GREENWICH, Conn.- United Rentals recently announced 15 acquisitions, including seven traffic control equipment companies, two trench-shoring specialists and a special events rental firm. Total revenues for the acquired companies are about $100 million. The latest purchases further United's recent ventures into specialty rental markets.

The traffic control companies are four-location Safety Lights, based in Austin, Texas; four-location Swank Sign Erection, Murrysville, Pa.; three-locati on Flasher Barricade, Salt Lake City; two-location firms Work Zone, Harvey, La., and Highway Supply, Albuquerque, N.M.; and single-location Contractor Barricade Service, Ventura, Calif.; and Dakota Trails, Selby, S.D.

In the trench-shoring sector, United acquired Efficiency Production, a three-location company based in Orlando, Fla., and Security Contractor Services, San Jose, Calif. And in the special events area, United bought Orlando-based Hood Tent Rental, a two-location company.

United also bought six general rental companies: Beltsville, Md.-based A to Z Rental Center, three locations; RPL Equipment, Long Island, N.Y., two locations; and single-location companies Kissell Equipment, State College, Pa., Van's Equipment Rentals, Burlington, Wash., Able Equipment, Toledo, Ohio, and New England Rental Center, Manchester, N.H.

Since the beginning of this year, United has completed 21 acquisitions with combined annual revenues of about $150 million. It now has 722 branches in 45 states, six Canadian provinces and Mexico.

In other United news, the board of directors approved a share repurchase program that authorizes the company to acquire up to $200 million of its issued and outstanding common stock. Share repurchases under the program may be made between now and May 2002, on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.

ATLANTA - United Rentals has acquired RentSource, a division of Burch-Lowe Inc., RER has learned. According to sources, United now owns all of RentSource's 10 Georgia locations. The Burch-Lowe distributorship will continue under the leadership of the Burch family.

RentSource has four stand-alone locations as well as six facilities on the grounds of Burch-Lowe distributorships. United has yet to announce its plans for those facilities.

Neither officials from United nor Burch-Lowe could be reached for comment.

One of the first distributors to have a major rental presence, Burch-Lowe is No. 40 on the RER 100. Its highway-heavy division will continue to distribute construction, earth moving, mining, paving and industrial equipment.