Metrolift, an independently owned full-service provider of aerial equipment and services said last week that it has leased 30,000 square feet in additional shop space with two acres of yard space adjacent to its existing location in Sugar Grove, Ill., a Chicago suburb.

The company said growing rental volume and expansion of the company’s sales and service wholesale division created the need for additional indoor and outdoor space.

“2009 has been a challenging year overall, but we have several bright spots to focus on,” said Metrolift president Rick Dahl. “Our wholesale division is doing extremely well and our rental and service businesses remain profitable despite shrinking revenues and declining rental rates. Plus ancillary services have remained solid throughout the entire year.”

Metrolift is one of the largest single-location rental companies in the United States. “Our goal is to always keep overhead at a minimum to remain competitive in our marketplace,” said Tony Moore, chief financial officer of Metrolift. “By operating from a single facility, economies of scale and efficiencies are realized. While the future of the Chicago construction market remains in question for 2010, Metrolift is well-positioned financially and operationally to effectively service our customers.”

Metrolift also invested more than $2 million in rental fleet assets in 2009 while several competitors in the area discontinued fleet purchases and downsized their fleets, the company said.

Metrolift is No. 101 on the RER 100.