April 2009
Cover Story
The Green Wave
When RSC Equipment Rental decided to implement a sustainability plan for its 460 national rental stores, the company wasn't thinking about the money such...
Show Beat '09
SmartEquip Reaches 3 Million Parts Ordered Milestone
Earlier this year, SmartEquip reached the milestone of 3 million parts ordered using its system. What makes that particularly remarkable is not the number...
Aichi Lifts are Gaining Market Share in North America
Everybody knows about Toyota. We drive their cars, which have an extremely high reputation for quality. Toyota's management systems have been chronicled...
Hilti's Tool Fleet Management System Cost Effectively Adds Fleet
Hilti is proud of its history of innovation, quality tools and customer service. And with today's business climate full of capital and financing challenges,...
Gemini Saw Introduces Revolution Tile Cutting Blade
Torrance, Calif.-based Gemini Saw Co. recently introduced its Revolution XT saw blade at The Rental Show in Atlanta where demonstrators showed attendees...
Features
Reserving Energy Until Economy Powers Up
Participants: Roddy Yates, generator product manager, Baldor Electric Co., Fort Smith, Ark. Pam Meyer, equipment sales manager, Subaru Robin America,...
Industry News
Ahern Rentals Revenue Jumps 12 Percent in ’08; Company Adds Branches to Boost Flagging Utilization
Ahern Rentals posted a 12.3-percent increase in rental revenue in 2008, with $329.5 million in rental revenue compared with $293.4 million for 2007. Total revenue jumped 12.1 percent to $381.6 million, compared with $340.5 million in 2007. Gross profit was essentially flat, $117.4 million in 2008, compared with $118.5 million in 2007....
MMD Equipment Reaches Distribution Agreement on Airman Products, Others
Mitsui Machinery Distribution, Swedesboro, N.J., distributors of Airman compressors and generators, the Sakai line of compaction machinery and the MMD/NAC line of light construction equipment, has sold the assets and trademarks of the company to Rajysan Inc., dba MMD Equipment in California. The agreement was effective March 18....
Ashtead Group Names New CEO at Sunbelt Rentals
Ashtead Group plc, parent company of Sunbelt Rentals, today announced the departure of president and CEO Cliff Miller....
Equipment Depot Acquires Forklift Dealer Equipment Services
Equipment Depot of Texas, based in Waco, Texas, last week acquired Equipment Service Inc., a privately held forklift dealership in Longview, Texas....
Volvo Rents Names Bullock Franchise of the Year
Paul Bullock and family were named Volvo Rents’ 2008 Franchise of the Year for the third year in a row during Volvo Rents’ Circle of Excellence Awards. The awards were part of Volvo Rents’ annual franchise convention held in February in Palm Springs, Calif. The Franchise of the Year Award is given to the owner group that demonstrates strong store growth, return on fleet, receivables management, training attendance, marketing, branding and appearance....
Coble Trench Safety Adds Norfolk Branch
Coble Trench Safety, a Greensboro, N.C.-based company specializing in the rental and sales of trench safety equipment and OSHA-compliant training classes, and the rental and sales of traffic safety equipment, last week opened a new branch in Norfolk, Va., to service Norfolk, Tidewater and surrounding areas in Virginia....
WesternOne Equity Fund Posts 2008 Revenue Gains
WesternOne Equity Income Fund posted CA $37.6 million in revenue (about U.S. $35.3) in 2008, compared with CA $22.5 million in 2007, a 67 percent increase. ...
California’s Action Equipment Rentals Acquires Rental Business of Morris Levin & Sons
Action Equipment Rentals, based in the California Central Valley town of Hanford, Calif., with a branch in nearby Madera, Calif., last week finalized the acquisition of the rental business of Morris Levin & Son, based in Tulare, Calif., with a branch in Porterville, Calif....
From the Editor
Saving the Planet is Good Business
This month's cover story is about incorporating environmental principles into rental center design. We didn't choose to present a cover story about environmental...
Columns
Megabytes
Updated Website Helps Parts Managers Stay on Top of Key Inventory LockMasters USA, a supplier of aftermarket equipment keys to equipment rental companies,...
Rubber-Track Models Absorb Shock Over Rough Terrain
Caterpillar introduces three models of compact track loaders the 279C (pictured), 289C and 299C which are the newest additions to the company's line of...
Electric Saw Slices Through Thick Materials
The K 3000 electric Cut-n-Break from Husqvarna is capable of cutting through walls up to 16 inches thick, and is suited for window and door openings,...
Soil Sensors Simplify Compaction Applications
Multiquip's newest addition to its full line of walk-behind trench rollers is the Rammax P33/24HHMR ACE. The patented compaction technology allows users...
Controlled Power Surfaces in Demolition Tools
The Hilti TE 60 Combihammer features a 1,200-watt motor that delivers improved power for drilling, chiseling and demolition in concrete, stone and masonry....
What Else Is New?
Sellick Equipment's STT80 tow forklift is available in both two- and four-wheel drive, has the lift capacity of 13,000 pounds at 12-inch load center and...
Up Front: Ear to the Marketplace
Serge Bosche, president of Manitou in North America, has served the company for 25 years and has helped guide the manufacturer through good times and...
Deere Basks Under the Phoenix Sun
In early March while rental industry professionals were convening in Atlanta for the Rental Show, I was able to learn about and operate the latest John...
Product Spotlight
Lawn & Garden Equipment Available for the Rental Industry
Morbark The Beever M6R drum-style chipper from Morbark features wider infeed and throat openings, allowing the operator to safely feed wide, branchy materials....
Engines Available for the Rental Industry
Yanmar Yanmar announces the availability of B20-compatible diesel engines across its product line. The company has a dedicated facility in Malaysia called...
Air Tools Available for the Rental Industry
Kaeser Compressors The KPB series of ergonomic paving breakers from Kaeser Compressors are available in 50-, 60- and 90-pound models. These air tools...
