2022

Awards winners and shortlisted companies from 2022

 

Loxam, GSV, ToolQuick, Zeppelin Rental and Manitou were among those celebrating wins at the 2022 European Rental Awards in Riga on 15 June during the European Rental Association’s annual convention.

 

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Spanish rental veteran Carlos Biosca Martin – a long-time leader of rental company Valser – while the Person of the Year award went to brothers Lars and Erik Sørby, founders of both Digiquip and rental company Sørby Utleie.

 

Zeppelin Rental was Large Rental Company of the Year, while Spanish tool rental specialist ToolQuick took the Small Rental Company award.

 

Loxam was recognised by the ERA’s Sustainability Committee for its carbon reduction initiatives, while Denmark’s GSV won the highly-contested digital innovation award.

 

The Product of the Year was Manitou’s new ULM compact telehandler, and the other manufacturer to win on the night was Briggs & Stratton, which received the ERA Technical Committee Award for its training materials for rental companies.

 

The awards are organised jointly by International Rental News and the European Rental Association, and the host was Dutch journalist and broadcaster Maarten Bouwhuis.

 

The winners were:

 

• Large Rental Company of the Year: Zeppelin Rental
• Small and Medium Sized Rental Company of the Year: ToolQuick
• ERA/IRN Rental Persons of the Year: Lars and Erik Sørby, Digiquip
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Carlos Biosca Martin, Valser
• Rental Product of the Year: Manitou’s ULM telehandler
• Best Digital innovation Award: GSV Materieludlejning
• ERA Sustainability Committee Award for the Best Carbon Reduction Initiative: Loxam

• ERA Technical Committee Award: Briggs & Stratton

 

The judges’ comments on each of the award winners were as follows:

 

Large Rental Company of the Year: Zeppelin Rental

“Zeppelin Rental recovered quickly from the pandemic, posting record revenues and profits in 2021. It also continued to grow and innovate, with its Rental+ and the 10th anniversary of its EcoRent brand.”

 

Small and Medium Sized Rental Company of the Year: ToolQuick

“ToolQuick has adopted a well-defined and effective model for its small tools rental business, combining stand-alone and in-store locations. It is also pioneering the rental of compact electric machines.”

 

Rental Product of the Year: Manitou’s ULM telehandler

“Designed for easy transport, the ULM is the perfect example of a product created with rental companies in mind. We also liked the exceptional visibility provided for the operator.”

 

Best Digital innovation Award: GSV Materieludlejning

“GSV digitalisation project offers a template for any rental company wanting to digitalise its operations. That they did so during a period of rapid growth says a lot about the way the company is managed.”

 

ERA Sustainability Committee Award for the Best Carbon Reduction Initiative: Loxam

“Loxam’s investment in the clean power solution and its work with its client demonstrate how rental can play a key role in creating a low carbon future.”

 

ERA Technical Committee Award: Briggs & Stratton

“It was a coincidence that two engine manufacturers were shortlisted this year, but it does illustrate the commitment of engine suppliers to the rental industry. The committee wanted to highlight a manufacturer who had created training materials adapted for rental and was particularly impressed by Briggs and Stratton’s training videos.”

 

Lifetime Achievement Award: Carlos Biosca Martin

“The lifetime achievement award aims to recognise an individual who has spent a career in the rental industry. At this stage in our industry that means - by definition - a pioneer.

 

Our recipient is just such a pioneer in Spain’s rental industry. At 76 years of age, he has dedicated most of his professional life to the rental and construction equipment industry.

 

After finishing his engineering studies he began his career in 1970 working for a distributor of brands such as Komatsu, Benati and Dynapac. In 1979 he switched to the rental sector and became manager of Valser, a small, newly established rental company in Valencia.

 

He has dedicated the last 40 years to this company and has steered it to become one of the key players in its regional market. He is still active today as an advisor to the business.

 

Beyond that work, he was a constant presence in the activities of the Spanish rental association ASEAMAC. He and his company were founding members of the association and he still holds the position of treasurer.

 

He has promoted rental in Spain by helping to create a real unity of purpose and cohesion among its members, whether rental companies, manufacturers or distributors. To this day there is not a person in Spain’s rental industry who does not know and appreciate his contribution.”

 

ERA/IRN Rental Persons of the Year: Lars and Erik Sørby, Digiquip & Sørby Utleie

“The brothers created their own rental business Sørby Utleie in 2005 – a company which is now thriving in Norway with 50 employees.

 

They might have qualified for the person of the year accolade alone for what they have achieved with that company, including the opening of a sustainable rental depot with solar panels, water recycling and great facilities for staff and customers.

 

But last year saw them take great strides with a new company, DigiQuip, that they created in 2019. DigiQuip is an e-learning and documentation platform for OEMs, dealers, rental companies, machine operators and contractors. The platform gives easy access to training materials and machine documentation, allowing companies to track training activities and individuals to maintain their own training records.

 

The business now employs seven people full time in Norway as well as a software development team in Serbia.

 

The two recipients, in addition to developing a successful rental business and the new technology business, have also contributed towards the development of the rental industry in Norway. They take part in national security committees, volunteer as firemen, and in late 2021 were voted local business of the year for their contribution to job creation in the community.”

 

The full shortlist:

 

Large Rental Company of the Year

L. Lynch Plant Hire

Morillo Energy Rent

Zeppelin Rental – WINNER

 

Small Rental Company of the Year

Flexcavo

Key-Tec

ToolQuick – WINNER

Valser

 

Rental Product of the Year

Containex - Containex Plus Line

Himoinsa - EHR Battery Power Generator

Hinowa - TeleCrawler22

Manitou - ULM telehandler – WINNER

MHM Group - Street-Lite

Volvo CE - Compact electric range

 

Best Digital Innovation

Digiquip

Flexcavo

GSV – WINNER

Kurts Toolbox

Zeppelin Rental

 

ERA Sustainability Committee Award: Best Carbon Reduction Initiative

Avesco Rent

Kiloutou

Loxam – WINNER

L. Lynch Plant Hire

Zeppelin Rental

 

ERA Technical Committee Award

Briggs & Stratton – WINNER

Perkins

 

The judges were:

 

• Pierre Boels, ERA President
• Kari Aulasmaa, CEO, Renta Group
• Soeren Brogaard, CEO, Trackunit
• Murray Pollok, Managing Editor, IRN
• Armin Rappen, CEO, Mateco Holding
• The non-voting Chair was Michel Petitjean, Secretary General, ERA
• The sponsors of the awards were:

 

Gold: Caterpillar, Perkins and Continest.

Cocktail reception sponsor: Hexagon Heavy Construction.

Silver: Infor, JLG, Spartan Digital Operations and Trackunit.

 

 

2021

 

Rental companies from the UK and Russia picked up the rental company accolades at the 2021 European Rental Awards dinner in Amsterdam on 29 September, while manufacturers JCB and Genie were also honoured.

 

At the first in-person rental awards ceremony since Madrid in 2019 - with more than 300 present - Sunbelt Rentals UK was named large rental company of the year while Vertex from Russia was small/medium rental company of the year; the first Russian company to win a European rental award.

 

Graham Arundell, the former CEO of Hire Association Europe, was presented with the lifetime achievement award, while Luis Angel Salas Manrique, CEO of LoxamHune, was the ERA/IRN Person of the Year.

 

Ardent Hire Solutions won two awards, for Best Digital Innovation and also the ERA Sustainability Committee’s Safety Innovation Award.

 

The Product of the year award was won by JCB for its electric Loadall telehandler, while Genie won the ERA Technical Committee Award for the work it has done to help rental companies through digitalisation.

 

The awards, jointly organised by International Rental News (IRN) and the European Rental Association (ERA), were held at the Postillion Hotel in Amsterdam on 29 September, with a live audience of 300 people.

 

Pierre Boels, ERA President, said; “It has been a great pleasure to be here with all of you in one room and feel the good atmosphere and your commitment to ERA. Thank you for this!

 

“I believe that we have succeeded tonight in showcasing some of the best and most professional and innovative companies and products in Europe and in giving recognition to leading figures of our industry.

 

“It is highly rewarding to realise how many dynamic and innovative companies we have in our industry.”

 

The full list of shortlisted companies and winners, together with judges’ citations, is as follows:

 

Small rental company of the year (<€15m revenues)

 

Vertex (Russia) - WINNER

Elavation Platforms (UK)

PSM Plant (UK)

Noleggio Lorini (Italy)

The judges said; “Vertex managed to grow through the pandemic in Russia and also responded to the health crisis by donating machines to help build health facilities.”

 

Large rental company of the year (>€15 m revenues)

 

Sunbelt Rentals (UK) - WINNER

Ardent Hire Solutions (UK)

LoxamHune (Spain)

WeRent (Italy)

The judges said: “In a remarkably challenging year, Sunbelt successfully managed a rebranding of its entire business and also won major contracts to provide equipment and services for 500 Covid testing facilities around the UK.”

 

Rental Person of the Year

 

Luis Angel Salas Manrique, CEO of LoxamHune

The judges said; “His leadership has also seen the company take concrete actions on sustainability: it became the first rental business in Spain to be certified ‘climate neutral’ using climate offsetting measures approved by the UN and the Spanish government. And, not least, despite operating in a market under heavy pressure, his company performed well and was profitable.”

 

Lifetime Achievement Award

 

Graham Arundell, former CEO of Hire association Europe

The judges said; “Graham’s impact since he joined HAE in 2007 has been remarkable. He strengthened the association, added services and launched a dedicated events association. He also remained committed to an open and international approach, embracing the Global Rental Alliance and supporting the ERA’s activities. We wish him well for the future.”

 

Rental product of the year

 

JCB – 525-60E Electric Loadall - WINNER

GenQuip Groundhog – Unisex solar hybrid toilet

Niftylift - HR15NE electric boom

Nixon Hire – Solar Pod

Trime – X-Solar Hybrid LED lighting tower

The judges: “JCB is responding to the demand from the rental market for clean, low-emissions equipment, and the new electric Loadall – as well as being an effective and productive machine - is also an important statement of intent”

 

Best digital innovation

 

Ardent Hire Solutions – Ardent digital platform - WINNER

Mollo Noleggio - Rental document digitalisation

Spartan Solutions – PROPHES predictive analytics

Sunbelt Rentals - Sunfest virtual festival

Trackunit – Trackunit Kin for non-powered assets

Zeppelin Rental - customer eProcurement interface

The judges said; “Ardent’s digital platform is a model example of a digital tool that makes life easier and more efficient for its customers.”

 

ERA Technical Committee Award

(Judged by ERA’s Technical Committee)

 

Genie - WINNER

JCB

Manitou

(Note: this award is not based on submitted entries, but on committee choices.)

 

Sustainability Committee Award: Best Safety Innovation

(Judged by ERA’s Sustainability Committee)

 

Ardent Hire - WINNER

Kiloutou

Wacker Neuson

The ERA Sustainability Committee said: “Ardent saw the potential to use machine telematics data to promote safety, and designed an online platform to deliver the right information to the right people at the right time. An elegant system that helps everyone from machine operators to site managers.”

 

The judges were:

 

Pierre Boels, ERA President & CEO, Boels Rental

Peter Douglas, CEO, IPAF

Bernd Holz, Vice President Light Equipment, Ammann Group

Murray Pollok, Managing Editor, International Rental News

Dan Vorsholt, CEO, GSV Materieludlejning

Non-voting chair of judges: Michel Petitjean

 

The sponsors were:

 

Gold sponsors: Camso, Caterpillar and Perkins.

The cocktail reception sponsor was Hexagon Heavy Construction.

Silver sponsors: JLG, Ritchie Bros, Spartan Solutions, Trackunit and Volvo Construction Equipment.

 

 

2020

The winners of the 2020 European Rental Awards are Vatupassi, Mollo Noleggio, Wacker Neuson, Spartan Solutions, GSV Materieludlejning, Volvo CE, and Manitou.

 

The awards ceremony was held as an online event for the first time due to the Covid-19 pandemic and attracted more than 500 registered delegates. The awards are organised by the European Rental Association and International Rental News magazine.

 

The winners and shortlisted companies, selected from more than 80 entries, were:

 

Small Rental Company of the Year (<€15 million revenues)

 

• Cross Rental Services (Ireland/UK)
• Drial Wynajem (Poland)
• Vatupassi (Finland) – WINNER

 

Milla Tarnanen, CEO of Vatupassi, said, “This win makes me so happy and unbelievably proud of the whole Vatupassi team. It shows that we are doing the right things and we are on the right path.”

 

Large Rental Company of the Year (>€15 million revenues)

 

• Loxam (France)
• Mollo Noleggio (Italy) – WINNER
• Renta (Finland)

 

Mauro Mollo, CEO of Mollo Noleggio, said, “For our company, this award is of great value. But knowing our personalities and ambition, we will work for this recognition to be a starting point and not a finishing line.”

 

 

Rental Product of the Year

 

• Atlas Copco (E-Air VSD electric compressor)
• Caterpillar (301.7 CR mini excavator)
• Consair (CAMU D2 dust extractor)
• Endress (Energy Storage & SmartEnergyBox)
• JCB (19C-1E electric mini excavator)
• Wacker Neuson (Dual View dumpers) – WINNER

 

Alexander Greschner, CSO of Wacker Neuson, said, “During our Voice of Customer sessions, a lot of rental companies, from France, the UK and Germany, together with operators from all over Europe were working on the challenge to improve safety and security for operators and the environment on jobsites while working with dumpers.”

 

Best Digital Innovation of the Year

 

• CheckMobile (AI-based damage detection software)
• Intrador (Used equipment valuation tool and App)
• Riwal (My Riwal App, VR training, augmented reality App)
• Spartan Solutions (PHALANX digital operations platform) – WINNER

 

Jim Green, CEO of Spartan Solutions, said, “Innovation was always important, but now it’s vital for the rental industry to recover from this pandemic and get back on its feet again quickly. A big part of that is going to be digitalisation, and we believe rental companies just can’t hope to run their operations efficiently in future using paper processes.”

 

Best Sustainable Rental Project of the Year

(judged by the ERA’s Sustainability Committee)

 

• Volvo Construction Equipment (Sweden) – JOINT WINNER
• GSV Materieludlejning A/S (Denmark) – JOINT WINNER
• Hoogwerkt (The Netherlands)

 

Speaking about the sustainability conference for which GSV won the award, Dan Vorsholt, the company’s CEO, said he was encouraged by the positivity and good ideas shared by delegates, adding, “It’s not a one-man show; we need to do this together with customers and suppliers.”

 

Meanwhile, Johan Wollin, Global Director for Energy Management at Volvo CE, highlighted the non-energy benefits of taking a sustainable approach, saying, “We see that we can reduce a significant amount of costs due to non-energy benefits. We can reduce maintenance costs, we can reduce production consumables, we can even indirectly improve quality and safety by working on energy management.” The financial gains of these benefits were said to be substantially greater than the reduction in energy bills.

 

 

ERA Technical Committee Award

(judged by the ERA’s Technical Committee)

 

• Haulotte (France)
• Manitou (France) – WINNER
• Skyjack (Canada)

 

Michel Denis, President and CEO of Manitou, said, “At Manitou group, we design and manufacture machines and services with passion, dedication, expertise and innovation to meet your needs: rental expectations. So we could not have expected better recognition.”

 

Due to the change in format, there were no awards for Rental Person of the Year or Lifetime Achievement.

 

A digital supplement with summaries of the shortlisted submissions can be downloaded for free here.

 

The European Rental Awards & Market Update webinar also included presentations from three industry experts: `Pierre Boels, ERA President & CEO, Boels Rental; Martin Seban, Consulting Director, IHS Markit; and Chris Sleight, Managing Director, Off-Highway Research.

 

The judges were:

 

• Vincent Albasini, CEO, Avesco Rent
• Pierre Boels, President, European Rental Association & CEO, Boels Rental
• Jaap Fluit, General Manager, Bredenoord
• Karel Huijser, General Manager & Vice President, EMEA, JLG Industries
• Murray Pollok, Managing Editor, International Rental News

Non-voting chair: Michel Petitjean, Secretary General, European Rental Association

The judges chose all the shortlists and winners, except for the Sustainability and Technical awards, which were judged by ERA Committees.

 

 

2019

 

Rental award winners announced in Madrid

 

Bredenoord, Haulotte, Volvo CE and Germans Homs were among the winners at the 2019 European Rental Awards, held in Madrid on 15 May, 2019.

 

Haulotte had special reason to celebrate, winning product of the year for the first of its Pulseo electric machines, the HA20 LE, and seeing its founder and CEO, Pierre Saubot, honoured with the lifetime achievement award.

 

The winners and shortlisted companies were:

 

Large Rental Company of the Year (>€15 million)

• Bredenoord - WINNER

• A-Plant

• Mollo Noleggio

 

The judges said: “Bredenoord is to be congratulated not only for its continuing growth, but for leading the way in developing innovative battery-powered rental solutions.”

 

Small Rental Company of the Year (<€15m)

• Germans Homs - WINNER

• Arlift

• Dromad Hire

 

The judges said; “Germans Homs has been performing strongly and is an innovative company. In 2018 it continued to develop its online rental offering.”

 

Rental Product of the Year

• Haulotte (HA20 LE) - WINNER

• AJC Trailers – H2O Solar Pod (HIGHLY COMMENDED)

• Caterpillar – 301.8 mini excavator

• Hilti – TE 2000-AVR demolition hammer

• JCB - 19C 1E mini-excavator

• Manitou - 100VJR aerial platform

 

The judges said: “The HA20 LE is a very strong product, and as the first of Haulotte’s all-electric Pulseo range, it makes a strong statement on electrification and sustainability.”

 

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Pierre Saubot, Haulotte

 

Rental Person of the Year

• Dan Vorsholt, CEO, GSV Materieludlejning

 

The Sustainability Award

(judged by the ERA Sustainability Committee)

• Loxam - WINNER

• Atut Rental (HIGHLY COMMENDED)

• A-Plant

• Orenprokat

 

The ERA Sustainability Committee said: “The new policy launched by Loxam in 2018 - ‘Safety, Anytime and Anywhere’ - demonstrates the commitment of the company to safety among its other commitments to society.”

 

The ERA Technical Committee Award

• Volvo Construction Equipment

 

The ERA’s Technical Committee said: “Volvo has demonstrated a continuous commitment to the satisfaction of the needs and requirements of the European rental industry. We are very pleased to recognise their involvement giving them the ERA Technical Committee Award.”

 

THE JUDGES WERE:

• Pierre Boels, ERA President & CEO, Boels Rental

• Alexander Greschner, Chief Sales Officer, Wacker Neuson

• Olivier Colleau, CEO, Kiloutou

• Tapio Kolunsarka, CEO, Ramirent

• Murray Pollok, Managing Editor, IRN

• Non-voting chair: Michel Petitjean, Secretary General, ERA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018

Vienna, Austria

 

An audience of 320 rental industry professionals saw Nordic companies Naboen and Byggmaskiner-Gruppen win the two Rental Company of the Year categories at the 2018 European Rental Awards. The ceremony was held on 23 May in Vienna, Austria, during the European Rental Association’s annual convention.

 

The awards to individuals went to Colin Wood, the former CEO of the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA), who was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Xavier du Boÿs of Kiloutou, who received the Person of the Year accolade.

 

Other winners were A-Plant and Cramo – jointly in the Sustainability category - while JCB’s Hydradig was Product of the Year. Atlas Copco won the ERA Technical Committee award for suppliers to the rental industry.

 

The winners, and comments from the judges, were:

 

 

LARGE RENTAL COMPANY OF THE YEAR:

WINNER: NABOEN AS (Norway)

 

The judges said: “The company’s growth is obviously remarkable, but despite that Naboen has managed to retain its very distinctive culture, which combines a celebration of work with a commitment to provide great service to its customers.”

 

SHORTLISTED COMPANIES: A-Plant (UK) and Cramo (Finland)

 

 

SMALL/MEDIUM SIZED RENTAL COMPANY OF THE YEAR:

WINNER: BYGGMASKINER-GRUPPEN (Sweden)

 

The judges said; “Byggmaskiner has an impressive record for consistent growth, as well as serious commitment to the safety of its employees and customers.”

 

SHORTLISTED COMPANIES: Fast Rent (Switzerland) and Georent (Georgia)

 

 

RENTAL PRODUCT OF THE YEAR:

WINNER: JCB’s 110W HYDRADIG

 

The judges said: “JCB works closely with rental companies when developing new products, and the Hydradig shows that partnership approach in action.”

 

SHORTLISTED COMPANIES:

Arcotherm (Road Tow Heater) (UK)

Generac (Tower Light Cube+ Next) (Italy)

Hinowa (Lightlift 33.17) (Italy)

Skyjack (SJ85 AJ) (Canada)

Wacker Neuson (AP1850e) (Germany)

 

 

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:

WINNER: COLIN WOOD (former CEO, CPA)

 

Pierre Boels, ERA President, said: “Colin’s engagement with rental went beyond the UK. He was a vice president on ERA’s board during its important early years and his work as ERA’s treasurer helped set standards that are still being followed today. Throughout his career he has been a friendly presence on the scene. As he moves into retirement, the industry will miss his personality as much as it will his experience.”

 

 

RENTAL PERSON OF THE YEAR:

WINNER: XAVIER DU BOŸS (Chairman, Kiloutou)

 

The judges said; “Xavier du Boÿs had a notable 12 months. He continued to lead his business in its strategy of acquisitions and international expansion – including an important move into Italy. He completed the sale of the company to new owners, and moved from his long-time role of CEO to become Chairman of the company. He is one of the rental industry’s most respected leaders.”

 

 

ERA TECHNICAL COMMITTEE AWARD:

WINNER: ATLAS COPCO

 

Awarded to a manufacturer that has made particular efforts to meet the needs of the rental industry in its products and services, as judged by the ERA’s Technical Committee.

 

 

ERA SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE AWARD:

WINNER: A-PLANT & CRAMO (joint-winners)

 

Judged by the ERA Sustainability Committee, who said; ”Both companies are at the forefront of developing a genuinely sustainable approach to rental and both deserve wider recognition.”

 

 

 

THE JUDGES FOR THE 2018 AWARDS WERE:

 

Pierre Boels (CEO, Boels Rental & President, ERA)

 

Michel Denis (CEO, Manitou)

 

Gérard Déprez (CEO, Loxam)

 

Pierre-Nicola Fovini (President, CGT Edilizia)

 

Murray Pollok (Managing Editor, International Rental News).

 

Non-voting chair: Michel Petitjean, Secretary General, ERA

 

 

The June 2018 issue if IRN included a report on the awards dinner and on the ERA Convention.

 

 

2017

 Amsterdam, the Netherlands

 

 

Large Rental Company of the Year (turnover more than €15 million)

• WINNER - Zeppelin Rental

• Kiloutou

 

 

Small & Mid-Sized Rental Company of the Year (turnover less than €15 million)

• WINNER - Gomez Oviedo

• Huurland

• Maltech

• Mol Lifting

 

Rental Product of the Year

• WINNER - Genie (Z-60FE boom)

• Atlas Copco (8 Series compressor)

• Kaeser (M50E compressor)

• Mtools-Makinex (Hose 2 Go)

• Ramirent (Ramiflex module)

• Trime (X-Eco lighting tower)

 

 

Digital Innovation Award (new)

• WINNER - Zeppelin Rental

• Germans Homs

• HSS

• Ramirent

 

Employer Innovation Award (new)

• WINNER - Kiloutou

• A-Plant

• HSS

 

Rental Safety Award

• WINNER - A-Plant

• Groundforce

• Mtools-Makinex (hand truck)

 

ERA/IRN Rental Person of the Year

• WINNER - Gérard Déprez, Loxam

 

Lifetime Achievement Award

• WINNER - Ray Caulfield, Trime Spa

 

Special Recognition Award

• AWARDED TO - JCB

 

 

Judging Panel

 

Mark Anderson (Commercial Director, GAP Group, UK)

Pierre Boels (ERA President and CEO of Boels Rental, Netherlands)

Gerhard Gasser (Global Rental Business manager, Hilti)

Murray Pollok (Managing Editor, IRN)

Juan José Torres (President, ASEAMAC & Managing Director, TST Torres Servicios Tecnicos SL)

 

Non-voting chair of judges: Michel Petitjean, Secretary General, ERA

 

 

2016

Stockholm, Sweden

 

Large Rental Company of the Year

(Revenues over €15 million)

 

WINNER: Riwal

SHORTLIST:

A-Plant (UK)

Loxam (France)

Riwal (Netherlands)

 

 

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID:

 

“2015 was an important year for Riwal. It rolled out its new lean operation system, the Riwal Way, across its entire organisation, revenues rose by 13% on a fleet that was just 4% larger, and EBITDA profits rose by 22%.The company was active across multiple fronts: creating an online account management portal for its customers; developing electric versions of booms for special applications; and opening new locations in Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, India and Kazakhstan. In a very tightly contested category, and with other shortlisted companies also performing extremely well, Riwal is a very worthy winner of this year’s Large Rental Company of the Year award.”

 

 

Small/Mid-Sized Rental Company of the Year

(Revenues under €15 million)

 

WINNER: Crestchic Ltd

SHORTLIST:

Crestchic Ltd (UK)

Drial Poland (Poland)

Echo Barrier (UK)

 

 

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID:

 

“An established manufacturer of loadbanks for 30 years, Crestchic entered the rental market in 2013 and has been remarkably successful in creating a rental business in Europe and Asia.It grew its rental revenues by 10% in 2015, added new specialist products – capacitive loadbanks – and diversified its business into data centres and facilities management in response to the slowdown in oil and gas. The company has been both innovative and quick on its feet: a winning combination.”

 

 

Rental product of the year

(launched during 2015)

 

WINNER: EL & Site Oy for the MBerg LED light

 

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Wacker Neuson for the WL20e wheeled loader

 

SHORTLIST:

EL & Site - MBerg LED-light

Genie - Z-33/18

HH-Intellitech - GlasLift 550 Terrain

Holland Lift - HL-330 E14

Kaeser - M82

Wacker Neuson - WL20e

 

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID ABOUT THE HIGHLY COMMENDED:

 

“By listening carefully to what the market was requesting, Wacker Neuson has developed an electrically driven wheeled loader that will enhance rental for indoor applications. The WL20e can be put to use in greenhouses, tunnels, parking garages and other similar environments, offering no emissions and less noise. Ease of maintenance as well as lower maintenance costs are also important features for rental companies. Wacker Neuson deserves recognition in the rental industry for its efforts.”

 

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID ABOUT THE WINNER:

 

“The Mberg is a site light that requires almost zero maintenance, can be used in tough conditions, and is suitable for use in a wide range of environments. Its low voltage and excellent heat distribution means they are safe to use, and their high energy efficiency reduces the CO2 footprint, making them a ‘green’ choice. For rental companies they offer the additional benefit of being available in all colours, allowing them to be personalised according to the needs of the customer. The Mberg may be small, but it is a product that is perfect for rental, and which has been developed with the needs of rental companies in mind. We congratulate the company for a top class piece of product design.”

 

 

 

 

Sustainable Business Innovation in Rental

 

WINNER: Kiloutou

 

SHORTLIST:

HSS Hire (UK)

Hewden (UK)

Kiloutou (France)

Loxam (France)

 

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID:

 

“Kiloutou has been pursuing a sustainable rental agenda for 15 years and in that respect is one of the pioneers of sustainability in the equipment rental industry in Europe. In 2015, initiatives included providing customers with a carbon footprint calculations included on invoices; a hazardous waste recycling procedure co-developed with partner Veolia; and new processes with partner Ecologic to ensure that machines at the end of their life are properly recycled. Its new logistics system allowed it to reduce its in-house transport fleet by 25% yet increase the number of deliveries. Kiloutou takes sustainability seriously, and adopts strategies across every aspect of its business.”

 

 

 

ERA/IRN Rental Person of the Year

 

WINNER: Sat Dhaiwal, CEO, A-Plant

 

WHAT THE JUDES SAID:

 

“Sat Dhaiwal joined A-Plant aged 22 in 1992 and was appointed CEO in 2002 and has proven to be a distinguished rental leader. Last year was a notably successful one for his company. Financially, A-Plant saw its revenues grow by almost 17% in 2015, while it made six acquisitions and managed to secure £120 million from its parent company Ashtead to invest in renewing and expanding its fleet.

 

Sat’s own background in the industry – he started as a fitter aged 16 – is reflected in his commitment to staff development, and in particular to the company’s apprenticeship scheme. During 2015 A-Plant made its largest ever investment in apprentices, taking on 103 new trainees, of which a quarter were female. We are delighted to honour Sat as our Rental Person of the Year.”

 

 

Lifetime Achievement Award

 

WINNER: Chris Wehrman, CEO, American Rental Association

 

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID:

 

“Christine Wehrman, the Executive Vice President and CEO of the American Rental Association (ARA), is retiring later this year after sixteen years with the organisation. She leaves the ARA in extremely good health. It has record membership levels; is acknowledged as an authoritative source of rental statistics; and has maintained and expanded the status of the annual Rental Show as a global meeting place for the industry. Under her leadership, the ARA has strengthened its government affairs operation, helping influence government decisions that impact on rental and advising members on the new legislation. Christine Wehrman deserves the respect and gratitude of the wider rental industry for her efforts to globalize and professionalise the rental industry. We wish her a long and happy retirement, when it comes.”

 

 

The judges were: Murray Pollok (IRN), Martin Schickel (Liebherr Mietpartner), Michel Petitjean (ERA, non-voting chair), and Pierre Boels (Boels Verhuur).

 

For images and more details from the awards ceremony, see the June 2016 issue of IRN

 

 

 

2015

Rome, Italy

 

Large Rental Company of the Year (revenues >€15 million)

 

WINNER: A-Plant (UK)

 

GAP Hire (UK)

HSS Hire (UK)

 

 

 

Small/Mid-sized rental Company of the year (revenues under €15m)

 

WINNER: Atut Rental (Poland)

 

Germans Homs (Spain)

Industrial Access (Romania)

O.MEC (Italy)

 

 

 

Sustainable Rental Product of the Year

 

WINNER: Wacker Neuson (electric powered rammer)

 

Firefly (hybrid generator) – HIGHLY COMMENDED

 

Holland Lift (hybrid scissor lift)

MHM Plant/Powerbank (hybrid generator)

Morris Site Machinery (solar lighting tower)

 

 

Rental Person of the Year

 

Wolfgang Hahnenberg and Peter Schrader, Zeppelin Rental

 

 

 

ERA/IRN Lifetime Achievement Award

 

Pierre-Yves Lecat

 

 

THE AWARD JUDGES WERE:

 

Xavier du Boÿs (CEO, Kiloutou, France)

Marzia Giusto (CEO, Nacanco & President, Assonolo, Italy)

Nicolas Guigon (Rental & Used Equipment Manager – EAME, Caterpillar)

Vesa Koivula (ERA President & CEO, Cramo, Finland)

Murray Pollok (Managing Editor, International Rental News (IRN))

 

 

 

2014

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

 

RENTAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR

 

WINNER:

Hewden (UK)

 

SHORTLIST:

4-punto-1 (Italy)

Hewden (UK)

Nationwide Platforms (UK)

 

 

 

RENTAL SAFETY CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR

 

WINNER:

Ramirent (Finland)

 

SHORTLIST:

AFI (UK)

Lavendon Group (Europe)

Ramirent (Finland)

 

 

RENTAL PRODUCT OF THE YEAR

 

WINNER:

Power Towers (Pecolift access platform)

 

HIGHLY COMMENDED:

SDMO (Rental Compact generators)

 

SHORTLIST:

Firefly (Cygnus hybrid generator)

Niftylift (HR28 hybrid access platform)

Power Towers (Pecolift access platform)

SDMO (Rental Compact generators)

Tower Light (VTLED lighting tower)

 

 

RENTAL COMPANY OF THE YEAR (turnover under €15 million)

 

WINNER:

Hotmobil (Germany)

 

SHORTLIST:

Crestchic (UK)

Dromad Hire (Republic of Ireland)

GGR Group (UK)

Hotmobil (Germany)

Industrial Access (Romania)

 

 

RENTAL COMPANY OF THE YEAR (turnover above €15 million)

 

WINNER:

Loxam (France)

 

SHORTLIST:

AFI (UK)

GAP Group (UK)

Loxam (France)

 

 

THE ERA/IRN RENTAL PERSON OF THE YEAR

 

WINNER:

GILL RILEY, founder and managing director of GGR Group

 

 

2013

Paris, France

 

Large Rental Company of the Year (turnover >€15m)

 

• WINNER: BOELS RENTAL (Netherlands)

 

• Riwal (Netherlands)

• VP plc (UK)

 

 

Small Rental Company of the Year (turnover <€15m)

 

• WINNER: DROMAD HIRE (Republic of Ireland)

 

• GGR (UK)

• Industrial Access (Romania)

• Italnolo (Italy)

• Storent (Latvia)

 

 

Rental Product of the Year 2012

 

• WINNER: OFF GRID ENERGY - Grid to Go Generator (UK)

 

• El Bjorn - TF 50 Fan Dryer (Sweden)

• Haulotte - HT23 RTJ boom (France)

• Himoinsa - Power Cube Generator (Spain)

• Husqvarna - K760 Oil Guard (Sweden)

 

 

Lifetime Achievement Award

 

• DAN KAPLAN, Daniel Kaplan Associates

 

 

Rental Person of the Year in 2012

 

• NEIL STOTHARD, Group Managing Director, VP plc

 

 

 

The judges were:

Gérard Déprez (president, European Rental Association), Jürgen Küspert (managing director of BBI), Jean-Marie Osdoit (president/CEO, Volvo Construction Equipment France), Kevin Parkes (CEO, Hewden) and Murray Pollok (Editor, International Rental News).

 

The non-voting chairman of the judges was Michel Petitjean, ERA Secretary General.

 

 

 

2012

Oslo, Norway

 

Large Rental Company of the Year (>€15 million revenues)

 

WINNER: Kiloutou (France)

 

AFI-Uplift (UK)

GAP Group (UK)

Nixon Hire (UK)

 

 

Small Rental Company of the Year (<€15 million revenues)

 

WINNER: Naboen Utleie (Norway)

 

Johnny Servis (Czech Republic)

NRC (Russia)

Rentforce (Russia)

 

 

Rental Product of the Year in 2011

 

WINNER: Hilti (TE 3000-AVR breaker)

 

Caterpillar (300.9D mini-excavator)

Hinowa (IIIS system for aerial platforms)

JLG Industries (1500SJ aerial platform)

TowerLight (VB9 LED Battery Ibird lighting tower)

 

 

Rental Person of the Year

 

WINNER: Vesa Koivula, CEO, Cramo

 

 

Lifetime Achievement Award

 

WINNER: Erkki Norvio, former CEO Ramirent and current board member

 

 

2011

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

 

Large Rental Company of the year (turnover > €15 million)

 

WINNER: HSS Hire (UK)

 

GAM (Spain)

GAP Group (UK)

 

Small Rental Company of the year (turnover <€15 million)

 

WINNER: Industrial Access (Romania)

 

Dromad Hire (Ireland)

Rentforce (Netherlands/Russia)

 

 

Rental IT Award

 

WINNER: A-Plant

 

HSS Hire

Kiloutou

Speedy Hire

 

 

Rental Marketing Award

 

WINNER: Ramirent

 

HSS Hire

 

Rental Safety Award

 

WINNER: GAP Group

 

Hewden

HSS Hire

 

 

Rental Product of the Year

 

WINNER: Teletower Access Solutions (Teletower)

 

HH-Intellitech (GlasLift 500-4)

JCB (3CX/4CX ECO backhoe loader)

MEC Aerial Platforms (Titan Boom 40-S)

Z-Safety Services (Z-Matic)

 

 

Manufacturer of the Year

 

WINNER: Volvo CE

El-Bjorn

 

 

Rental Person of the Year

 

Pierre Boels jr (Boels Verhuur)

 

 

Lifetime Achievement Award

 

Gunnar Glifberg (formerly Cramo)

 

 

2010

Prague, Czech Republic

 

Rental Company of the Year (10 depots or more)

 

WINNER: Ramirent

 

GAP Group

HSS

 

 

Rental Company of the Year (under 10 depots)

 

WINNER: Bredenoord

HIGHLY COMMENDED: JVS Crane Rental

 

Atut Rental

StroyRent

 

 

Rental Product of the Year

 

WINNER: TowerLight/DF Ecology

 

HH-Intellitech

JLG Industries

Mecaplus

 

 

Rental Person of the Year

 

WINNER: Chris Davies, Chief Executive, HSS

 

 

Lifetime Achievement Award

 

WINNER: Franco de Michelis, Assodimi

 

 

2009

Manchester, UK

 

Rental Company of the Year (more than 10 depots)

 

WINNER: Aggreko (WINNER)

 

A-Plant

Malthus

 

 

Rental Company of the Year (10 depots or less)

 

WINNER: Cofiloc (WINNER)

 

Dest Bul (Destination Bulgaria)

Hoyde Service

 

 

Rental Product of the Year

 

WINNER: Haulotte Group (H28TJ+) (WINNER)

 

Dustcontrol (AirCube aircleaner)

Hitachi (ZX14-3)

Niftylift (Height Rider 21 Bi-Energy)

 

 

ERA/IRN Rental Person of the Year

 

WINNER: Mendes Migotto (Gruppo Venpa3) (WINNER)

 

Erkki Norvio (Ramirent)

Pierre Boels (Boels Verhuur)

 

 

Lifetime Achievement Award

 

WINNER: George Burnett (founder and former CEO of Ashtead Group)