Rental Rumbles – May 2008

P&M Sales and Rentquip Supply merge
Shawn Parks of P&M Sales announced his intention to merge his company with Jim Freeman of Rentquip Supply Limited. The announcement came as Parks was receiving the award for ‘Canadian National Supplier of the Year’ at the annual American Rental Association (ARA) convention held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Parks was honoured earlier this year as the ‘Supplier of
the Year’ by the Canadian Rental Association in British Columbia.

The two companies have both serviced the Canadian rental equipment industry for many years and have become dominant regional suppliers. P&M, founded in 1995, services rental stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba in western Canada. Rentquip, founded in 1975, services rental stores in Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.

“The idea of forming a national company to serve the industry has been a common goal for both of us for many years. Service above and beyond is the key to success in this industry. The merger will result in better service for our customers in the form of increased buying power, sharing of inventories and longer hours of operation,” says Parks, president of P&M sales.

Freeman                                        Parks

“Rentquip Canada is committed to representing leading equipment manufacturers and providing the best possible service to our dealer network,” says Freeman, president of Rentquip Supply. “Our goal will be to provide the best selection of equipment and supplies to the Canadian rental industry from coast to coast.” Sales representatives include: British Columbia, Mike Faulkner; Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Bob Snea; Ontario, Paul Everitt; Quebec, Francois Leblanc; and Atlantic Canada, Earl Goodall and Eric Drew.

La fusion entre P & M Sales et Rentquip Supply
Shaun Parks de P&M Sales annonce son intention de fusionner son entreprise à celle de Jim Freeman, de Rentquip Supply Limited. L’annonce est survenue au moment où M. Parks reçoit le titre de «Fournisseur National Canadien de l’année.» Il a aussi reçu l’honneur d’être nommé fournisseur de l’année en Colombie-Britannique. Les deux entreprises desservent l’industrie Canadienne de la location depuis plusieurs années et sont devenues des distributeurs régionaux dominants. P&M, à été fondée en 1995, et dessert les centres de location des provinces de la Colombie-Britannique, l’Alberta et la Saskatchewan. Rentquip, fondée en 1975, dessert sa clientèle en Ontario, au Québec et dans les provinces de l’Atlantique.

Le service est, d’abord et avant tout, la clé du succès dans cette industrie. «L’idée de former une compagnie d’envergure nationale a été un but commun pour nous deux et ce, depuis plusieurs années,» dicte M. Parks, président de P&M Sales. Cette fusion amène donc un pouvoir d’achat accru, le partage de nos inventaires et des heures d’opération prolongées; ce qui permettra de mieux servir nos clients.

«Rentquip Canada Limité s’engage à représenter des lignes d’équipements d’avant-plans et de fournir le meilleur service possible pour son réseau de revendeurs,» annonce M. Freeman, président de Rentquip Supply. «Notre but sera de fournir la meilleur sélection d’équipements et de fournitures à l’Industrie Canadienne de la Location, d’un océan à l’autre.» Les représentants selon les provinces sont: pour la Colombie-Britannique, Mike Faulkner; pour l’Alberta, la Saskatchewan et le Manitoba, Bob Snea; en Ontario, Paul Everitt; au Québec, François Leblanc; et dans les provinces de l’Atlantique, Earl Goodall et Eric Drew.

Gilbert

Innovation recognized
Andre Gilbert, president Orion Software announced that Orion Software and its flagship product, Sirius Pro, received the 2007 award for the ‘Innovative Product – Software Category’ by Rental Equipment Register magazine at the American Rental Association’s (ARA) The Rental Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The award was presented to Orion Software for its latest addition to Sirius Pro, an optional Electronic Signature capture and management system.

Online auctioneer expands in Canada
IronPlanet, an online auction company for used construction and agricultural equipment, has expanded its presence in Canada by increasing its sales force and base of operations. Frank Despatie, IronPlanet’s newly appointed managing director for Canada, and his team of
territory managers will be responsible for growing IronPlanet’s Canadian customers, building on a strong base of OEM, dealer, contractor and mining company relationships.

The company has appointed Rod Butler and Chad McArthur as territory managers for southwest and northeast Ontario. McArthur brings a network of relationships and a significant background in operations from industry leading rental companies. Kyle Bates has been appointed to the position of territory manager for Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan. Jay Cassels has been appointed to the position of territory manager for British Columbia and the Yukon. André Rodier has been appointed to manage the Quebec and Maritime businesses.

Bolton

Appointments
David Bolton has joined Uniquip Canada as a district sales manager for Ontario. His goal will be to improve customer satisfaction levels and to help customers adjust to the changing rental marketplace in Ontario.

Bolton has extensive experience in equipment sales gained through his previous employment as a district sales manager with Milwaukee Tools and also as a national account manager with Hitachi. Uniquip Canada says his personal approach to customer needs and competitive knowledge is a great asset to both Uniquip and its customers in an ever-changing market segment.

Finning International has appointed Michael T. Waites as president and chief executive officer following its annual general meeting. Waites will also be joining the Finning board of directors.
After a highly successful career as president and CEO of Finning, Doug Whitehead has retired. He will remain on the Finning board and assume the position of chairman with Conrad Pinette, current chairman, stepping down from that role. In January 2008 Finning, which is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, celebrated its 75th anniversary.

Dunrite Vibrator in Calgary, Alberta, was the sole Canadian company
recognized by Allen Engineering during a ceremony naming the company’s top dealers for 2007 at Allen’s first annual Dealer Meeting held in conjunction with World of Concrete 2008.

Sakai has appointed Sancton Group as an authorized dealer for New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island.

It will offer a full line of vibratory soil compactors, seven 4000VPM vibratory asphalt rollers designed for Superpave and other perpetual pavements, as well as combination vibratory/pneumatic rollers and balanced three wheelers.

Sancton Group supports Sakai in Canada from the Saint John, St. John’s and Halifax branch locations.

World of Concrete 2008 second largest in history
Show organizers announced that 84,789 professional registrants from around the world attended World of Concrete 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada in January. The show utilized more than 900,000 net square feet of exhibit space to accommodate 1700 exhibitors, making it the second largest event in the show’s 34 year history, second only to last year’s show.

Ex-salesman tells all in free e-book
A newly available e-book dishes the dirt on software salespeople to help rental business owners make smarter software decisions. Confessions of an Ex-Enterprise Salesperson: What I Really Meant When I Said__ is available as a free download from RentalMetrics.com and authored by former enterprise salesman, Doug Mitchell, founder and president of RentalMetrics, a subscription based consulting service operating online.

In addition to dispelling technology myths and decoding software sales speak, the e-book offers a list of questions software buyers should ask their salespeople. “Salespeople who come into contact with readers of the book will be shocked at the probing questions they’re getting,” says the books’ author.

Downloading and reading the e-book takes less than 30 minutes and it is available at no cost. This book helps the buyer unmask the salesperson and avoid expensive pitfalls.

Expands tool offering
Trinitec Distribution has expanded the product offering of Kapro Tools in Canada. Trinitec is the exclusive Canadian distributor for Kapro Tools, a supplier of layout, marking and measuring tools. Kapro products are distributed from Trinitec’s distribution centre in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia.

“Since being introduced to Canada in 2007, Kapro products have been well received by our customers. The products have been an excellent addition to our lineup and are known for quality,” says John Glennon, manager of Trinitec. “Our customers wanted to see an expansion of the offering in Canada and we have done this by adding additional innovative products, including the Level Extender, Postrite folding post level, Legend Tri and Meter Square and 10 inch Cast Torpedo levels,” he says.

Contest winner
Systematic has announced that Torcan Lift Equipment of Concord, Ontario, is the winner of its recent Systematic Dashboard contest. The generous prize, a four hour trip in an executive jet for the winner and five guests, is a first for the equipment rental industry.

The contest – Are you the pilot or the passenger? – posed several questions to senior managers on how closely they tracked their operation and invited them to view an online demonstration of Systematic Dashboard, a graphics based interactive management tool. Viewing the demonstration automatically entered Torcan Lift Equipment into the contest, which ran from August 1 through to November 30, 2007.

One name, one website
The company formerly known as Systematic, an equipment rental and mobile asset management software provider, will now be using its corporate name, Texada Software, exclusively. It has consolidated its Systematic website and Texada website into one internet address, www.texadasoftware.com. Its product line will now be referred to as Texada’s suite of Systematic rental software products.

The company has sold the ownership of its discontinued internet website address, www.systematic.com, for $400,000 to a non-competing company in Europe.

Ossea

Exceptional sales
Barry Ossea from Solutions by Computer was recognized for being the Salesman of the Year by his company for his exceptional sales and service in 2007. Ossea has won this award more than once during his 12 years of service.

Volvo sells Champion Road Machinery
Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has sold Champion Road Machinery Sales in Brampton, Ontario, to Strongco Limited Partnership of Mississauga, Ontario. Champion was a division of Volvo Group Canada and a company-owned member of the Volvo CE North America dealer network. Strongco, a Volvo CE dealer, presently operates 20 construction equipment sales and service branches in five provinces.

The acquisition gives Strongco the sales, rentals, parts and service operations of Volvo’s motor grader and compact equipment product lines in Ontario. Strongco will continue operations at the Champion sales and service locations in Brampton, Carleton Place, Goderich, North Bay and Thunder Bay to ensure that Volvo customers continue to receive product support and service without interruption.

Amalgamation leverages strengths
Inmar and International Power Systems (IPS) have amalgamated, leveraging the strengths of both companies to create an organization with focus and experience in the diesel and gas engine business.

International Power Systems has been in the distribution business since 1995 and is a distributor of Honda industrial engines for Ontario; Webasto Heaters for Ontario and Manitoba; and other quality products. IPS is Honda’s largest industrial engine distributor in Canada.

The Inmar team of Danny Fong, Colin Brooks, Joe Borg, Adam Hassen and David Edmond joins the IPS team to provide customers with the very best possible service. They will operate from their location in Oakville, Ontario.

The company says that the amalgamation will increase stock levels, improve availability of technical personnel and improve response times for all administrative activities.

Tony Calcopietro (left), of Equipment Development Company (EDCO), and Jim Nicholson of Star Diamond Tools.

Star Diamond named master distributor
Equipment Development Company, also known as EDCO, has appointed Star Diamond Tools as its master distributor throughout Canada. Based out of Frederick, Maryland, EDCO is celebrating its 50th year as a manufacturer of surface preparation and professional sawing equipment. The appointment of Star Diamond Tools will provide professional and knowledgeable local support and service to both current and future rental customers across Canada.

Star Diamond will create strategic alliances with either manufacturer representatives or equipment dealers in key geographic regions to promote, service, train and support the full range of EDCO products.

Open for business
Genesis Sales and Marketing has opened its doors as a wholesale supplier of survey and measurement tools that are now available to the rental industry. Cliff Sheehan, who has many years of experience servicing the rental market, is the founder of the new company. The showroom and warehouse is located at 150 Rivermede Road, Unit 1, Concord, ON L4K 3M8. Rental house may call on the company using 905-482-3414 or by fax at 905-482-0109

Velon now in Canada
Regal Tent Productions in Stoney Creek, Ontario, has signed on as the exclusive distributor of Velon in Canada. The company launched the highly acclaimed Printed Velon into the Canadian
marketplace at the Canadian Special Events and Meetings Expo (CSEME) 2008 trade show held in Toronto in April.

Velon, also known as convention taffeta, has previously only been available in a limited number of solid colours. With the introduction of Velon Design’s Printed Velon, single and multi-colour printing can be done directly on to velon, allowing designers to incorporate their designs wherever velon is used.

Acquisition ends confusion
Gary Abernathy, president of Champion Motor Graders, a manufacturer of compact and production class motor graders, says Strongco’s acquisition of Champion Road Machinery Sales from Volvo Construction Equipment in March will clarify ‘who is who’ in the industry.

“Champion Road Machinery Sales was a retail division of Volvo Group Canada. Champion Motor Graders and Champion Road Machinery Sales were only related because of their shared past,” says Abernathy. “However, today we are not related and have not been part of the same organization since 2004. Champion Road Machinery Sales in its five locations across Ontario represented our product. The fact that Strongco has acquired them and has made a commitment to continue to serve their customers and ours is great, and puts an end to the confusion in the marketplace.” -end-

Please send rental industry news to: Canadian Rental Service, 145 Thames Road West, Exeter, Ontario N0M 1N0. Email: cskalkos@annexweb.com