand its international business. GAM said its operations outside Spain would generate as much as US$ 60 million this year increasing to US$100-110 million in 2011.

Former JLG president Craig Paylor used his keynote address at the Europlatform conference to urge rental companies to exploit the full economic life of their machines, and warned the industry that it had to be ready for some major challenges, including increased competition from Asia and rising price pressures on machines.

HSS Hire is now offering customers estimated delivery times for equipment and electronic proof of delivery through its LiveHire online rental management tool.

A heavyweight line of speakers at this year's Europlatform access rental conference will provide expert advice on how to operate your business with optimum efficiency. The conference takes place in Madrid, Spain, on Thursday 16 September.

HAE (Hire Association Europe) has launched a new free advice hotline +44 (0)121 380 4646 for employment law, health and safety and legal advice.

Book your place now for the Europlatform conference in Madrid, Spain on 16 September.

A-Plant has launched an unmanned Auto Tool Hire Unit that would be located at customers’ sites to provide instant access to tools.

Craig Paylor, one of the best-known personalities in the access industry, will deliver the keynote address at the Europlatform conference being held on 16 September 2010 at the Hotel Eurostars Madrid Tower in Spain. The conference will take the theme of 'Renting Smart: Efficient Fleet Management'.

Hydrex Equipment (UK) Ltd has agreed a refinancing with its bankers that sees the company’s debt reduced to £50 million and an injection of an additional £8 million in finance. The arrangement takes the form of a £45 million debt-for-equity swap.