NEWS
Pictured at the UK’s Executive Hire Show just
weeks into his new role was Adrian Murphy,
CEO of Hewden (on the right of the picture),
accompanied by the company’s sales and
marketing director Jeff Schofield. Mr Murphy
told
IRN
that the key question for Hewden is
“where dowe play, inwhich sectors?”He said
he would be reviewing the sector and product
mix at the company, with possible additions
and disposals; “You can reshape it relatively
quickly.” He pointed out that Hewden had a
history and presence in certain sectors, such
as cranes and industrial projects – with onsite
locations andplant shutdowns – and that there
was a need was to remind its customers of
that. On current market conditions he said;
“Things are goingwell…we’re growing.”
2015
IAPAAWARDS2015
26March, 2015
WashingtonDC, US
INTERMAT
20-25April, 2015
Paris, France
HRIACONVENTION
28-30April, 2015
Adelaide, Australia
PLANTWORX2015
2-4June, 2015
Bruntingthorpe, UK
ERACONVENTION
3-4June, 2015
Rome, Italy
ERAAWARDS
3June, 2015
Rome, Italy
LIFT&MOVEUSA
16-17 June, 2015
Chicago, US
INTERNATIONAL RENTAL
CONFERENCE (IRC)
21 September, 2015
Beijing, China
ICEF
2-3November, 2015
Amsterdam,Netherlands
WORLDCRANEAND
TRANSPORT SUMMIT
4-5November, 2015
Amsterdam, Netherlands
WORLDDEMOLITION
SUMMIT
6November, 2015
Amsterdam, NL
EXCON2015
2-6December, 2015
Bangalore, India
2016
World of Concrete
2-5 February, 2016
LasVegas, US
6
DIARYDATES
Rental Equipment
Investment Corp
launched
IRNMARCH 2015
A new US rental company established
by former Neff Corp CEO Kevin
Fitzgerald has made its first
acquisition and outlined its growth
strategy in this busymarket.
Speaking to
IRN
, Mr Fitzgerald – who
was CEO of US rental company Neff
Corp between 1995 and 2000 – said
his new venture, Rental Equipment
Investment Corp, was a holding
company set up in late 2014 with the
purpose of getting into the rental
business.
“The idea was to look at smaller
rental markets that we feel would be
agoodentrypoints for usand togrow
to a good-sized rental company in the
US, establishing a cluster of stores
and growing organically, ultimately
addingmore territoriesoveranumber
of years” Mr Fitzgerald, who is CEO of
Rental Equipment Investment Corp,
said.
And the company has already
made its first acquisition – moving
to purchase Midway Rental & Power
Equipment, based in Montana, at
the start of the year. This company
has four branches in Montana and
provides a range of industrial and
construction equipment for rent and
sale.
Rental Equipment Investment Corp
is backedbya rangeof investors from
bothwithinandoutside theUS, butMr
Fitzgerald was keeping tight lipped
on the exact details. He said more
information would be available later
in the year.
“We plan further deals in 2015,” Mr
Fitzgerald said. “In fact we’re in the
middle of something now, so watch
this space. Our strategy is to grow
through acquisitions and greenfields;
we are looking to stand out on a local
basis."
■
French rental company Kiloutou
has entered the modular building
rental market with the acquisition
of Akmo. Located in Villeneuve-
le-Roi in Paris, Akmo has a rental
fleet of over 2000modular building
items. Clients include craftsmen,
SMEs and large national accounts.
Kiloutou said current Akmo
president Gilles Soreau would
retainmanagementof thecompany
togetherwithhis team.
■
UK-based supplier and
manufacturer of construction
equipment Morris Site Machinery
has appointed a newdistributor for
lighting towers inAustraliaandNew
Zealand – AllightSykes. AllightSykes
had been awarded distributorship
of its SMC lighting tower range
acrossAustraliaandNewZealand.
■
The global skid-steer loader
market is forecast to grow 10.4%
between 2014 and 2019, according
to research company Reportstack.
In its latest report, Global Skid-
steer Loader Market 2015-2019,
Reportstack said the growth of
the equipment rental business was
one of the major trends emerging
in the market. “The high prices of
earthmoving equipment have led
to vendors providing equipment
on a rental basis, making it cost-
effective for customers,” it said.
■
UK-based contractor Trenchless
Solutions has established its own
rental company for guided auger
boringmachines. Thenew company
- Trenchless Plant Hire - was set up
on the back of its acquisition of
the Perforator (Sheffield) guided
auger boring plant and equipment
inventoryl. Trenchless Solutions
said it nowownedandoperates ten
guided auger boring machines of
various sizes.
HIGHLIGHTS
Kevin Fitzgerald
US rental company BlueLine has
expanded its aerial lift fleet and
strengthened its presence in the Mid-
Atlantic region and Texas with a deal
to acquire Trico Equipment.
Trico isa rental companyspecialised
in aerial lift equipment with locations
inNewJersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland
and Texas.
BlueLine Rental CEO Phil Hobson
said, “Trico is a very complementary
business for BlueLine that will
strengthen our aerial fleet mix and
capabilities, provide access to a
valuable new customer base in key
regions, and position us well for
futuregrowth.
“Our businesses are a good fit
culturally as well, with a shared
commitment to quality service and
a determination to deliver on behalf
of our customers. The combination
bringsmany talented people together
on theBlueLine team.”
Mr Hobson added that the Trico
senior management team was
expected to stay on with BlueLine
BlueLine to acquire
TricoEquipment
in management roles following the
closingof the transaction.
Formerly known as Volvo Rents,
BlueLine is owned by private equity
company Platinum Equity, which
acquired thebusiness in January 2014
fromVolvo.
