WORLD NEWS
6
access
INTERNATIONAL
JULY-AUGUST 2013
■
US-based
Ahern Rentals
officially exited the Chapter 11
process on 24 June following the
bancruptcy court’s acceptance of its
restructuring plan on 6 June.
The company, one of the largest
independent rental firms in North
America, filed for Chapter 11
protection in December 2011.
Don Ahern and his brother John
Paul Ahern, Jr, retain 100% of the
capital stock in the company. Under
the restructuring plan, “second lein”
debt holders – those second in line
to receive debt repayments – will
be paid the face value of their loans
plus interest due up to the start of
the Chapter 11 process, while other
creditors will get 100% of their
allowed claims.
■
Sales of the first truck mount
from newly formed joint venture
Palfinger Platforms Italy Srl.
have reached 50 units, according to
the company.
The 3.5 tonne P 200 A smart
was launched at bauma in April
and represents the first step
in a concerted effort to expand
production in this weight segment.
The joint venture between
Palfinger Group and Italy-based Sky
Aces Srl. was set up in February this
year and will produce ‘mid-market’
platforms and truck bodies. Palfinger
holds a majority share.
■
Trojan
has received the
Outstanding Performance award
2012 from Terex AWP’s Genie
brand. Trojan is one of just seven
companies to have received the
award from Genie, which installs
Trojan’s deep-cycle batteries in
its products. The award is given
to companies that provide the
manufacturer with exceptional
operational excellence and support.
■
UK demolition attachment rental
specialist
Sandhurst
has invested
£3 million (US$4.6 million) in a
new powered access equipment
division. Sandhurst Access Rental
was formed following a company-
wide search for an additional
specialist rental product that would
complement its strategically placed
rental centres. The company
said access was a perfect fit.
It has already secured a team
of experienced access industry
professionals to coordinate the new
division.
IN BRIEF
RIWAL 30% FLEET INVESTMENT
MILLS INVESTS $41M IN NEW PLATFORMS
Riwal will increase its fleet investment this year by around 30% to around
€
40
million as it continues its programme of fleet replacement and expansion.
Norty Turner, the company’s CEO, told
AI
sister magazine
International Rental
News
, that the new fleet will help the company grow its business in Europe and
internationally.
“We’re expecting to see group growth in 2013 versus 2012”, he said, “and
certain markets in Europe will also see growth…Year-on-year we’re in a good
position. It was a challenging Q1, but now in Q2 we are in a good position and
we’re feeling really good about the pipeline we’re seeing in the rest of the year.”
As well as its international growth, the company is benefitting from a
diversification of its customer base, particularly into industrial segments; “We feel
there has been a lot of delayed maintenance work in various industrial areas, and
a lot of maintenance work is coming to the forefront now. They have to do that
maintenance or they have a bigger problem longer term.”
He said Riwal remained committed to the Spanish market, where it has
recently acquired full ownership of its subsidiary; “We’re going to be in Spain, and
will continue to improve our operations there.
Brazilian company Mills Estruturas e Serviços de Engenharia (Mills) has placed
orders for new aerial platforms worth US$41.6 million, with monthly deliveries
starting this month until the end of the year.
The contracts follow the increase in the capital expenditure budget announced
in May “to meet the strong market demand and [Mills’] geographic expansion,
through 12 new branch openings in 2013.”
HSS acquires Haulotte’s
UK rental business
Tools specialist HSS Hire
Services Group (HSS) has
acquired UK Platforms, Haulotte
Group’s UK rental business.
The deal will make HSS Rental
the second largest provider of
powered access equipment in the
UK, according to the company.
It follows the sale of HSS to
private equity firm Exponent
Private Equity from previous
owners Och-Ziff and Aurigo in
October last year. Within a week
of that deal HSS bought leading
UK power rental company Abird
Generator Hire.
UK Platforms was founded
in 2000 and supplies an
extensive range of electric and
diesel powered access products,
including scissors, boom lifts and
telehandlers. Its customer base is
found in construction, facilities
management, maintenance
and signage. It has about 120
employees and operates from 10
depots in the country.
Chris Davies, HSS Hire’s
chief executive officer, said, “We
believe that UK Platforms is a
great fit for HSS and reflects our
commitment to adding specialist
expertise to our Group,” said Mr
Davies. “There is great cultural
alignment - we each care strongly
about safety, high-quality kit,
great value and industry-leading
customer service. We look
forward to a continuing strategic
partnership with Haulotte.”
Alexandre Saubot, Haulotte
Group chief executive officer, said
UK Platforms contributed €20
million to the company in 2012,
adding that the transaction would
have a positive impact on its 2013
first half financial results. “It will
significantly reduce our debt and
strengthen our financial capacity
to pursue strategic opportunities
in our core business when they
will appear.”
Force Access has won
Rental Company of the Year
2013 at the Hire and Rental
Industry Association (HRIA)
Hire Industry Excellence
Awards, in Australia. Some
350 industry professionals
attended the ceremony, which
marked the culmination of the
HRIA National Convention held
at Luna Park, Sydney, in May.
Force Access’ Pat Italiano
(right) accepts the award.
Nationwide £20 m
expansion plans
UK-based Nationwide Platforms
has announced plans to invest £20
million (US$ 30 million) in fleet
expansion throughout 2013.
This year will see more than
1650 units of new access-related
equipment entering the UK-based
rental giant’s fleet.They will range
from 3.5 to 70 m working heights.
Under the plans, 630 Terex AWP
Genie platforms will replace
existing machines at Nationwide’s
26 locations across the UK,
including eight scissor models and
seven boom lifts.
Further spending includes
43 specialist HAB scissors,
ranging from 14 m to 32 m.The
investment also includes one
of the country’s largest fleet of
Pecolift units from Power Towers
– to include 1000 units. Pecolift
is a battery and oil free platform
designed for working up to 3.5 m.
