Equipment rental

It emerged in the UK after the First World War and has now become a multi-billion euro business providing a wide range of construction and industrial equipment for customers globally.The American Rental Association was founded as early as 1955,[1] and the first waves of consolidation took place in the 1970s in North America, leading to the creation of companies with nationwide operations.

In Europe alone there are over 17,000 equipment rental companies and the industry is now growing quickly in other areas of the world, including the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia.

[4] The industry has moved from mostly family-owned small businesses to the creation of a number of international groups, some of which have an annual turnover over €1billion.

Concentration in the industry is expected to renew at a fast pace, following a pause in 2008–2009 as a consequence of the international credit crunch.

Equipment rental penetration is lower in Southern and Eastern Europe and highest in the UK and the Nordic Countries.

[8] Rental revenue in Canada was expected to grow 2.1 percent in 2019 to total nearly $5.5 billion The ERA (European Rental Association) annually publishes the ERA Market Report, based on a research carried out in 15 countries (Austria, Belgium, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK).

[9] There are several reason why companies choose to rent equipment instead of buying it: financial and economic, operational and environmental.

The ERA Total Cost of Ownership calculator[11] can help in deciding whether to buy, rent or lease equipment from financial perspective.

Rental companies invest vast sums each year in maintaining modern fleets, providing access to the latest, most productive and safest equipment on the market.

[12] The Manifesto defines how principles of the circular economy are applied in the rental business: An independent research study on the carbon footprint of construction equipment has demonstrated that the rental business model stimulates the efficient use of equipment and that this efficient use lowers the total carbon footprint.

[13] The researchers of the study built a calculator to determine the carbon footprint of the use of construction equipment, based on various parameters.

In addition to the construction sector, the rental market supplies a wide range of customers and industries, including gardening and landscaping, municipal and forestry services, the event industry [like PA equipment, LED screens, Camera/videography equipment, etc], IT infrastructure, and private clients.

The product range available includes generators, load banks, transformers and mobile fuel tanks.

Whether for woodwork, metalwork, construction or do-it-yourself projects, an extensive inventory of well-maintained smaller equipment and hand/power tools is available to tackle any job size or surface type.

Smaller equipment can range from portable generators, concrete mixers and fan heaters to LED stand lights, wallpaper stripper and floor sanders.

Here are some key criteria: For specific equipment, it is useful to establish relationships with rental depots that have experience with the products required.

The proximity of the rental depot provides economic and sustainability benefits because it reduces transport costs and the environmental footprint.

When renting small equipment, the economic aspect is among the most decisive factors in the choice of a rental company.

Dealing with a large depot allows customers to find, from a single source, the full range of services required during the contractual period.

Rental depots must provide equipment that is fully compliant with legislative regulations and in good operating condition.

Rental depots should have well-trained staff who are able to explain the practical and safe use of the equipment and provide answers to technical questions.

An increasing number of rental companies have stringent procedures in place with regard, for example, to waste management, energy saving, environmentally adapted fuels and oils, and reduction of chemicals.