Rental Rumbles: March 2010

AWP equipment safety document released at The Rental Show
A coalition of associations consisting of the American Rental Association (ARA), the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED), the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) and the Scaffold Industry Association (SIA) have come together to develop educational safety protocols regarding aerial work platform (AWP) equipment. The documents are intended to make clear what is needed both for general training and model-specific familiarization.

The resulting document was released during a press conference at The Rental Show in Orlando, Fla. Titled “Statement of Best Practices of General Training and Familiarization for Aerial Work Platform Equipment,” it is the first time material that is applicable to every segment of the rental industry. The document covers a number of issues, including educating the industry on the industry-recognized-and-supported standards, including the American National Standards Institute/Scaffold Industry Association (ANSI/SIA) A92 Standards and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, the differences between general training and product specific familiarization, the best practices and minimum training guidelines for operators of AWP equipment, and clarification on minimum qualification requirements for those who will provide training for AWP equipment.

The document is available from any of the participating organizations.

Two Canadians receive awards at The Rental Show
The American Rental Association (ARA) recognizes individuals for outstanding service to the Association and the industry each year. This year, two members of Canada’s rental industry received awards: James Morden of RentShop in Alliston, Ont., and Neil DeJong, manager of Industrial Tools and Equipment Rentals in Hamilton, Ont.

James Morden of RentShop (left) and Neil DeJong of ITE Equipment Rentals (right) both took home awards at The Rental Show, which took place recently in Orlando, Fla.

Below is a full list of those who received awards on Feb. 8 during The Rental Show in Orlando, Fla.

Meritorious Service Award
Stan Crumbaugh, president of Independence Rent-All, Independence, Mo., will receive the Meritorious Service Award, which honours an ARA member who has made a significant contribution and demonstrated leadership pivotal to the success of a project or program. Crumbaugh has been an energetic leader of The Rental Show Work Group, established by the ARA board of trustees to research and provide information on innovations for The Rental Show’s short- and long-term future. He served as chair of this committee in a volunteer capacity and gave much time, effort and leadership to creating a cohesive team with diverse opinions and ideas. His leadership kept the group focused, resulting in significant changes to improve The Rental Show and move the event into the next era of ARA conventions and trade shows. Crumbaugh served as ARA president in 2007 and is a longtime Association volunteer. The Meritorious Service Award will be presented during the keynote session.

Special Service Award
The Special Service Award, also to be presented at the keynote session, will be awarded to Clay Eubanks, president of Takeuchi Manufacturing (U.S.), Pendergrass, Ga. Eubanks was instrumental in assisting ARA with efforts to increase attendance at The Rental Show 2009 in Atlanta. He went beyond his duties as an ARA board member by hosting a video promoting Atlanta as a destination city, identified opportunities to market Atlanta, encouraged members to attend The Rental Show and rallied support from general and associate members alike. Eubanks also has been an upbeat supporter of the rental industry. He completes his term an associate member director on the ARA board at The Rental Show. He is a member of The Rental Show Work Group and also has served on the Exhibitor Advisory and Government Affairs Committees, as well as attended the ARA Legislative Caucus.

Outstanding Leadership Award
Neil DeJong, manager of Industrial Tools and Equipment Rentals, Hamilton, Ont., Canada, will receive the Outstanding Leadership Award during the keynote session. The award honours a member who has provided an example of superlative leadership at the grassroots level. DeJong is being recognized for the work he has done with the Canadian Rental Association (CRA) Ontario association, increasing membership, encouraging volunteer involvement, activating an Ontario next-generation group and providing support to both ARA and CRA.

Regional Person of the Year Awards

• These awards recognize individuals who have made significant contributions at the regional, state or local level. Awards are presented during the new Regional Breakfasts.
• Region One: Tom Davis, CERP, Are You Ready To Party?, Waterville, Maine
• Region Two: Carol Frederick, Tel-Power Tool and Equipment Rental, Altoona, Pa.
• Region Three: Mark Jones, Gadsden Scaffold Co., Gadsden, Ala.
• Region Four: David Manning, Pioneer Equipment Rental, Durant, Okla.
• Region Five: Glen Benrus, RentalMax Administration Center, Wheaton, Ill.
• Region Six: John Kernan, Ango Kernan Rentals, Overland, Mo.
• Region Seven: Catherine DeBusk, CERP, Party People Rentals, Phoenix
• Region Eight: Rick Ream, Northwest Insurance Services, Gig Harbor, Wash.
• Region Nine: Steve Anthony, American Event Rentals, Stockton, Calif.
• Region 10: James Morden, RentShop, Alliston, Ontario, Canada

President’s Image Award
This is a store award that celebrates a commitment to improving the rental industry through a remodelling, rebuilding or renovation project. Awards are given during the Regional Breakfasts.

•  Region One: Bret Lagasse, Taylor Rental Center, Orange, Conn.
• Region Four: Andy Jones, Red Hat Rentals, Palestine, Texas
• Region Four: Ralph Kastner, Tuff Equipment, Hammond, La.

Robin Lott and Jim Johnson of Cavalier Industries.

Robin Lott joins Cavalier Industries
Cavalier Industries recently announced that Robin Lott has joined the company as territory man-ager for British Columbia. Cavalier Industries is an equipment agency for more than 20 major manufacturers of equipment for the rental industry.

Lott comes to Cavalier Industries with more than 15 years of experience in equipment sales and customer service.

“I’m really excited about representing the extensive and diverse product lines that Cavalier Industries offers,” says Lott.

Lott is based out of Abbotsford, B.C., but will cover the entire province. He can be reached seven days a week at 1-778-823-2607 or via e-mail at rlott@cavalier-industries.ca.

Brent Baer joins KIOTI as Ontario territory manager
KIOTI Tractor has announced the appointment of Brent Baer as territory manager in Ontario.

Baer brings with him more than 20 years of experience in a unique combination of mechanical engineering and manufacturing plus the sales and marketing of a wide range of farm equipment, lawn and garden equipment, and recreational power products in Ontario. For many years, Baer was the district manager for Echo Power Equipment in Ontario. Before that, he was the longtime president of Arva Lawn & Garden Equipment in Arva, Ont. He also enjoyed a number of years as an engineering consultant to General Motors of Canada.

In this newly created position, Baer will be responsible for helping KIOTI Tractor dealerships across Ontario grow their businesses. While his primary function will be to assist KIOTI in building their name and market share in this territory, he will also be instrumental in ensuring that all KIOTI tractor and UTV customers get the most out their machines.

Baer will ensure that any necessary warranty work is resolved quickly and efficiently so that end-users can get back to work in a timely fashion. He will also be responsible for the hiring of new and replacement dealers and act as liaison between KIOTI and its dealers and customers in Ontario.
 
“I am confident that my hands-on equipment background and knowledge of the various markets from urban to rural Ontario will enable me to help both KIOTI and its dealers serve the great people of my home province,” says Baer. “I look forward to meeting the challenge.”
 
For more information please call 1-877-GO-KIOTI or visit www.kioti.com .

WesternOne announces proposed acquisition of Calgary equipment rental business
WesternOne Equity Income Fund has announced that it has signed a letter of intent (the “LOI”) for the purchase of 100 per cent of the assets of a rental, sales, service and transport business specializing in aerial and material-handling equipment (the “Business”). The Business is independently owned, and operates from a base in Calgary with operations covering central and southern Alberta. The LOI contemplates WesternOne Equity paying at closing a purchase price of $13.5 million, which is subject to post-closing adjustments. This transaction will be financed using a combination of existing cash and debt and is expected to be completed, subject to due diligence and other customary conditions, by March 2010.

Further details will be announced upon the entering into of a formal agreement and after completion of the transaction.

“WesternOne Equity was able to source this off-market transaction at what our management believes is an attractive valuation with immediate accretion to our unitholders,” stated Mr. Darren Latoski, CEO of WesternOne Equity. “This transaction would allow us to enhance our market share in the equipment rental market in Alberta, through expanding our network of operations developed from previous acquisitions and organic growth.”

CEAttachments launches new website
CEAttachments has announced the launch of an entirely new website. The company says the new site will provide more information on the latest compact equipment attachments, and the information will be easier to find than ever before.

The site features an all-new design with up-to-date EDGE attachments offered by CEAttachments, including attachments and accessories for skid steer loaders, compact excavators and compact utility tractors.

Search functionality includes products, part numbers, key words and more. In addition to announcements regarding new products and events, the site also features a dealer locator, and numerous resources, such as videos, spec sheets, product photos.

You can check out the new site at www.ceattachments.com .

Morbark and Strongco form western Canada alliance
Morbark has announced the signing of a dealership agreement with Strongco Limited Partnership in western Canada. With Strongco’s five locations in Alberta, Morbark customers in western Canada now have convenient access to equipment, service and sales.

Strongco Limited Partnership, in business for over 50 years, is one of the largest multi-line industrial equipment distribution providers in Canada. The company provides service in locations serving Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton, Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie.

“The partnership with Strongco closes a gap we had in terms of distribution and we’re excited about the benefits this joint venture will bring to Morbark customers,” states Barry DeLau, Morbark international sales manager.

Brent Raddysh, general manager of the Strongco Western Division adds, “We believe that Morbark is an excellent addition to our existing product line and look forward to offering this quality equipment to our Alberta customers.”

Strongco sells, rents and services mobile industrial equipment in the construction, road building, mining, forestry, utilities and municipal sectors of the economy. It also represents several leading equipment manufacturers, such as Volvo, Dressta and Manitowoc.

Visit www.strongco.com for more information.