Rental Rumbles – October 2007

Software meets standards
WennSoft announced that Microsoft has certified its Service Management Series Version 9.00b02 to its highest standard for partner developed software solutions, making Service Management Series one of the select software solutions to meet the new Microsoft standard.

Service Management Series achieved certification by passing the new Microsoft Dynamics software compatibility test and securing recommendations from at least 10 customer references. Certification also required WennSoft to be a Microsoft Gold Certified partner and to have a Microsoft Support Plan service agreement.

The Service Management Series from WennSoft empowers organizations engaged in field service to execute more efficiently, delivering higher levels of customer service and profitability. The Service Management Series capitalizes on the powerful platform of Microsoft Dynamics GP to offer a comprehensive solution, encompassing operations, the field and most importantly customers.

The Service Management Series not only offers a robust field service solution designed to provide service call capture and assignment dispatch, resolution tracking and contract management, but also offers mobility solutions and Microsoft Dynamics CRM extensions. This combination of operational functionality with mobility effectively enables field personnel to deliver the highest quality and most efficient service possible.

Industry appointments and promotions

Jay M. Allen	Rowan
Scott Sugg	Harris
J. Dewayne Allen

Sakai America has appointed Karl Rowan as district manager for its mid-central territory that includes Ontario.

Rowan has an extensive background in heavy equipment, both hands-on and managerial, and his responsibilities will include support and training of dealer sales and applications teams and the recruitment and set-up of new dealers within the territory. He will also oversee dealer parts and service department set up and training for all new and existing dealers in his territory.

The Toro Company has named Randy Harris as director of marketing for its Landscape Contractor Business, which manufactures and markets a full line of commercial landscape creation and maintenance equipment.

In this broad role, Harris will be responsible for leading all marketing functions, including strategic planning, pricing, promotion, product development, marketing communications, parts, financing and channel strategy for Toro commercial mowers and Dingo compact utility loaders.

Allen Engineering Corporation has announced that J. Dewayne Allen is now the chief executive officer and chairman of the board. Allen has been president of Allen Engineering since its inception in 1964.

Jay M. Allen is now the president, Scott Sugg is now vice-president of operations and the remaining officers of Allen Engineering include: Mary Ann Allen, secretary/treasurer; Bill Barnhill, senior vice-president; and Jack Wilson, vice-president of research and development.

Charlie Szews, president of JLG and executive vice-president and chief financial officer for Oshkosh Truck Corporation, announced several key leadership changes within the company.

Wayne Lawson, vice-president of sales and customer support for EAME, will assume expanded responsibility in which he will take an even more prominent role in leading the development and implementation of the EAME market.

Mike Rafi has been promoted to the position of vice-president and general manager for the Caterpillar Alliance Group.

Joe Dixon has been promoted to the position of vice-president and general manager of ServicePlus.
Kirsten Skyba has accepted the position of vice-president of global marketing for JLG.

Brookes

Colin Brooks has been appointed as director of sales for Inmar, a supplier of technically complex mechanical and electrical systems serving the industrial and marine markets. Based out of Mississauga, Ontario, a team of dedicated individuals assists in the design, application and support of engines, generators and welding equipment. All products represented are supported through Inmar’s extensive parts inventory and fully equipped service department.

The company was appointed as a Hatz master distributor in August.

Industrial products include: Yanmar air cooled diesel engines, five to 10 horsepower and Yanmar portable air cooled diesel generators from 2.7kW to 5.5kW; Hatz air cooled diesel engines, four to 77 horsepower and Hatz pump and generator sets from two to 46kW and 45 to 520m3/hr; Yanmar liquid cooled diesel engines, 11 to 86 horsepower and Yanmar powered liquid cooled diesel generators from seven to 65kW, compact design for mobile applications; and Zenith gasoline, natural gas and propane engines, 30 to 159 horsepower.

Custom built for rentals
Venetor Group has opened its new head office in Stoney Creek, Ontario. The opening of the custom built, 50,000 square foot facility is the latest phase in Venetor’s growth. This move comes on the heels of the opening of its Oshawa branch in February 2007, allowing Venetor to further provide exceptional and quality service to its customers in the eastern Greater Toronto Area and points further east.

”This new office is a testament to the strength and perseverance of our people in this industry and through the faith and confidence our customers have placed in our company. We are continuing to make major investments to provide better service to our customers, to differentiate ourselves from the competition and to accelerate our growth,” says Tom Beraldo, vice-president of operations. The Venetor Group has been family owned and operated serving Hamilton’s industrial core and the Golden Horseshoe area since 1975.

Skyjack acquires telehandler line
Skyjack, a Linamar Company, has finalized its purchase agreement to acquire telehandler manufacturer Carelift Equipment based in Breslau, Ontario. The Carelift business complements Linamar’s Skyjack business, which currently produces aerial work platforms for the industrial market. This acquisition allows the company to capitalize on a new model of aerial work platforms, the ZoomBoom. The telehandlers will enhance Linamar’s industrial business, Skyjack, an already successful brand for the company, popular for its scissorlifts and recently launched boom lifts.

“We are thrilled to add Carelift to our portfolio and build on the success we have had in the industrial market,” says Linda Hasenfratz, Linamar CEO. “We have seen tremendous growth in demand for our Skyjack products and feel there is great sales potential in leveraging our existing expertise to add a new model to our already successful line of aerial work platforms.”

Linamar will continue the current lease on the existing Carelift site in Breslau. The long-term plan is to
accommodate the telehandler business at Skyjack, as it will be structured under Linamar’s industrial group and managed by the Skyjack team. Financial details regarding the transaction will be reviewed at the next quarterly conference call in November.

Carelift designs and builds durable, dependable rough terrain forklifts. The telehandler product has advanced reach and can reach heights from 32 to 56 feet. Additionally, Carelift products are well regarded in the industry for high quality and reliability, which aligns with Skyjack’s existing product design principles.

Ingersoll Rand selling business units
Ingersoll Rand Company has agreed to sell its Bobcat, Utility Equipment and Attachments business units to Doosan Infracore for cash proceeds of approximately US$4.9 billion.

The combined businesses manufacture and sell compact equipment, including skidsteer loaders, compact track loaders, mini-excavators and telescopic tool handlers; portable air compressors, generators and light towers; general purpose light construction equipment; and attachments. For full-year 2006, these businesses collectively generated approximately US$2.6 billion in revenues. The businesses employ approximately 5700 people worldwide.

“The sale of Bobcat, Utility Equipment and Attachments represents the last major action to transform our business portfolio to reposition Ingersoll Rand as a diversified industrial company,” says Herbert L. Henkel, chairman, president and chief executive officer.

“Collectively, this transaction and the recent sale of our Road Development business in April 2007 will generate gross proceeds of more than US$6.2 billion. As a result, we have created immediate value for our shareholders and unlocked significant capital to drive long-term growth. We will use the proceeds of the sale to make acquisitions that enhance the geographic reach, product lines, and manufacturing capabilities of our strategic business platforms, and we will augment organic growth by funding innovation and new product efforts. In addition, we will continue to implement our previously authorized share repurchase program.”

Husqvarna acquires Soff-Cut
Husqvarna has acquired Soff-Cut International based in Corona, California. Soff-Cut is a producer of
concrete saws for early entry concrete sawing. This technology enables concrete to be cut before it is fully set which minimizes the risk of random cracking and also simplifies the working process in comparison with conventional sawing.

In 2006, Soff-Cut reported sales of approximately US$35.4 million and has about 70 employees.
“Soff-Cut has developed a unique patented system for early entry concrete sawing. The acquisition enables us to continue strengthening our position as a supplier to the construction industry. We expect to achieve considerable synergies with our existing operation in administration, purchasing, production and distribution,” says Anders Berggren, president of Husqvarna Construction Products North America.

Cat in British Columbia
Alberta contractors and homeowners in the Prince Rupert, Kitimat and Terrace region of British Columbia now have convenient ‘round the clock’ access to the compact line of Caterpillar and other brand name construction equipment and specialized tools through the new Cat Rental Store that opened August 1.

“The future looks bright for northwest British Columbia,” says Ian Reid, president of Finning (Canada). “Through The Cat Rental Store, we hope to fully participate in the economic renewal of the region. By offering industrial, commercial and residential construction contractors and homeowners the Caterpillar brand, along with other light equipment and hand tools, we have created a rental equipment offering that is second to none.”

The outlet will be co-located within the existing Finning (Canada) branch at Terrace to serve customers throughout the region and the store will employ three people.

From left: Jenny Yuen, KHP regional director, Ontario; Ray St. Antoine, Kubota Canada; Nancy Landry, KHP manager, Ontario.

The opening of the Terrace branch signals 33, the number of Cat Rental Stores operating in Finning’s dealership territory of which 15 are located in British Columbia. Finning’s first Cat Rental Store was opened in May 2001 in Lloydminster, Alberta.

Making a difference
Kubota Canada made its annual donation to KIDS HELP PHONE, presenting a cheque for $10,000. The donation is based on unit sales in the previous calendar year. Since starting in 2000, Kubota’s donations have totaled more than $60,000. Kubota Canada believes in contributing to societal and environmental betterment.

KIDS HELP PHONE is a national toll-free phone and web counseling and referral service that youths can contact and talk to qualified counselors about any type of distress or troubling situation they are experiencing. -end-

Please send rental industry news to: Canadian Rental Service, 145 Thames Road West, Exeter, Ontario N0M 1S3. Email: cskalkos@annexweb.com