Chicagoland Rental Firms Combine Forces

Oct. 1, 2000
CHICAGO - Chicagoland rental companies Will Rent, based here, and Steve's Equipment Service, West Chicago, Ill., have acquired Portable Tool Sales & Service,

CHICAGO - Chicagoland rental companies Will Rent, based here, and Steve's Equipment Service, West Chicago, Ill., have acquired Portable Tool Sales & Service, closing two locations in Villa Park and Springfield with plans to expand two other locations in Riverdale and McHenry.

All three companies will continue to operate under separate identities, although they will work together to improve service and fleet offerings, according to Will Rent president Julie McKevitt, who also will oversee Portable Tool Sales & Service. "We now have a much larger line of rental equipment from which general contractors, subcontractors and municipal entities can choose," McKevitt said. "One of the improvements for Portable Tool Sales & Service is the addition of the full line of Sullivan-Palatek construction and industrial air compressors."

Will Rent has annual revenue of about $4 million, Steve's Equipment generates about $20 million, and Portable Tool Sales brings in about $7 million.