Dutch Aerial Giant Riwal Enters German Market

April 20, 2010
Netherlands-based international aerial giant Riwal is opening its first German branch May 1 and representatives from Riwal Germany promoted the new business venture at Bauma.

Netherlands-based international aerial giant Riwal is opening its first German branch May 1 and representatives from Riwal Germany promoted the new business venture at Bauma.

Located in Dortmund near the airport, in the industrial heart of Germany, the new Riwal branch is about 32,000 square feet and will be managed by rental industry veteran Christoph Scheeben.

With operations in nearby countries such as Denmark, Poland and France, as well as Norway, Spain, Slovenia, Croatia, the Baltic states, England, Kazakhstan, Brazil and the Middle East, Riwal had hoped to expand into Germany for some time.

“It was just a matter of finding the right local people to open up Riwal Germany GmbH,” said Riwal CEO Dick Schalekamp. “In Christoph we have found the experience, skills and motivation that are needed in order to start, build and manage the Riwal business in Germany successfully.”

“Compared to most other European countries, the German access rental business seems to have suffered less and in several industries and areas like the enormous Ruhr area, short-term prospects are positive,” said Scheeben. “We believe that with a combination of experienced staff from the industry and the best available equipment of manufacturers like JLG, Genie, Teupen, Wumag, Ruthmann and Holland Lift, we can succeed anywhere. Obviously our primary focus is to be successful with self-propelled and truck-mounted aerial work platforms as well as telehandlers in the ‘Ruhrgebiet.’ However, for the coming years, we will also be looking at other parts of Germany to penetrate in with the help of the Team Riwal members in Denmark, France and Poland. We aim to add more depots in areas that will bring profitable business. We also seek co-operation with other rental companies, a formula that has proved well for the Team Riwal in other regions in the past.”

Scheeben and his colleagues attended Bauma to promote Riwal’s entry into the German market, as well as the new Ruthmann TB270 and the Holland Lift G-320-EL30 4WDS-N on display in Riwal colors.

Riwal is based in Dordrecht, Netherlands.