Riwal, one of Europe’s market leaders in rental and sales of access equipment, last week entered the Spanish aerial equipment rental market by acquiring 70 percent of Grupo Clem, a Spanish aerial specialist. Grupo Clem has a current fleet of 1,700 aerial work platforms and 500 forklift trucks and telehandlers.

Clem, based in Valencia, Spain, emerged from the company founded by Jose Noguera in 1945, and is now managed by the third generation of family ownership, working in the areas of Castilla-La Mancha, Madrid, Catalonia and Levante.

With the remaining 30 percent and management still controlled by former owners, Grupo Clem is in the process of merging all its companies. Group turnover was €25 million (about U.S. $39 million). The total lift market is estimated at about €750 million annually and has grown about 30 percent since 2000.

Riwal CEO Dick Schalekamp said Riwal will take another step in becoming one of the largest international aerial players. It has collaborated with the Grupo Clem management for more than 15 years, facilitating adaptation. Riwal intends to integrate Clem 207-2010 strategic plan into its own, reinforcing it with its knowledge and financial capability. Jose Jaime Noguera, current Clem owner, will join Riwal’s board of directors.

“Our goal is not just to do things better, but to develop and offer different services, some of which are operational now,” said Javier Gomez, Grupo Clem manager. “We think that Spain lacks the infrastructure in terms of quality and quantity in comparison to other European countries and Clem is the perfect vehicle to make the most of this opportunity.

Riwal is based in Dordrecht, Netherlands, and has other branches in The Netherlands, as well as Denmark, Norway, France, Slovenia, and, most recently, Kazakhstan. It has joint ventures in other European countries and the Middle East.

Riwal has one of the world’s largest fleets of JLG equipment.