GREENWICH, Conn. - Though the size of deals has diminished, United Rentals remains busy on the acquisition front, adding 28 companies with 58 branches and about $175 million in revenues in the second half of 1999.

United continues to aggressively pursue the traffic safety segment, with the purchase of seven specialists in seven states: Traffic Safety Services (North Dakota); State Barricading (Ohio); Colorado Barricade; Fitzpatrick Barricade (California); Western Traffic (Illinois); Two-Way Traffic (Pennsylvania); and Flasher Co. of Oklahoma.

In the general rental segment in the eastern United States, United bought Valley Rent-All (Pennsylvania); Trident Equipment (Georgia); Smedley Lifts (Connecticut); Equipment Leasing (Massachusetts); Abbott Rental, (Massachusetts); Boland Rentals (New Jersey); Gover Construction (Massachusetts); and Durand's Rent-All (New York).

In the West, United acquired Santa Ana Equipment (California); P&G Equipment & Sales (New Mexico); Bakerview Equipment (Washington); Pacific Trench (California); and D&E Steel Plate (California).

United also acquired Ashley American (Texas); Robbie's Rental (Ontario); All Service (Ohio); A-1 Rentals (Texas); Shoring & Supply (Missouri); and Frontenac (Missouri).

As previously reported in RER, United finalized its purchase of California-based Thomas Equipment Rentals, No. 31 on the RER 100.