IRC conference opens in Beijing

The third International Rental Conference (IRC) has opened in Beijing, attended by more than 250 delegates, including many of the largest rental companies in China and Asia.

The conference began with keynote speaker, Chris Davies, CEO of UK rental company HSS Hire, arguing that rental managers should see customer service as their key objective rather than asset management.

“Just because you work in rental” concluded Mr Davies, “doesn’t mean you need to think like the traditional rental industry.”

Key topics at the conference – which is organised by International Rental News magazine – include the development of the aerial platform rental sector and the role that equipment dealers will play in developing rental, particularly in earthmoving equipment.

Rental is being seen in China as one way for dealers to expand their businesses in the face of a slowdown in construction activity and softness in new equipment sales.

See www.khl.com for reports on the presentations.

The conference is being held on the day before the start of the BICES exhibition. BICES is held in alternate years from Bauma China and is a major event for China’s construction sector.

IRC is being sponsored by the following companies: Gold sponsor is Genie/Terex AWP; Silver sponsors are JLG and Sany; and Supporting sponsors are Dingli, Haulotte, Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Skyjack and Sinoboom.