Postmarks from the 2012 tradeshow season varied from the Las Vegas-located World of Concrete in January to The Rental Show, which returned to New Orleans in early February after a 10-year absence.
ara's rental show sparked by improved attendance, solid buying
Increased attendance, solid buying and a more upbeat attitude than has been seen in years sparked The Rental Show in New Orleans last month. The American Rental Association announced double-digit growth in both the number of attendees and the number of rental businesses represented. Attendance for 2012 increased nearly 20 percent over 2011, with the number of rental businesses up nearly 25 percent, ARA said, though actual attendance figures were not released.
ARA officials told RER pre-registration figures topped total attendance at last year's Las Vegas show and show floor traffic for the most part bore out that assessment.
The majority of show exhibitors told RER buying was strong and floor traffic was far superior than in recent years. Although results tended to be more spotty for some new exhibitors that are not as well known to attendees, most were pleased with the results.
“People were buying equipment because they want to build their fleets, rather than just buying for specific jobs as in recent years,” said Joe Jabbour, rental industry sales manager for Statesville, N.C.-based Doosan Infracore Portable Power. “That's how this show was different than the past few years. Rental companies are far more optimistic and have placed more orders.”
“We've had constant traffic and solid buying,” added Mike Grant of Tsurumi America.
Former U.S. Rentals and United Rentals executive Bill Berry and former Cramo CEO Gunnar Glifberg were inducted into the American Rental Association Hall of Fame. Berry, who passed away in 2000, was president and CEO of U.S. Rentals from 1986 to 1998 and played a major role in the merger of U.S. Rentals with United Rentals. Berry was widely credited with helping to solidify a group of systems that provided a platform for United Rentals' growth.
Berry's surviving family was in attendance and his son Scott Berry spoke movingly about his father's legacy in the rental industry and how his example and love for his family helped lay the foundation for his children's growth and development.
Glifberg joined Cramo in 1994 as CEO and unified a disparate group of companies into a common business model, created a strong management team and expanded Cramo's operations into eight countries, setting the stage for further expansion to 15 countries and nearly 400 branches.
Next year's Rental Show will be held in Las Vegas Feb. 10-13 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, a new venue for the show.
— Michael Roth
ihs global predicts 6.9-percent rental revenue growth in 2012
The equipment rental industry outperformed the industries it serves in 2011 and should continue strong momentum into 2012 according to new data released at The Rental Show by the American Rental Association.
ARA predicts North American equipment rental industry revenue to increase at least 6.9 percent in 2012 to total $33.5 billion by the end of the year, based on figures compiled by IHS Global Insight, one of the world's leading economic forecasting firms. The rental industry's forecasted revenue growth in 2012 is more than three times the 2-percent growth in gross domestic product forecast for the United States in 2012.
The forecasted rental revenue total includes three industry segments — construction and industrial, general tool, and party and event — in the United States and Canada. The ARA Rental Market Monitor's current five-year forecast calls for continued annual growth in rental revenue to reach $53.1 billion by 2016 in North America.
The forecast predicts a 7.5-percent jump in construction-related rentals, 6.6-percent in general tool, and 2.5-percent in party rental.
— Michael Roth
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ritchie bros. and cim set new record at world of concrete charity auction
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, the world's largest auctioneer of heavy equipment and trucks, recently conducted two unreserved auctions in Las Vegas. The first auction, a charity event at World of Concrete on Jan. 25, generated $558,000 for Concrete Industry Management's post secondary education program — a new record for the annual auction. At the second auction, which took place at Ritchie Bros.' Las Vegas site on Jan. 27, the company sold more than $24 million worth of equipment for more than 200 consignors. All items in the two public auctions were sold to the highest bidders with no minimum bids or reserve prices. Bids were made in person at the auction site, online in real time at www.rbauction.com, or by proxy.
“This was the biggest CIM fundraising auction we've ever been a part of — the $558,000 raised at this auction will greatly benefit the future leaders of the concrete industry,” said Mike Johnston, senior vice president, sales, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. “World of Concrete and the CIM fundraising auction are great events that we and our customers look forward to every year. To save our customers time and money we always try to schedule our first Las Vegas auction around these annual events — and once again it has proven extremely beneficial for our bidders and our consignors. Our bidders have the benefit of tying two trips into one and our consignors benefit from the larger, more diverse crowd of potential buyers attending the auction.”
The 2012 CIM fundraising auction attracted more than 400 on-site and online bidders from around the world and surpassed the annual auction's previous record by more than $185,000. The auction featured a wide range of donated items, including equipment, cement and sports packages from companies like Caterpillar Inc., Lafarge, Argos Cement and more. The premier item in the auction, a Mack cement mixer truck, sold for $130,000 to an on-site buyer.
More than $24 million worth of equipment was sold to more than 480 buyers in a single day at the Jan. 27 Las Vegas auction with close to 90 percent of sales going to buyers from outside the state of Nevada. The auction attracted bidders from as far away as Jordan, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. In total, more than 2,700 bidders from 41 countries, including 47 American states, nine Canadian provinces and one territory, registered for the auction. More than 1,500 of those bidders (55 percent) participated online.
The auction featured more than 1,200 heavy equipment items and trucks from more than 200 consignors, including a great selection of specialized concrete paving equipment from consignors such as Peek Construction and Williams Brother Inc.
“Timing this auction with World of Concrete benefited the sale prices of our equipment immensely,” said Andy Eisenzimer, equipment manager for both Peek Construction and Williams Brother Inc. “Our equipment is very specialized — it's not the type of concrete equipment you see on the street everyday — so it was very important for me to consign it to this January Las Vegas auction in particular because I knew the buyers would be there — both on-site or online. For example, for Peek Construction I consigned a 2004 CON-E-CO concrete batch plant and it sold to an online buyer from Canada.”
The auction was also the first Las Vegas auction conducted in its recently completed auction facility, which includes a 33,000-square-foot auction building with a 500-seat main auction theater and a 300-seat virtual ramp theater. The official grand opening for the new facility will be held at the next Las Vegas auction on May 4.
For a complete list of upcoming auctions, visit www.rbauction.com.
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers has more than 110 locations in more than 25 countries, including 43 auction sites worldwide.
— Brandey Smith
jlg introduces electric scissorlifts at the rental show
JLG Industries last month introduced the RS Series of electric scissorlifts — the 1932RS and the 3248RS at The Rental Show in New Orleans.
With platform heights of 19 feet and 32 feet and capacities of 500 pounds and 705 pounds respectively, the 1932RS and 3248RS utilize direct electric-drive motors designed to deliver industry-leading duty cycles. Passive pothole protection eliminates all moving parts in the pothole protection system, to significantly reduce repair and maintenance cost. The use of only four hydraulic hoses greatly reduces the chance of leaks and an easily accessible battery storage area further ensures ease of maintenance. Both models have the ability to traverse grades of up to 25 percent.
“The JLG 1932RS and JLG 3248RS will appeal to those who seek a service-friendly machine that delivers value without sacrificing performance and quality,” said Jeff Ford, JLG Industries global product director. “Both models can be used in a variety of applications, and their innovative, rugged design makes them very reliable.”
Both lifts include a multifunction digital indicator, which simplifies battery evaluation and fault diagnosis. In addition, the lifts feature controls similar to the ES Scissor, for ease of training and automatic traction control for optimal maneuverability. Fold-down guardrails on the 3248RS enable access through standard double doorways or under low obstructions. The 1932RS and the 3248RS will be available in late spring 2012.
JLG Industries is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of access equipment. The company's product portfolio includes brands such as JLG aerial work platforms; JLG, SkyTrak and Lull telehandlers.
— Brandey Smith
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honda launches industrial generator at world of concrete
Honda launched its all-new EB10000 Industrial Series generator at the World of Concrete, now the most powerful Honda generator and the company's flagship model.
The Honda EB10000 generator, with a maximum output of 10,000 watts, is compact, lightweight and features a range of design innovations. These include a narrow-shaped design; a centralized exhaust mechanism; a newly developed alternator; and improved fuel efficiency and lower noise. The EB10000 is designed for industrial and commercial applications, including construction-related jobsite work and is a fit for the rental market where users demand the most reliable power for a variety of applications.
The new digital auto voltage regulator is an exclusive Honda feature integrated into the design of the EB10000 generator. The DAVR functions to improve the output capability of the new model, holding the voltage stable within 1 percent over time during standard operation. The DAVR adjustments are driven off the main winding versus a sensor winding in conventional AVR systems, with a built-in temperature protection system. In addition, the DAVR configuration has a built-in self diagnosis function to prevent abnormal voltage and engine speed from exceeding 4,140 rpm for longer than three seconds. A power coil, installed under the flywheel, provides a power supply for the DAVR.
The technologically advanced design of the Honda EB10000 incorporates a patented frame design that clearly delineates its hot and cool operating parts. This configuration allows the generator's battery and control panel elements to be positioned in the model's cool zone.
The generator also includes the i-Monitor digital operation system (with lighting), by which the operator can see, at a glance, the state of the conditions being monitored: total used hours, generating voltage (when error detected), battery condition, Oil Alert, and an AVR (auto voltage regulator) error code, all of which improve understanding about service and maintenance activities. The generator also has a one-touch, removable plastic top cover allowing for easy battery access and maintenance.
— Brandey Smith
toro presents three new turf-renovation models at the rental show
Toro presented three new models from its growing line of turf renovation equipment at the Rental Show. The new units were an 18-inch mechanical aerator, an 18-inch slit seeder and an 18-inch power rake.
“These units were specifically designed for rental stores and landscapers,” said Greg Lawrence, marketing product manager for Toro compact utility equipment. “We've adopted the same user-friendly controls and drives as in Toro's commercial walk-behind mowers. Simply squeeze the handle to propel the unit forward and release to stop.”
The Toro 18-inch aerator comes with a Honda GSV 190 engine, and features a variable-speed drive system that allows the operator to adjust machine speed to varying turf conditions. A wide unibody frame with 10-gauge steel construction and outboard drive wheels gives the machine a low center of gravity for hillside stability.
The 18-inch mechanical slit seeder is designed for power-seeding, dethatching and verticutting to deposit seed for germination of lawns. The 1600-cubic-inch seed box and a large seed mixer prevents the seed delivery system from clogging and regulates seed delivery based on ground speed for an even application. The unit comes with a Honda GX200 engine, and is constructed of solid 11-gauge steel and equipped with nine verticutting blades made of high-carbon steel.
The 18-inch power rake has a dethatching width of 18 inches, and has 22 flail blades on a 1.5-inch spacing that are automatically engaged by the unit's centrifugal clutch. The machine is equipped with a Honda GX160 engine.
— Michael Roth
genie presents prototype of redesigned telehandler at the rental show
Genie showed its new prototype 8,000-pound capacity telehandler at The Rental Show. Replacing its existing GTH-844 model, the unit, which will begin production in November, has been recreated in its entirety and has a number of significant improvements compared to the previous model.
“We totally revamped the machine,” Scott Krieger, Genie's telehandler senior product manager told RER. “There's virtually nothing on this machine that's on the current 844 model.”
The changes begin with the placement of the engine, moving it from the back to the right side to enhance operator visibility. “Everything is ground level,” Krieger said. “The engine, the transmission, the filters and hoses. We wanted to make it as easy as we can, whether it's for a contractor or a rental house, to be able to service this machine.”
The machine has a new ergonomically designed operator's station with a tiltable steering wheel, updated single-lever joystick control and new gauge and switch packages. Also new is a narrowed width from 107 inches down to 96.
The unit is available with Deutz and Perkins Tier 4 Interim engines. Genie has also added a proportional hydraulic system with low idle. The boom has been redesigned with a stronger structure and an internal cylinder.
Genie will ramp up production in November and expects to be in full production mode by the beginning of 2013.
— Michael Roth
solutions turns 30; adds card payment gateway program
Solutions by Computer held a special 30th anniversary reception and customer appreciation party in New Orleans in conjunction with The Rental Show. The company was founded in 1982 by CEO Jack Shea.
The reception was held at the landmark Royal Sonesta Hotel on Bourbon Street. SBC also marked its 29th consecutive year of exhibiting at the American Rental Association's annual convention. SBC unveiled its new Card Payment Gateway and other software advances this year.
The Card Payment Gateway is a payment processing module for credit and debit cards that provides Enfinity users the option of three different payment-processing vendors to choose from. Benefits include:
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Non-propriety integration, with flexibility to shop three payment processors for competitive quotes and customer-service capabilities;
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PCI compliant: no card information is stored on Enfinity, which removes the system from the scope of PCI requirements;
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Signature capture automatically applies to both card and contract;
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Card is automatically used for subsequent invoices on the same contract;
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Settlements processed automatically overnight.
— Michael Roth
