VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Volvo Construction Equipment Rents, Asheville, N.C., signed its 20th rental franchise agreement last month. The agreement was with the Nelva Corp., dba Allied Rental Centers, Virginia Beach, Va. Allied Rental Centers will open independently owned rental centers under the Volvo name in the Hampton Roads, Va., metropolitan area. This includes Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport Beach, Virginia Beach and other cities in the area. Allied Rental Center's first Volvo rental facility will open in Virginia Beach in early March.

Volvo Construction Equipment Rents signed a rental franchise agreement with Synergy Rentals LLC, Burlington, N.C., in late December.

Synergy Rentals will open independently-owned rental centers under the Volvo name in the Burlington area. The first Volvo Rents center is scheduled to open later this month.