Phoenix power
31 March 2021
I continue to be amazed by the response to my recent posts on the pros and cons of electric vehicles. So expect more in the future.
Indeed, Paul Lewis, managing director of Phoenix…
News for Tool Hire, Equipment Hire & Plant Hire and Rental Professionals
Previous Posts - March 2021
“Never been busier”
31 March 2021
Portable sanitation equipment hirer, Site Equip, reports that the measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus continue to create more demand.
“We are receiving business…
Xtra dimension
30 March 2021
The Hireman has introduced The Hireman Xtra, a one-call re-hire service.
Managing director Neil Graham tells me that a dedicated team of people is manning this aspect of the business, wh…
Massive power shift
30 March 2021
The scale of the challenge in adopting new fuel sources by 2050 to develop a carbon zero economy was outlined during a recent webinar organised by the Construction Equipment Association. …
Sunbelt sets JCB record
29 March 2021
As Easter approaches there’s even more positive news. Sunbelt Rentals is investing in 2,100 new JCB machines in a deal worth £65m - described as the biggest ever order from a UK cu…
Are you losing business?
29 March 2021
I speak to so many hire companies who say they are working absolutely flat out. And that’s great news.
But at really busy times when staff are stretched and multi-tasking, are all…
Q&A: Mat Llewellyn
26 March 2021
Mat Llewellyn is managing director of Port Talbot-based MHM Group which offers generators, lighting towers and fluid storage tanks on a nationwide re-hire basis, and sells new and used models.…
Brandon chooses Thwaites
25 March 2021
Vp Brandon Hire Station has taken delivery of seventy 1-tonne Thwaites Hi-Tip dumpers for its 160-strong depot network.
Brian Sherlock, the hirer’s managing director, said: “…
GAP gets Technical
25 March 2021
GAP is grouping several of its technical and specialist divisions under a new collective branch of the business to reflect the expansion of these operations.
Technical and Environm…
Bi-energy for Banner
25 March 2021
The main reason for adopting green technology is obviously the desired reduction in carbon emissions. However, there can be other considerations that make environmentally-friendly equipment an…
How’s your sofa?
24 March 2021
Full-year results earlier this week from B&Q’s owner, Kingfisher, exceeded forecasts and pleased shareholders. But what I found particularly interesting were some accompanying commen…
CPA Stars to have their day
24 March 2021
I think it’s hugely positive and praiseworthy that the CPA (Construction Plant-hire Association) has reviewed its Stars of the Future Apprentice and Trainee Awards in light of the roadma…
Historic and heroic
23 March 2021
Today is the anniversary of the first lockdown, when no-one knew what the future would hold. In his evening televised address to the nation exactly a year ago, Prime Minister Boris Johnson des…
Busy Bruno buys SMC brand
22 March 2021
Bruno, the generator and lighting tower manufacturer, has purchased the SMC lighting tower brand together with existing machines, spare parts and intellectual property from Morris Site Machine…
Speedy’s electric wheels
22 March 2021
My recent blog posts on electric vehicles have certainly aroused a lot of interest. Now news comes that Speedy is overhauling its company car fleet and installing charge points at depots.
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Online hire degrees
22 March 2021
Remote learning has become increasingly popular over the years and all the more so during the pandemic and the need for social distancing.
The HAE has announced a new partnership w…
Leading the charge
19 March 2021
After a successful first long distance journey, Pete Beach encountered some frustrations with his new electric car. Or at least with the charging infrastructure.
Last Friday I repo…
Q&A: Joe Paterson
19 March 2021
In the Q&A hot seat today is Joe Paterson who is managing director of the independent hirer Anglian Plant based near Norwich. The company offers a diverse fleet encompassing tools, plant a…
The road to Zero
18 March 2021
In the same way that vehicle manufacturers are planning to phase out production of diesel and petrol models as the world aims to go carbon zero, construction equipment manufacturers are lookin…
Demand soars at JCB
17 March 2021
The positive news of recovery continues as JCB today launches a recruitment drive for hundreds more shop floor employees. The manufacturer has also announced plans to give hundreds more agency…
Pickerings goes large
17 March 2021
Pickerings, the national provider of modular buildings and portable accommodation, has opened its third new depot in recent months with a ten-acre facility in Wootton Bassett, near Swindon.&nb…
Optimistic CECE outlook
16 March 2021
Feedback from construction machinery manufacturers suggests that the market in Europe could increase overall by 5% in 2021, with many expecting to return to pre-Covid sales levels during the y…
Racing start
15 March 2021
Like the official 0-60mph acceleration figure for his new electric car (4.5 seconds), my story last Friday about Genquip Groundhog sales and marketing manager Pete Beach’s first day with…
Beware this hire scam
15 March 2021
Here’s a warning about a nasty fraudulent hire scam. A tool and equipment hirer told me that his company was a victim of it recently and has lost a lot of kit.
I obviously wo…
Electric journey
12 March 2021
The Government has said that sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans will be phased out by 2030, causing all drivers to think about the alternatives.
Pete Beach, sales and mar…
Q&A: Kirsty Archbold-Laming
12 March 2021
As we near the end of the week in which International Women’s Day was celebrated, it’s fitting that Kirsty Archbold-Laming is my Q&A interviewee today. She is a Director of the…
Ten Snorkels for FTH Hire
12 March 2021
A number of hirers are telling me that they are finding good business by offering compact powered access equipment, and now Farnborough-based FTH Hire Group has added ten Snorkel scissors to i…
On the green road
11 March 2021
One of the most intriguing aspects of hire has always been how closely companies can work with their customers to devise comprehensive solutions that extend beyond simply the supply of equipme…
Race for space
11 March 2021
The demand for storage facilities shows no signs of diminishing, for purposes such as providing a secure temporary place for office furniture that has to be removed for social distancing requi…
Plantworx makes plans
10 March 2021
Following the postponement of the Hillhead exhibition to June 2022, the organisers of Plantworx have announced that its 2022 event, which had been scheduled for 14-16 June, will now not go ahe…
Up to standard
10 March 2021
Actions that hirers and users of mobile access towers need to take in the light of the new EN 1004-1:2020 regulations were discussed in a webinar organised yesterday by PASMA, the Prefabricate…
Workplace test expansion
9 March 2021
At the start of February I reported how The Hireman had acted quickly to put in place regular lateral flow testing of all personnel at its three London depots to check that they were free of t…
Hillhead postponed to 2022
9 March 2021
The Hillhead construction and quarrying plant exhibition has been postponed to 2022 following a review of the Government’s roadmap to ease Covid-19 restrictions.
QMJ Group, which o…
Demand for power
8 March 2021
The demand for more site welfare facilities so that personnel can meet social distancing regulations is leading to more units being specified at many locations. And this, in turn, means that o…
An Apple for GAP
8 March 2021
Hirers are steadily gearing up for a greener future and now GAP’s efforts in this area have been recognised by an international environmental organisation.
The company has won a Sc…
Q&A: Dennis Hughes
5 March 2021
Dennis Hughes is managing director of Genquip Groundhog, the Neath-based designer and manufacturer of mobile and static welfare accommodation units. He’s very passionate about the busine…
Positive numbers
5 March 2021
The Top Service credit reference and debt collection agency serving the construction industry is celebrating 30 years of trading.
The Redditch-based company was founded by Lisa Car…
Steady construction output
4 March 2021
Figures released today give more positive indicators about the state of UK construction output, which is in turn more good news for the hire industry. However, there’s perhaps also a war…
After the Budget
4 March 2021
Rishi Sunak’s Budget yesterday showed the on-going economic impact of the pandemic. The chancellor said that more than 700,000 people have lost their jobs, the economy shrank by almost 1…
“Enough to sand the M1”
3 March 2021
Although we now have the Government’s roadmap for the easing of lockdown restrictions, it’s still likely that many people will decide to postpone overseas holiday plans and stay cl…
Sunbelt stays resilient
2 March 2021
Results announced today from Sunbelt Rentals’ parent Ashtead Group, for the nine months and Q3 ended 31 January 2021, show group revenue down by only 2% compared to the corresponding pre…
Is hire going digital?
2 March 2021
Perhaps it’s a trend that’s been accelerated by the pandemic and the huge growth in online ordering that we’re all now familiar with, but for whatever reason a number of digi…
Speedy exits Middle East
1 March 2021
In a trading update issued today for the year ending 31 March 2021, Speedy reports that business since 30 September 2020 has been ahead of expectations.
In February, core hire reve…
“Most exciting time ever”
1 March 2021
Boris Johnson announced the Government’s road map for easing lockdown restrictions exactly a week ago today. So what impact has it had?
I've conducted a quick straw poll with…
HSC’s Master stroke
1 March 2021
Hirers realise the importance of receiving quickly the equipment they order. The Hire Supply Company’s (HSC) ability to respond rapidly has been recognised by its appointment from today…