Sarens Netherlands, a Dutch equipment rental company based in Dordrecht, Netherlands, has agreed to acquire the crane rental activities of Riwal, based in the same city. In the transaction, terms of which were not disclosed, Sarens acquires 30 mobile cranes, along with 40 employees.

Sarens Netherlands, part of the international Sarens group, already has a fleet of 45 mobile aerial platforms up to 700 tons, and 40 crawler cranes up to 250 tons. Sarens has access to other equipment in the international Sarens group, ranging from hydraulic cranes, tower cranes up to 2,000 tons and platform trailers totaling 650 axles. The acquisition gives Sarens an improved distribution network with a head office in Dordrecht and locations in Amsterdam, Woerden, Rotterdam and Eindhoven.

By selling its crane rental activities, Riwal has chosen to concentrate on its core business of aerial work platforms, which it has been selling and renting for 20 years. Riwal has been active internationally with a re-rental business and a number of joint ventures in Europe and the Middle East. With about 8,000 rental units, Riwal is one of the largest equipment rental companies in the world.

Riwal intends to invest EU 100 million (about U.S. $134 million) in the renewal and expansion of its rental fleet. It also plans to invest significantly in automation and the establishment of new foreign rental operations, planning to open five rental locations outside of Holland this year, according to company officials.

“We are glad to have found a new home for our people and cranes so close to ours,” said Jaap Schalekamp, director and co-owner of Riwal. “Riwal can now fully concentrate on the aerial work platform business. We will invest even more because we still see a lot of opportunities to be successful with the Riwal formula in many countries and regions around the globe.”

“Acquiring the Riwal crane business fits into the ambition of Sarens to keep growing on the Dutch market,” added Martin Verzijl, director of Sarens Netherlands. “The expansion of our fleet makes it possible to enhance our actual service so we will be able to have a bigger package to serve our clients. The very short period in which the transaction was completed shows the ambitions, strengths and dynamics of both organizations. We are sure that the oiled train we consider the Riwal operation to be perfectly fits our organization. The input of the skillful and experienced Riwal crane drivers is highly valued by Sarens.”