Business is back in full swing after the holidays, and soon the Associated Equipment Distributors convention, World of Concrete and American Rental Association conventions will bring new products and business opportunities as well as new opportunities for people in the industry to get together and network and debate issues.

But the New Year cannot be inaugurated properly without taking a look at what foremost industry consult Dan Kaplan has to say about the year ahead. Please scroll down to “Trends and Analysis” and see what Kaplan has to say about private-equity funds, the globalization of rental, telematics (or telemetrics) systems, software, the future of the independent, expectations for 2007, the penetration of rental and the advent of the $10 billion rental company. And more.