All Rental Articles

Phillip Hobson is now the senior vice president, operations - a new role within RSC Equipment Rental in the US. He was just previously senior vice president, corporate operations. Mr Hobson is responsible for managing the field performance for the Western division of the organization.

Tim Ford, president of Terex AWP, will give the keynote address at the Europlatform access rental conference in Milan, Italy, on 15 September.

One of North America’s largest construction equipment re-rent companies, Acme Lift, has appointed Bryan Rich as chairman to its new strategic advisory board. Rich will be chairman and equity partner of the five-member advisory board that will shape Acme.

UK rental company VP plc has reported almost identical revenues for the year to 31 March 2009, with sales up 1% to £150.9 million (€172 million) and net profits marginally down at £15.1 million (€17.2 million).

A-Plant in the UK has won two four-year “framework agreements” with the Environment Agency covering the rental of tools and equipment and the maintenance and servicing of the Agency’s existing fleet of equipment.

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.

United Rentals is raising net funds of $471.2 million by selling $500 million in senior notes. This is an increase on the $300 million issue previously announced, which was oversubscribed.

Manitou has appointed a new chief executive officer to replace Marcel Claude Braud. Mr Braud will remain as non-executive chairman of the board, with the new CEO being Jean-Christophe Giroux. Mr Giroux was until recently chairman and CEO of telecoms company Alcatel-Lucent France.

Rental companies recruit from too small a group of people and so exclude some of the most talented individuals in society. This was the message from Mike Davies, human resources director of Finning UK (which owns Hewden), at the European Rental Association's annual convention in Manchester on 26-27 May.

International Rental News (IRN) and the European Rental Association (ERA) are jointly launching a quarterly rental confidence tracker to monitor business sentiment in Europe’s rental sector.

Surfwood Supply now offers Skyjack VR telehandlers.

The European Rental Awards were held at the Midland Hotel in Manchester, UK, on 26 May as part of the European Rental Association's annual Convention.

HSS Hire in the UK has launched what it believes to be the first ever online renting service that allows selected customers to on- and off-rent equipment in real time over the internet, as well as access a wide range of other information on their rented equipment.

Speedy Hire in the UK has announced a fully underwritten rights issue to raise approximately £100 million (€115 million) through the issuing of 458.6 million shares at £0.23 (€0.26), equivalent to an 86% discount on the £1.76 (€2.02) closing price on 27 May.

Speedy Hire's revenues for its fiscal year ending 31 March 2009 were £476.1 million (€547.5 million), up 2.3% from £465.5 million (€535.5 million) in 2008. However, EBITDA for the UK company fell 4.6%, from £131.6 million (€151.3 million) to £125.6 million (€144.4 million), reflecting a decline in operating margin, from 13.7% to 10.4%.

Pon Holdings B.V. in The Netherlands has combined its global aerial lift, materials handling, and forklift equipment companies into one group: Pon Material Handling. The new company, which rents, sells, and services equipment, is consolidating its headquarters staff to Houston, Texas.

Volvo Construction Equipment Rents has opened a rental house in Seabrook, TX.

HSS Hire won the tool, equipment and plant hire company of the year award in the Hire Association Europe (HAE)/Event Hire Association (EHA) annual UK and Ireland awards. It also won awards for the best website and for its contribution to environmental issues.

Aggreko won the Large Rental Company of the Year award at the IRN/ERA rental awards dinner in Manchester, UK, on Tuesday, with Sweden’s Lipac Liftar winning the Small Rental Company of the Year category.

United Rental's CEO Michael Kneeland talks to Murray Pollok about managing United through the recession.