All Business & Finance Articles

Brazil has the fastest growing rental market in the world. But is it growing too fast, and can the construction boom be sustained? Murray Pollok, IRN Editor, asked rental companies and suppliers in the country.

Lavendon Access Services has launched an anti-crush safety device for boom platforms. At the same time, a major UK contractor has said that all booms used on its sites from 3 January 2012 onwards will need to be fitted with crushing protection.

Brazilian powered access, formwork and scaffolding company Mills Estruturas e Serviços de Engenharia (Mills) said the demand for equipment had increased in the third quarter as construction activity recovered in the country.

RSC Equipment Rental will hold a nationwide ‘Yard Sale’ of used equipment at its depots all day on Thursday, 8 December, with almost 1000 categories of equipment available.

Third quarter sales grew by over 20% in all of its territories with the exception of Central Europe

UK rental company Hewden has signed a three year sponsorship deal with Aviva Premiership rugby club, Sale Sharks.

David Downie, chief operating officer of HSS, is to leave the company at the end of December and may seek a new executive role in the rental industry.

Trade body Unacea reports further declines in earthmoving, road building and concrete equipment markets

Access and power rental company Manlift Middle East has expanded its Abu Dhabi operation by moving into a new purpose-built facility in the main Abu Dhabi industrial area, Musaffah.

According to Rouse Asset Services, scissor lifts have commanded the highest rise in price for used equipment in North America both between August and September 4.7% and over the last six months 14.3%.

Belgium rental company, Heli has moved into new premises, which consolidates all its operations and divisions in one location. The company split its operations, which includes rental, machine sales - including Snorkel and Bluelift - and logistics, after a period of rapid growth three years ago.

Oshkosh, the parent company of JLG reported a 91% rise in orders in the company's fourth quarter (ending 30 September 2011). Sales increased 60.7% to $619.6 million in the final quarter compared to 2010 and profit increased 376.7% to $34.8 million (5.2% of sales)

In its third quarter financial report Manitou shows it is still enjoying significant growth and orders remain high although the company still thinks 2012 could be unpredictable despite anticipating a 10 to 15% revenue growth.

After a two year spending freeze, Rob McMeeking, the managing director of the EPL Skylift said that the UK vehicle mount division of the Lavendon Group will spending around £4 million on new equipment next year.

Xylem, the new name for the ITT Water & Wastewater business recently spun off from ITT Corp, said it will offer a turnkey dewatering service for contractors through its worldwide sales and distribution network.

Cramo said it will grow its business “significantly” this year and double its EBITA profits in a upgrading of its guidance for the year. It had previously said sales would grow and that profitability would improve.

Europe's rental industry will grow by an estimated 5.5% this year followed by slightly slower growth of 4% in 2012 and 3% in 2013, predicts the European Rental Association (ERA) in its latest European Equipment Rental Industry 2011 Report.

Compact Power Equipment Services (CPES), which offers rental services at 280 Home Depot sites in North America, has partnered with Terex Construction to add tracked loaders, skid steers and mini excavators to its product range.

APR Energy (APR) has entered into a partnership with Pratt & Whitney Power Systems (PWPS) that will give APR exclusive access to Pratt & Whitney’s 25 MW mobile gas turbines for rental applications.

Terex’s aerial work platform division posted a 58.9% increase in sales to US$448.7 million for the third quarter of 2011, driven by replacement sales to large North American rental companies and “steady” increases in sales to customers in Europe and the Middle East. Operating profits almost doubled to $27 million.