With all the disclaimers and fi ne print, it seems warranties are more about what a company won’t cover… not what it will. And even if you have a valid claim, does it seem like the company always finds a reason to deny? Well, warranties are different with Subaru. We not only offer an industry-leading 3-year warranty on all of our industrial products, but what’s most important is our philosophy. Since we’re not the biggest manufacturer, our success relies on a strong product backed by superior customer service and support. That’s why we honor our warranty claims…and our word. And in cases where a claim could go either way, the tie always goes to the customer.
You deserve a company you can rely on. You deserve Subaru.
Marindustriel 8550 Delmeade
Montreal, QC H4T 1L7
T: 800-363-2259
F: 514-342-6151
Renown Industries Ltd.
5608-94 A Street
Edmonton, AB T6E 3E4
T: 780-435-3447
F: 780-436-6691
Marindustrial Ontario Inc. 2320 Bristol Circle Unit 8 Oakville, ON L6H 5S3
T: 800-866-3831
F: 905-829-4046
Midnight Sun Energy Ltd.
353 B Old Airport Rd Yellowknife, NT X1A 2P3
T: 867-873-8760
F: 867-873-8768
Marindustrial Inc. 80 Harrisville Blvd, Unit A Moncton, NB E1H 3N4
T: 800-463-3332
F: 506-857-8484
August 2009, Vol. 33, No. 6
CONTENTS
Editorial: Does your pricing cost you? ........................................... 3 A place inside 4 Buy and sell 7
Must-have landscape tools for skidsteers 10 CRA President’s message 11 CRA Mot du président 12 For the Rental Market................... 13
From time to time, we at Canadian Rental Service make our subscription list available to reputable companies and organizations whose products and services we believe may be of interest to you. If you do not want your name to be made available, contact our circulation department in any of the four ways listed above.
Serving the Canadian rental industry for 33 years.
www.canadianrentalservice.com
Does your pricing cost you? EDITORIAL
With the economy still in a downswing rental companies and their suppliers are feeling the pinch. During the last economic downswing price cutting became a major issue in the industry as rental companies struggled to cope. As rental rates declined so did the profit margins of many other companies who had to follow suit to remain competitive.
Pricing is a touchy issue when the market is down but this should not be your determining factor for setting your rates.
Should you base it on cost, utilization, customer input or what your closest competitor is charging?
When the economy is in a slump it is tempting to cut rates to obtain new customers. However, instead of gaining more market share you could end up triggering a price war that cuts into everybody’s profits and set a trend that would be very difficult to reverse when the economy bounces back.
You don’t need to compete on price to compete in the rental industry.
Competition is healthy, but it can also be destructive if you are cutting rates for the wrong reason. Low prices may increase traffic but it will give you less profit.
But let’s face it, customers are more concerned with their bottom line… not yours.
It’s inevitable that customers will have a big influence on rate setting, especially if they are playing one rental company’s price list against others. Retaining these price conscious customers while bidding depends on
your ability to convince them that your prices are not just based on the demand for the product, but the value of the product and everything that comes with it.
Justifying a reasonable rate depends on your ability to educate the customer about what it costs you to provide this service.
The equipment and machinery offered by rental companies today are using sophisticated technology and modern materials. All of this costs money and the costs of these components are going up regularly.
A price of a pick-up or service truck is much higher today and fuel, insurance, and labour have also been volatile even when the economy was booming.
Getting the rates that you need to cover costs and make a profit depends on your ability to explain to customers what they are getting: A quality product that will not fail them on the jobsite.
The onus is on the rental operator to show the customer what costs are embedded within every rental and why this is a value they should pay for.
It is tempting to cut rates to match your competitor during tough economic times, however; there are many other factors to be considered. The key to making price adjustments is to focus on the value of the service you provide and to understand how a small price change today will cost you tomorrow. n
-Editor, Chris Skalkos
NEXT ISSUE:
The next issue of Canadian Rental Service will review computer software for the rental industry. Watch for it in September!
Cover: Matthew Imboden, Matt’s Rentals, Stroud, Ont.
A place inside
By Trevor Mouck*
For the last four years Matthew Imboden, the owner and operator of Matt’s Rentals, has been renting his log-splitter to customers until he recouped his return on investment and sold it for a profit in the spring. For that entire time that he owned that machine it could not fit inside his rental shop.
As the sole proprietor running a rental operation out of a small 960 square-foot unit inside a strip mall, without a shop or a garage bay door, he did not have much of an option. “I couldn’t get it through the front door so I just stored it at home, bringing it in as needed” he says.
This is typical of the many challenges that small rental operators face daily, yet, like Imboden, they manage to grow their businesses alongside their larger rental counterparts that dominate the industry.
Matt’s Rentals is a family run business, located in Stroud, Ont., servicing small contractors and homeowners. Imboden started the business when his job as a production planner at a local office furniture factory was “downsized” after demand for office furniture fell following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
“I was one of the last on the list to be let go. I knew it was coming so I started looking around for something else. But what I really wanted was to be in business for myself,” he says, adding that there was no other stand-alone rental company servicing the area.
He opened the store in 2004 and while he did not have much space to work with he was able to stock a basic supply of party items, tables, chairs, a cotton candy machine and gaming wheels alongside a good selective variety of small tools and light equipment. Most of the equipment rentals are for his compaction line of three plate compactors, jackhammers, tampers, cement mixers, cut-off saws, power tools and hand tools.
Imboden knew that he was starting off small and would need something to complement the equipment rentals so he also signed up with U-Haul to offer truck and trailer rentals. “I was looking for a sideline business that I could get into that would require a minimum amount of time,” he says, noting that he would be operating two businesses by himself.
Although both business models embrace the concept of renting, Imboden says the similarities end there.
“It’s all commissioned based so you make a few dollars arranging an in-town rental or you can make a few hundred dollars for a long-haul to Nova Scotia or B.C., but both take the same amount of time. I can spend a lot of time on the phone, but I don’t get paid unless I send a truck out,” he says. At one point he was debating whether to keep offering this service or not considering he only had room on his lot for one truck at a time. “I’m always holding out for that one way long-haul trip. The big one makes it all worthwhile,” he says with a chuckle.
Company owner, Matthew Imboden, was presented with the Entrepreneur of the Year award by the Nottawasaga Futures, an industry of Canadian affiliated organizations, after his first year in business.
Recently Imboden has relocated, to another building, not far from his original place. The 1200 square feet he has now is not much more than what he started off with, but he says every little bit of extra space helps.
More importantly his new location has a bigger lot with more yard space outside. “Now I can keep seven trucks and three trailers onsite. Before customers would call and I might have one,” he says.
The biggest challenge to any one-person rental operation is mobility. Since Imboden has to be in the store during business hours he cannot make deliveries so his equipment purchases are focused on equipment that can be picked up or towed away by customers.
This can also be a challenge for getting timely product deliveries and support from suppliers. “Some of them
deliver right to my door and this is important for me because I can’t get out to pick up parts,” he says listing Rentquip, DSI, Uniquip, Wacker, RDSI, Compac Equipment Manufacturing and Hitachi as key suppliers to his business. “They sell good tools and they were more than willing to deal with me when I was starting up,” he explains. “I’m a small rental company and I can’t stock a lot of parts, but when I call for $75 worth of parts they are happy to deal with me and they are willing to deliver it to me in a day or two. I don’t have to worry that I’m not ordering $750 worth of equipment which is a huge benefit to me. Some other companies require or expect high dollar purchases.”
With a limited budget to market his business and limited resources to develop its growth, Imboden was quick to join the Canadian Rental Association (CRA) recognizing the benefits it offered to small independent rental operators. “I wanted to take advantage of the supplier discounts, credit card and insurance programs, but what really attracted me was the free website hosting for members,” he says. Knowing full well that businesses today must have a presence on the World Wide Web he registered his company’s domain name targeted to a server hosted by the American Rental Association (ARA) which is affiliated with the CRA.
“Other service providers charge a lot of money for a basic service that you either can’t update or have to pay extra
to update and make changes to the site. “This way I can update it regularly to change my holiday hours or advertise a used equipment sale. When I get a moment I go in and update it.”
The website, www.mattsrentals.com, has allowed Imboden to express his creativity, as well as his sense of humour, while using it as a free tool to market his business.
There are several tabs from the site’s home page that offer everything from the company’s store hours, products and services to on-line coupons, ‘how-to’ articles and a joke page. “A good joke is always in fashion. Some customers tell me they visit the site just to see what the new jokes are. I try to keep a sense of humour,” he says, noting the ‘howto’ articles, sourced from the ARA’s database are useful but tend to lead customers into believing that he knows everything. “Sometimes I have to learn about it myself before I can help them.”
Since the website went online in 2005 his home page has received 8000 hits. The most popular tab is the equipment listing which has generated 6000 hits, followed by the ‘howto’ tab with 3000, the coupon page with 2000, the joke page with 1500 and the U-Haul tab at 1300 hits. Imboden says the used equipment tab has garnished 1300 hits but this section is only posted occasionally when he has equipment to sell. “It does the job, the equipment moves,” he says. “People
Matt’s Rentals is a family run business, located in Stroud, Ont., servicing small contractors and homeowners.
call and I can direct them to the website and remind them to bookmark it. It is the most cost effective way to market your rental store and the easiest way for customers to find you.”
While Imboden intended to grow his business at his new location to offer larger machinery the economic recession has postponed his plans. While he is in a holding pattern he is developing this market for the future by forming strategic alliances with other rental companies to at least provide his customers with a referral base.
“I know there is a potential market for that but once I get into bigger machinery I will need to have a full-time mechanic,” he says. “I’m still getting quotes for bigger equipment such as a mini-ex, and a tractor loader backhoe, but since I am on my own and I don’t do deliveries I will be looking at models that can fit on a single axle trailer. If I get into tandem axles I will have to get a special license. Right now I’m looking at light equipment with a bucket to excavate or trench up to five feet deep, that can be hooked on the back of a vehicle and wheeled into a backyard.”
He says the key guide he uses when making purchase decisions is the quality of the equipment. “I could have stocked my store with equipment that’s half priced but who wants to rent sub quality tools that they could buy at Canadian Tire? Public perception of equipment is important,” he says, admitting this can be an uphill battle with the flood of off-shore products in the market.
“I have had customers compare a rental with a similar retail product and say they can buy the same thing and keep it for $20 more. But it’s not the same and I explain they will get what they pay for. Be prepared to take it back,” he says, adding he hears this more from homeowners and new contractors. “The professional contractors who run these things all of the time already know the difference. They understand they need tools they can rely on because they are not making money if the tool stops working. I try to educate them about the value of renting quality products. You need to spend more to get a tool that works.”
“Even with a quality tool, proper care and maintenance are key to keeping them in good running order. Nobody wants to rent a tool that looks dirty and worn out, or one that breaks due to poor maintenance.” As an example he holds up a Hitachi roof nailer. “I bought this four years ago when I first opened the store. Look inside, it’s like brand new.”
After the first year of business Matt’s Rentals was recognized by the Nottawasaga Futures, an industry of Canadian affiliated organizations, when it presented Imboden with the Entrepreneur of the Year award. It was a fitting start to a rental company that could not fit a log splitter through a door.
Imboden says he will purchase a new log-splitter this fall to replace the one he sold. Although it still will not fit through the door of his current building, with little steps in his company’s growth, it soon will find a place inside. n
*Trevor Mouck is a professional writer based in Ontario.
With a limited amount of space to work, the company stocks a basic supply of party items, tables, chairs, a candy machine and roulette wheels alongside a good selective variety of small tools and light equipment.
In the company’s showroom customers will find quality tools from brand name suppliers to the rental industry.
EQUIPMENT
Buy and sell
By Rich Porayko
Taking advantage of auctions and online classifieds.
ow more than ever, rental company operators are turning to non-traditional methods of buying and selling rental equipment through live and online auctions as well as e-classifieds such as Craigslist and Kijiji.
Rental companies that are willing to do some homework in order to minimize risk can save time and money by breaking out of their typical routine and embracing online technology when sourcing equipment or selling obsolete inventory.
“The nice thing about the auction process is that it is quick, simple and clean,” says Jeremy Dodd, co-owner of Coquitlam,
B.C.-based Ableauctions Inc. (www.ableauctions.com).
Ableauctions is a privately owned company, operating out of Western Canada with four locations in B.C. and Alberta. The company specializes in both live and online auctions servicing small and large businesses as well as government agencies that are selling business assets or liquidating retail inventory including commercial and industrial tools and equipment.
“You can auction any product in sellable condition and you know that it is going to sell. You don’t have to worry about people coming back after the fact saying it wasn’t working; everything is sold as-is and there is no guarantee or warranty at all. The product will sell and move onto another owner and the seller will get paid out in cash,” says Dodd.
EQUIPMENT
“Every company, especially rental companies, have products that aren’t moving and don’t justify the service that is going into them or the space they are taking up in the shop. If a rental company has 10 lawn mowers or four Bobcats in their rental fleet and they only seem to have two out at a time, there’s a lot of extra service to keep those extra units sitting around. It’s an advantage to streamline slow moving inventory to free up space, time, materials and cashflow by not storing and maintaining product that isn’t going to see the rental market.”
“We see a full gamut of just about everything,” says Dodd. “At Ableauctions, we sell a lot of tools, party and catering equipment and we bring out a real wide variety of buyers. That is the advantage that we bring. When you have equipment that is traditional to the rental industry, you never know who the buyers are. And a lot of times it’s a guy that may not be able to afford a piece of commercial or contractor grade equipment, but if he sees it online or at the auction, he’ll pick it up. We really find there is a huge spin-off benefit from people that come to buy hardwood flooring and see a lawn mower. We get a lot of cross buying going on.”
Companies that are interested in selling equipment through Ableauctions can call them for a free assessment. They will visit your facility and provide a written proposal including what the seller can expect to earn from auctioning their equipment.
Dodd explains, “From the phone call to the proposal is roughly three or four days. We conduct 20 -25 auctions a month so it is pretty easy to get product into any one of those auctions. The fees are directly determined by what the product is. If you come to us with your entire shop, we’ll work cheap. If you come to us with three or four pieces of equipment that aren’t in the best shape, then you are going to be paying a higher commission. Generally speaking it can be anywhere from five to 35 per cent.
In order to get the highest return, Dodd recommends that companies clean and service their products. “Make it as functional as you possibly can. Aesthetics plays a big part of the price. Be sure to remove any company decals or identification.”
Dodd explains that auctions offer a lot more to rental operators than just selling equipment, “Rental companies also buy a lot of those products from us. We get product from government agencies and a lot of it has very light use on it and can definitely go into a rental program.”
Aaron Sailer, co-owner of B.C.-based Star Rentals, has slowly and cautiously started to capitalize on buying and selling equipment over the Internet. The company, which has five locations throughout Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, with 17 trucks on the road and 46 employees, will list excess equipment on their own website (www.starrentals.ca) as well as on Craigslist.
“It sells but you get the odd tire kickers,” says Sailer. “Some people just think they are going to get a really, really good deal. If you are selling junk, you will. But if you have a high quality piece of equipment, and you just
Just about any piece of machinery found in a rental yard can be bought and sold through ebay, Craigslist or online auctions.
have too much of it, it’s really hard to give it away for free. You have to stick with the fair market value.”
“If we have 30 items and we want to get rid of 10 of them, we just say ‘Craigslist them’. We’ll take pictures, post them online and we’ll see what happens. We don’t do it a lot, but once in a while. For the most part they do sell, but if they don’t, they don’t. It’s not something we have to do and there are no hard costs involved. We’re not trying to liquidate our inventory and our bottom line assets. It’s what keeps us growing as a company.”
“We also buy equipment off of Craigslist,” says Sailer. “I’ll go through Craigslist and look for people selling pressure washers. Over the years I’ve had thousands of pressure washers pass through my hands and I can recognize a good one from a bad one. I won’t even look at the little electric ones. But if it has a good Honda on it, with a good pump for $200 or $300, I’ll pick up a few of them. As opposed to going out and buying one for $1500. If someone went out and bought a $2000 pressure washer and for whatever reason they want to sell it, whether it is an estate sale or what have you, if it is a good machine at a fair price, we’ll buy them, refurbish them and rent them out. But we won’t buy junk. It just doesn’t work. When people rent, they want high quality with a lot of power.”
Sailer continues, “We picked up some product on Ebay from a few companies that have gone out of business in the United States. A few weeks ago we bought some really high-end carpet cleaners from a cleaning company for 60 per cent of their cost. They are almost new. The company just picked them up last year and couldn’t get any work for them so they sold off the business. You can’t say no to stuff like that. And that’s where Ebay comes in handy.”
“We’ve even bought six Bobcat skidsteers off of Ebay last year. There was some shipping involved but it was worth it; I saved around $5000 a piece. I spent $1000 to fly out
EASY ROOTER™ IS EASIER TO USE.
The Easy Rooter™ from General Pipe Cleaners is now easier to use. The redesigned frame features a built-in brake that holds the machine securely on the job or in a customer’s car going to and from the job. The tough, durable Easy Rooter is capable of clearing 3" to 10" drain lines clogged with roots and other severe stoppages. The cage holds 100 feet of 3/4" or 5/8" Flexicore® cable. Other important features include a powder coated square tube steel frame with special “roll bars” to protect the motor, roller bearings in the zinc plated steel cage for longer life and greater motor efficiency, 10" ball bearing wheels, a tall folding handle that takes less room in the customer’s car trunk, and a 1/3 hp motor with capacitor, thermal overload protection, and reverse switch. An air actuated foot pedal, ground fault circuit interrupter, safety slip clutch, and instructional video in English, French, and Spanish are all standard equipment.
Flexicore® cables are made of heavy gauge wire that is coiled tightly around 49-strand aircraft-type wire rope and heat treated. It has unequalled strength and the right amount of flexibility. Flexicore® is so tough it carries a one-year warranty against defect or breakage.
POWER-VEE™ WITH AUTOMATIC FEED –EASIER, FASTER, CLEANER.
General Pipe Cleaners Power-Vee™ with automatic feed makes drain cleaning easier, faster, and cleaner. It’s ideal for unclogging sinks, tubs, and laundry drains ranging from 1-1/4" to 3" in diameter up to 50 ft long.
The simplified feeding system is lighter and easier to operate. It’s like having an extra hand in tight and awkward places. Just squeeze the lever and the cable feeds at up to 16 feet per minute. The feed automatically adjusts to handle 1/4", 5/16" or 3/8" diameter cables without requiring the use of tools or additional parts.
The optional Handy-Stand™ turns the Power-Vee into a practical countertop or floor machine. The ergonomically balanced Handy-Stand™ enhances the drain cleaner’s versatility, safety and stability for rental customers.
The Power-Vee also features quick-change cable cartridges for fast cable changing or cleaning, and a Dyna-Thrust™ bearing system to reduce bearing wear and extend the life of the tool.
Tough Flexicore® cables that are built for rental abuse. They’re made of heavy gauge wire that is coiled tightly around 49-strand aircraft-type wire rope and heat treated. It has unequalled strength and the right amount of flexibility. Flexicore® is so tough it carries a one-year warranty against defect or breakage.
EASY ROOTER JUNIOR™ HAS MORE POWER AND CAPACITY.
General Pipe Cleaners Easy Rooter Junior™ now has more power and capacity. A 1/3 hp capacitor motor can drive up to a 100 feet of 1/2" Flexicore® cable to quickly and easily clear 2" to 4' drain lines.
The Easy Rooter Junior rolls on big ten inch ball bearing semi-pneumatic tires, a size usually found only on larger machines. The redesigned frame features a built-in brake that holds the machine securely on the job or in a customer’s car going to and from the job. A quick folding handle makes it easy to load into a car trunk. A safety slip clutch, ground fault circuit interrupter, pneumatic foot pedal, and instructional video in English, French and Spanish are standard equipment.
Flexicore® cables are made of heavy gauge wire that is coiled tightly around 49-strand aircrafttype wire rope and heat treated. It has unequalled strength and the right amount of flexibility. Flexicore® is so tough it carries a one-year warranty against defect or breakage.
For details contact General Pipe Cleaners, a division of General Wire Spring Co., 1101 Thompson Avenue, McKees Rocks, PA 15136, USA. Ph: 877-273-7246 or 412-771-6300. Fax: 412-771-2771. Web: www.drainbrain.com/rental.
General Pipe Cleaners, a division of General Wire Spring Co., is a leading manufacturer of high quality drain cleaning equipment since 1930. General serves drain cleaning professionals and plumbing contractors — as well as facilities managers, the rental industry and the hardware/home center market. The Toughest Tools Down The Line.
GENERAL PIPE CLEANERS,
DIV. OF GENERAL WIRE SPRING CO.
EQUIPMENT
there to make sure what I was going to get. There was a pediatric nurse in Ohio and her boyfriend worked for a huge rental company. He was buying the Bobcats and refurbishing them in his own shop at home. He did all the hydraulics and engine work and tweaked them right up so they were almost new except for the paint. They donated all the profits to an orphanage. It worked out all the way around and everyone was happy.”
With all the benefits of buying and selling online, Sailer has been bitten in the past and has some sound advice, “You have to be very careful about what you’re buying and who you’re buying from. We have bought stuff that wasn’t as it was advertised. If it is a big purchase like the Bobcats, I’m not afraid to hop on a plane and fly out. I didn’t know if I was being reeled in or not so it was worth it to fly out there, rent a car and drive to their farm. I looked it up on Google Earth and I knew exactly where I was going. I rode up the next day and said ‘I’m Aaron from Vancouver!’ and she was kind of shocked to see me standing there! But it was everything she said it was going to be.”
Sailer recommends that rental companies use caution when buying and selling equipment over the Internet. “It’s a good tool if it’s used right. But you have to be careful because you can get burned.”
Your kids have been using Ebay to buy concert tickets for years now and chances are that a few of your staff have used Craigslist to find dates. However, there is a lot more to these online resources than ticket scalpers and hookups. They are easy, powerful and economical tools that, with a little creativity and common sense, can open up whole new opportunities to nearly any rental company across the country with little or no cost. n
ATTACHMENTS Must-have landscape tools for skidsteers
From the most common auger attachment to unique attachments like culvert cleaners and trench fillers, recommending the proper attachment can bring efficiencies for customers.
While the variety of skidsteer attachments on the market cover a multitude of construction applications, rental companies need to focus on the products that will best benefit their customer base. For rental centres that service landscaping contractors certain “must-have” attachments will help them cut down on labour costs while being more productive.
Augers
• Chain drive and planetary drive (2 9/16 inch round or 2 inch hex)
• Auger bit sizes from four to 36 inches
• Rock and frost auger bits
• Mounts available for skidsteers and compact excavators
Grader blades
• An excellent tool for re-shouldering, sub-grading, and blacktop preparation
• Easily replaceable reversible bolt on cutting edge
• Complete with skidsteer mount, hoses, couplers, and in cab electric over hydraulic controls
Land levelers
• Designed to sift dirt to remove large chunks and rocks
• Great for use on ball fields and running tracks, or for preparing surfaces for seeding or sodding
• Available with or without scarifier
The EDGE Grader is a perfect attachment for re-shouldering, subgrading and blacktop preparation.
Landscape rakes
• Power rakes available for lawn dethatching, seedbed preparation, turf removal and shoulder reclamation
• Power box rakes break up clods of dirt while keeping rocks and debris ahead of the roller or in a windrow
• The Preparator will collect rock and debris up to 20 inches in its hopper and prepare a perfect seedbed
• The Auto Rake is a great tool to finish soil for seeding while picking up rocks up to six inches in diameter
• Both the Preparator and the Auto Rake have an easy to dump hopper to place collected debris wherever required
Culvert cleaners
• Clears problem culverts
• No need to tear up turf and driveways
Stump grinders
• Disintegrate tree stumps into wood chips quickly
Rich Porayko is a professional writer and founding partner of Construction Creative, a marketing and communications company located in Metro Vancouver, B.C. richp@constructioncreative.com
• Bolt on reversible cutting edge
• Scarifier models are hydraulically actuated and come complete with hoses and couplers
• Direct drive cutting wheel for standard flow or high flow skidsteers n
Courtesy of CEAttachments Inc.
CANADIAN RENTAL ASSOCIATION
President’s message
By Jay Williams, CRA president
Hello everyone!
Summer season is in full swing, businesses are booming, bank accounts are filling up and rental stores can barely take a breath! After the crazy winter we’ve just experienced across Canada, I’m talking about both weather and the stock markets, we are all finally able to enjoy the nicer weather, the sunshine, the heat. Finally! Heat!
We are also witnessing the anticipation of our eager customers beginning their home renovation and landscaping projects, grinning and showing off to their friends the amazing feats accomplished, with the help of equipment rented from their local rental store. And what do they have to say about the customer service? Praise! Praise! Praise! Of course!
Well, this is the type of summer I wish for you, and may it grow in the promise of reaping a bountiful crop for fall and all through the winter –both financially as well as in customer growth and new friendships. Let us wish this for each other, after all, our industry counts on peer support! Even with the economic meltdown that is gradually cooling off, the rental industry is rock-solid.
Regarding insurance, there is
a concern that rental operators and suppliers have brought to light: the liability for unapproved equipment. With the increase of products imported from overseas, many of these products do not meet the same ULC or CSA standards. We have all heard about the product recalls, from contaminated pet food to lead-tainted toys. Unapproved equipment and tools can cause serious headaches to rental operators if someone is injured while using these products. Such problems can also come from products made locally from small shops that are not properly insured for manufacturing liability.
As Ken Fingler from HED writes: “While your liability insurance does not now specifically exclude coverage for this type of equipment, your chances of defending against liability claims involving unapproved equipment is very limited. Having a liability claim due to unapproved equipment could seriously affect your chances of obtaining coverage in the future.”
HED Insurance and Risk Services has provided me with a list of precautions to take in order to reduce potential liability claims. I would like to share this list with you:
• Only buy Approved / ULC/ CSA listed equipment!
• Suppliers should obtain proof of insurance from the manufacturer that you represent and have them add your agency onto their liability insurance policy.
• Suppliers representing off-shore manufacturers should assume that you will be responsible for these products and should ensure that your liability insurance covers you.
• Rental dealers should make sure that your suppliers have liability
CANADIAN RENTAL ASSOCIATION
insurance to cover the products that they are distributing. Ask for certificates of insurance.
• Be careful when purchasing equipment from small ‘custom’ shops. They may not carry adequate liability insurance. Ask for certificates of insurance. Please take a moment to contact HED for additional information on this issue. Gathering information is the first step in ensuring your protection.
I would like to congratulate the Dorothy Wellnitz Scholarship recipient, Shannon Penfound with Par-Tec Rentals in Petrolia, Ont. In addition to the CRA/ Dorothy Wellnitz scholarship, Shannon
also received a $2000 ARA Foundation undergraduate scholarship. Her parents are Mark and Brenda Penfound, who own Par-Tec Rentals. I congratulate her and wish her many successes in her studies. I would also like to thank all the candidates that applied for the scholarships this year. It is refreshing to see the next generation give the scholarship selection committee such a challenge, with the increasing growth in applications received.
One last word: please keep in touch with your local board directors. Your local association has well-planned events coming up. Golf tournaments, meetings, open-doors, and of course:
CANADIAN RENTAL ASSOCIATION
Mot du président
Par Jay Williams, président de la CRA
Bonjour à tous!
La saison estivale est bien entamée, les affaires coulent à flot, les bourses se remplissent, et les centres de location n’ont plus aucun répit! Après un long hiver incertain – autant dans les températures bizarres que nous avons connues d’un océan à l’autre que dans les marchés économiques - nous voilà tous heureux de pouvoir enfin profiter du beau temps, du soleil, de la chaleur (enfin! de la chaleur!); de voir les clients avides de travailler leurs terrains, leurs maisons, leurs projets de rénovation, et de les voir montrer à leurs amis – et ce, non sans fierté – toute la beauté qu’ ils ont accomplie avec les outils et les équipements loués chez les centres de location. Et que dire du service qu’ils auront reçu? Que d’éloges, bien entendu!
C’est en tous cas l’été que je vous souhaite, et puisse-t-il semer la promesse d’une bonne récolte pour l’automne et l’hiver à venir (tant au niveau financier qu’au niveau de croissance en clientèle, et de nouvelles amitiés…) Souhaitons-nous le tous, après tout nous sommes tous dépendant les uns des autres dans notre industrie. Malgré un ralentissement économique mondial qui semble pourtant sortir des eaux troubles,
l’industrie de location va de bon train…
Un important sujet récemment relevé par les centres de location et les fournisseurs, est celui de la responsabilité d’équipement et outils non-homologués. Avec l’augmentation des produits à bon marché importés de l’étranger, de nombreux produits ne répondent pas aux mêmes normes de la CSA ou de l’ULC (Underwriter Laboratory of Canada). Nous avons tous entendu parler des rappels de produits en provenance de Chine, entre-autres la nourriture pour chien contaminée, et les jouets d’enfants contenant de la peinture au plomb. Les outils et équipements non homologués peuvent causer de sérieux maux de têtes aux propriétaires de centres de location, si, par exemple, quelqu’un est blessé lors de leur utilisation. De tels problèmes peuvent aussi provenir d’équipements fabriqués dans les petits commerces, où le fabricant n’a pas été assuré correctement au niveau de la responsabilité de la fabrication. Comme l’écrit Ken Fingler, de HED: « Bien que le couvrement d’indemnité n’exclut pas pour le moment ce genre d’équipement, vos chances de vous défendre contre des réclamations de responsabilité face aux
the CRA Regional Trade Shows, kicking off in January 2010. The 2010 ARA Rental Show will be in Orlando, Fla. What better place to salute the sun in the middle of our Canadian winter and participate in the tool, heavy equipment, tents and special events seminars. The CRA will host its Annual General Meeting and the now famous Canadian Hospitality Night. This social event has been increasing every year as it has become a highly anticipated opportunity for the travelling Canadian rental professionals to re-group while visiting our southern neighbours. Have a wonderful summer! n
équipements non-homologués sont très limitées. Avoir de telles réclamations pourrait gravement affecter vos chances d’obtenir une couverture dans l’avenir. »
HED Assurance et Gestion de Risques m’a donné une liste de précautions à prendre afin de réduire les risques de réclamations pour responsabilité civile. Je voudrais la partager avec vous :
• N’achetez que des équipements homologués par la CSA /ULC.
• Les fournisseurs devraient obtenir une preuve d’assurance du fabricant que vous représentez, et ajouter votre courtier d’assurance sur leur police d’assurance de responsabilité.
• Les fournisseurs représentant les fabricants d’outre-mer devraient présumer que vous serez responsable de ces produits et devraient veiller à ce que votre assurance de responsabilité civile vous couvre.
• Les propriétaires de centres de location devraient s’assurer que les fournisseurs ont une assurance en responsabilité couvrant les produits qu’ils distribuent. Demandez l’obtention des certificats d’assurance.
CANADIAN RENTAL ASSOCIATION
• Soyez prudents lors de l’achat d’équipement fabriqué dans les ‘petits commerces’, car il est possible que ces fabricants ne disposent pas d’assurance de responsabilité adéquate. Demandez les certificats d’assurance.
S’il vous plaît, prenez le temps de contacter HED afin d’obtenir des informations supplémentaires à ce sujet. La collecte d’information est la première étape pour assurer votre protection.
J’aimerais profiter de cette occasion pour féliciter la récipiendaire de la Bourse d’ Étude Dorothy Wellnitz, Shannon Penfound, de Par-Tec Rentals à Petrolia, en Ontario. Elle s’est non seulement méritée la bourse d’une valeur de 1000$, mais aussi celle de la fondation ARA de 2000$ pour études post-secondaires de premier cycle. Ses parents sont Mark et Brenda Penfound , propriétaires de ParTec Rentals. Toutes mes félicitations, et je lui souhaite bon succès dans ses études. J’aimerais aussi remercier tous les candidats qui ont fait une demande pour ces bourses. Il fait bon voir la prochaine relève en location donner du fil à retordre au comité de sélection des récipiendaires des bourses de l’ARA . Un dernier mot: gardez contact avec vos directeurs. Les Associations locales de l’Association Canadienne de Location sont bien remplies d’activités. Tournois de golf, réunions, portes-ouvertes. Il ne faut pas oublier les prochains Salons de la CRA qui débuteront en janvier 2010. Celui de l’ARA, comme vous le savez probablement déjà, sera à Orlando, en Floride. Quelle belle destination pour saluer le soleil au milieu de l’hiver canadien et participer aux séminaires prévus pour les outils et équipements ainsi que les tentes et évènements spéciaux. Tous les membres de la CRA sont invités à l’AGM, ainsi que la soirée hospitalière, qui chaque année se voit accroître de nouveaux membres. L’occasion parfaite pour se retrouver entre Canadiens « errants » - chez nos voisins du sud.
Je souhaite à tous une très belle fin d’été! n
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Significant design change
The new Bobcat M-Series skidsteer and compact track loaders feature the most significant design changes undertaken by the company since it first introduced the skidsteer more than 50 years ago.
The first M-Series models are the S630 skidsteer loader and the T630 compact track loader.
The S630 has a rated operating
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capacity (ROC) of 2,180 pounds and an operating weight of 7,707 pounds. The S650 has a ROC of 2,690 pounds and an operating weight of 8,327 pounds. The T630 has a ROC of 2,230 pounds and an operating weight of 9,015 pounds. The T650 has a ROC of 2,570 pounds and an operating weight of 9,440 pounds.
Bobcat has increased the performance of the hydraulics on M-Series loaders.
The hydraulic systems have been engineered for higher standard flow and pressure that give attachments more power to work faster. Hydraulic horsepower has been increased more than 15 per cent and the standard auxiliary hydraulic flow is now 23 gallons per minute at 3,500 pound per square inch and an optional high flow reaches 30.5 gallons per minute for maximum attachment performance.
A new, removable hydraulic hose guide makes changing attachments. www.Bobcatdealer.com. www.bobcat.com/loaders
Solid traction
Three models of compact track loaders, the 279C, 289C and 299C, are the newest additions to the Caterpillar line of rubber-track loaders. The new loaders feature durable, steel embedded track and steel undercarriage components for maximum life in aggressive applications. The tracked machines deliver solid traction and reduced wear on sites with sticky, rocky soils.
The loaders combine a freshly engineered suspension-type undercarriage, designed and built by Caterpillar, with the chassis of their multi terrain loader counterparts, the 277C, 287C and 297C. The fully suspended undercarriage employs four independent torsion axles for a superior ride and excellent bucket load retention. Class leading track-on-ground of almost 70 inches (1767 mm) provides good flotation and traction, low ground pressure and long track life.
All three models feature two-speed drive systems, with a maximum speed
of 8.5 miles per hour, for fast movement around large sites. The electro-hydraulic joystick control of the drive motors delivers straight-line tracking, and electronic torque management optimizes productivity. Caterpillar exclusive drive motor seal guards extend the lives of seals and final drives.
The new models have rated operating capacities of 3,200, 3,850 and 4,150 pounds (1451, 1746 and 1882 kg), at 50 per cent of tipping load. Net-horsepower ratings are 82 (61 kW) for the 279C and 289C, and 90 (67 kW) for the 299C. Liftarm-path design is radial for the 279C and vertical for the 289C and 299C. www.cat.com
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Extended reach and lift height
Gehl Company has introduced the allnew model V270 Skidsteer Loader. With a powerful 84- horsepower Yanmar turbo-diesel engine and a rated operating capacity of 2,700 lbs, the V270 Skidsteer Loader achieves vertical lift with a stateof-the-art lift arm design that provides extended reach and lift height for easy truck and material loading.
It has more than 130 inches of lift height and the lift arm design provides optimal views to the sides of the loader and a direct line-of-sight to the bucket cutting edge. Thick steel plating braces the lift arm, providing additional strength and substantial forward reach.
The V270’s Yanmar 84-horsepower turbocharged diesel engine provides 215 lbf-ft. peak torque. Horsepower and torque are enhanced with a high-performance drive train. Equipped with an electronic engine control and a foot throttle, the V270 can be operated at part throttle for lower sound levels and reduced fuel consumption.
Superior comfort is provided in an all-new, ergonomic cab design. The optional, pressurized sealed cab enclosure provides a cleaner and quieter operating environment.
Serviceability on the new V270 is simple. The large engine cover is hinged and positioned by gas-springs to assist lifting and holding it in place, and easily returns to the closed/operating position. The large rear door opens on hinges on the right side, allowing full access to regular maintenance points. The entire ROPS/FOPS assembly on the V270 tips rearward on a hydraulic lift for easy internal service access. www.gehl.com
Nothing mini about its productivity
Vermeer Canada says there is nothing mini about the productivity of its S600/ S600TX Mini Skidsteer.
The company says the skidsteer was designed based from customer feedback and that it is an ideal tool for landscape contractors to do-it-yourselfers, helping them save time, reduce labour and save money while increasing productivity.
The Vermeer mini skidsteer is a machine built for multiple applications and is backed by a strong dealer network. Suitable for a wide range of applications, these mini skidsteers manoeuvre easily around tough worksites and reduce workloads in the process.
The company offers a wide range of attachment options that include: land leveler, tree forks, forged forks, standard bucket, tooth bucket, rock bucket, 4-in-1 bucket, sweeper bucket, scrap grapple bucket, brush grapple, log grapple, dozer blade, power shovel, auger drive, high-speed, high
torque, auger accessories, standard trencher, vibratory plow, tiller and power rake.
www.vermeercanada.com
Dedicated to compact equipment line
Terex Construction has introduced a dedicated compact equipment line for North America. The compact equipment line includes both Terex-branded compact track loaders, featuring the ASV patented Posi-Track undercarriage technology, and a broad portfolio of offerings from Terex, including
Competitive premiums, better overall value
Protected Self-Insurance Fund belongs to members
Potential annual rebate on fund surplus
Long term price stability
O -premises coverage for rental equipment
Accommodation for re-rental of equipment
Conversion coverage for rental equipment
Risk Management and Loss Prevention Program
HED 24-hour emergency claims service
$10,000 Hole-in-One Golf Sponsorship plan
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compact excavators, compact wheel loaders, site dumpers, tractor loader backhoes, light towers, telehandlers, power buggies, and tandem asphalt rollers. The compact equipment line will focus exclusively on the needs of this key market segment.
With more than 45 unique product models, the Terex compact equipment line offers one of the widest ranges of compact equipment available from a single manufacturer. In addition, Terex parts and service, and Terex Financial Services, are available to customers who purchase Terex equipment.
Dealers who distribute ASV products only, will continue to offer these machines under the ASV brand. All current ASV products will also be branded “Terex” and will join the North American Terex compact equipment line.
“By combining Terex Construction’s broad line-up of compact products and services with our innovative compact track loaders featuring our patented Posi-Track undercarriage system, we are able to provide an exceptional ownership experience,” says Del Carver,
area director, Terex North America Compact Equipment. www.terex.com
Narrow loader width
Mustang, a 121-year-old name in the compact equipment, agriculture and construction markets, has introduced the all-new model 2056 Skidsteer Loader.
The skidsteer has a new compact chassis that allows a narrow 59.7-inch loader width (without bucket) when equipped with optional offset wheel/tire package. The width is 62 inches with a standard wheel/tire package.
It is powered by a 62-hp Deutz TD2009 Series Tier III-certified turbo-diesel engine supplies extra power when needed while providing a smooth and quiet operation.
Lift heights are up to 120 inches with standard 10.00 HD tires, and up to 122
inches with optional 12.00 HD tires. It has a rated operating capacity of 1,900 lbs., 2,050 lbs., when equipped with optional counterweight.
Standard joystick controls are on moveable towers with full adjustment forward/reverse to match operator size and preferences and a new “open-view” lift arm design allows for ease of entry and exit out of the cab, as well as superior front view of bucket and attachment.
Factory-installed options include deluxe cab enclosure with airconditioning/heater system, two-speed drive and Power-A-Tach hydraulic quick-attach system.
Proportional auxiliary hydraulics controlled through thumb switch provides variable speed for any attachment. www.mustangmfg.com
Added torque for increased digging
The Toro Company has unveiled the latest additions to its Dingo compact utility loader family with the narrow and wide track TX 427 models. Both TX 427 loaders feature a robust 27-hp Kohler engine that delivers added torque for increased pulling and digging force. These models also come standard with a heavy-duty two-stage air cleaner that offers superior dust and dirt filtration, even when the engine is working in the harshest environments.
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TX 427 compact utility loaders are the successors to Toro’s popular TX 420 and TX 425 models.
Featuring four independent hydraulic pumps, TX 427 compact utility loaders deliver 16.9 gallons per minute (gpm) of flow to each track, 11.4 gpm to the auxiliary hydraulics, and 6 gpm to the loader arm. The auxiliary hydraulics on the TX 427 models pump 19 hp flow to the attachment for increased productivity in ground-engaging applications.
Both TX 427 units are compatible with Toro’s multitude of compact utility loader attachments making them well suited to dig, haul, plant or build almost anything.
Weighing just 2,006 lbs. with a standard bucket, the TX 427 narrow track loader has a rated operating capacity of 535 lbs. (35 per cent of tip capacity). Its overall length of 92 inches including bucket and width of 33.7 inches allow it to work in the tightest places and easily pass through a standard 36-inch gate. Also, the 5.9-inch (wide) tracks on the TX 427 narrow track model distribute a mere 5.1 psi of ground pressure, so operators can get the traction they need without tearing up turf during operation. www.toro.com/dingo
For low auxiliary hydraulic system flow rates
General Equipment Co.’s Model 471 DIG-R-TACH Hydraulically-Powered Earth Drilling Attachment System is specifically designed for use with lower-auxiliary hydraulic system flow rates found on popular models of compact loader backhoes, mini-excavators and compact utility loaders.
The 471 DIG-R-TACH system enhances the versatility of compact loader backhoes and mini-excavators by allowing them to become practical and productive options for many hole-digging projects. The system features a universal mounting bracket that readily
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conforms to a wide variety of loader bucket configurations. Mounted quickly and easily by one person, the 471 DIG-RTACH requires no special tools, drilling or welding as the supplied bracket grips tightly with a positive locking system.
Now featuring an industry standard two-inch hexagon auger drive connection, the 471 DIG-R-TACH is better able to accommodate existing augers found in most equipment fleets. The 471 DIG-R-TACH can utilize the same 4400 Series earth augers that are used with the General Equipment 310 and 330 Series portable hole diggers. The popular 4400 Series features time-proven heavy-duty construction and Pengotype boring head configurations.
Augers are available from two to 24-inch diameters. When used with the 471 DIG-R-TACH, the augers produce a clean, usable 4-foot deep hole. To increase drilling depth, a full line of flighted and non-flighted earth auger extensions is available.
The mounting bracket allows the 471 DIG-R-TACH to be centre mounted on the bucket, providing unequaled operator visibility while drilling. Additionally, the centre-mount configuration distributes drilling stress to the loader arms more effectively than competitive side-mount alternatives. www.generalequip.com
Non-breakable tool
Allied Construction Products, LLC has announced the addition of the Rammer in-Series hydraulic impact hammer to its full-product line.
The in-Series hammers are built to meet the growing demands of the rental market and to offer contractors the most up-to-date hammer technology. The most distinctive feature of the in-Series hydraulic hammers is a massive trapezoidal tool that offers considerable benefits over traditional small hammer tools. This non-breakable tool provides extended service-life combined with superior productivity.
The in-Series hammers feature:
A massive, trapezoidal tool that is unbreakable; minimal maintenance (no greasing); no tie-rods or tie-bolts or side-bolts; no steel tool bushings (one bushing made of composite wear-resistant material); compact design for narrow work areas, no day-to-day nitrogen-gas checking or charging and an innovative mounting bracket (two brackets in one).
The in-Series hammers which are available in four models—the Model 8, Model 11, Model 15 and Model 22— range
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(depending on the model) from a working weight of 152 pounds to 453 pounds, operating pressures from 2,030 psi to 2,175 psi, oil flows from three gpm to 18 gpm and blows per minute from 1,800 to 2,100.
Mounted on mini-excavators, mini-skidsteers (walkalong or ride-on), skidsteers and backhoes, the in-Series hydraulic impact hammers are built for the demolition of concrete structures, building foundations and pavement. www.AlliedCP.com
Attachments for any job
The EDGE Land Clearing Attachment by CEAttachments Inc. is tough enough to clear just about anything in its path! Use it on a high flow skidsteer loader for brush clearing and stump removal.
Features include an inline planetary gearbox for high torque and a piston type hydraulic motor for maximum efficiency. There are no belts to tighten or bearings to grease; minimizing maintenance on this machine. The 52 carbide tipped teeth can penetrate up to three inches into the ground, and hitting rocks will not damage this powerful attachment.
The EDGE High-Reach Tree clipper can cut hardwoods up to eight inches in diameter with the EDGE Hi-Reach Tree Clipper from CEAttachments Inc. This unit is designed for skidsteer loaders and its long reach and standard power tilt systems allow easy access for removal of trees, branches and brush from overrun in pastures, fields and fence rows. The cutting head is hydraulically controlled from the operator’s compartment and rotates 180 degrees. www.ceattach.com n
Quality Scaffold Products
DEPENDABLE SERVICE
CANADIAN RENTAL MART
A venue of value
While the “knee-jerk” reaction during a recession is to cut back on marketing, an economic slowdown is the worst time to stop seeking new business.
Cutting back and trimming budgets to cope with shrinking profit margins is an unpleasant reality, but it doesn’t mean all efforts to grow the business must come to a grinding halt. It just means finding smarter more efficient ways to sell your products, promote your company and develop new markets.
But you won’t have to convince that to the manufacturers and suppliers who have already signed up for the Canadian Rental Mart. They have reserved their booths early, some of them more than a year in advance, because they recognize that this trade show is a venue of value. A place where customers come to you when you can’t afford to go to them.
The Canadian Rental Mart is back for 2010, and perfectly timed for the economic turnaround.
The Toronto Congress Centre will host this rental exclusive trade show on March 9-10, which will attract rental company owners, managers and decision makers from across Canada.
For more than 30 years the Canadian Rental Mart has brought rental professionals together who come to see and learn about new products entering the rental market before making their spring buying decisions. And for just as long, the manufacturers
and suppliers to the industry have used this venue to promote their products and forge new business relationships.
Organizers for the 2010 Canadian Rental Mart have worked hard to help exhibitors get the most for their participation. They have designed an exclusive rental event that offers you:
• A large gathering of rental industry customers under one roof.
• A state-of-the-art facility in a highly focused venue to exhibit your products.
• A trade show timed perfectly for the busy spring season.
• Free advanced registration for your customers.
• Easy access and free parking.
• Free crate storage.
• Free material handling and no charge for the forklift service.
• Exhibitors only opening Meet and Greet night.
• Convenient and affordable accommodations at the Doubletree Hotel.
Marketing your business can be expensive and exhausting so for two days let your customers come to you in a venue that they have come to know and trust. n
Contact Ed Cosman at: 888-599-2228 ext.276 or e-mail: ecosman@annexweb.com
INDUSTRY EVENT
Direct access
Diversco Supply hosted its seventh annual Open House and Trade Show in June in what has become the largest propane equipment exhibition in Canada.
Floyd Running, vice president of marketing for Diversco says more than 200 people from across North America attended the all-day event which featured more than 28 exhibits displaying products from 30 different manufacturers at the company’s facility in Cambridge, Ont.
“Anything to do with propane or natural gas…it was all right here,” says Running, adding that attendees included rental companies, contractors and installers, vendors, propane marketers and customers. For many of them, it was a chance to get hands-on experience with new products as well as demonstrations of specialized equipment.
“People like to see product demos and they want to learn what’s new,” says Running. One of the technologies being demonstrated was the “Smart-Hose”, a new innovative safety product that senses when a hose has been severed; instantly stopping the flow of product in both directions.
The event also gave Diversco the opportunity to demonstrate its new computerized Customer Link site, a totally interactive on-line real-time Business to Business (B2B) application where inventory is allocated as orders are entered.
“Order Inquiries are up to date at all times. Registered Diversco customers can easily place orders, check inventory and prepare quotations from the comfort of their offices, hotel rooms, homes or any where there is access to the internet - 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” explains Running.
The company’s suppliers showed up, not just with their products, but also with their product experts. “For those in the business it was a great opportunity for them to see the products up close, but also to get direct access to the specialists who can show them precisely how to use that product and the differences between competitive products,” he says. n
Product demonstrations by product specialists.
RENTAL RUMBLES
ECHO donates equipment to college
A unique partnership between ECHO Power Equipment (Canada) and Fanshawe College in London, Ont., will provide the school’s horticulture technician students with a range of new power tools for student use at both the London Campus and the A.M. (Mac) Cuddy Gardens. The donation has an approximate value of $8,000 and will be replenished each year to provide training opportunities for Fanshawe students.
Tools donated to Fanshawe College include: power pruner, trimmer with pro-sweep, pro-paddle and tiller cultivator attachments, edger, power blower power vac, hedge trimmers, chain saws, and powered sprayers. The company is also donating three sets of safety equipment for operating the chain saws. All of these tools will have a wide range of use for students in both diploma and apprenticeship programs.
ECHO Power Equipment (Canada) president, Ed Zynomirski, made the announcement while visiting the college in June. “The college approached us as part of its business strategy to partner with companies that offer top quality equipment for their training program. With the funding cuts going on and the cutbacks institutions are experiencing, businesses in the community have to get involved and a donation like this helps them save money that they can re-direct to other educational programs,” he says.
“It was a natural fit for our organizations as we both have quality products,” says Zynomirski, referring to Fanshawe’s horticulture technician program. “The people who graduate from the program will be using our products and this gives us some advance exposure to future landscaping professionals.” www.echo.ca
RDSI to offer PureLight towers
Rick Darche Sales Inc., (RDSI), will now be offering a new line of portable light towers by Light Engineering (LE).
The company says its PureLight30 model represents the most significant advancement in the portable lighting industry in the last 20 years. The tower utilizes patented LE GenSmart generator technology which enables a lower life cycle cost, significantly less fuel consumption and reduced weight.
Powered by a Liquid Cooled Yanmar, (2TNV70) engine and a lightweight GenSmart Permanent Magnet Generator (G24N1-018), the light tower has a 30 foot section mast, coiled mast cords with a 360 degree rotating tower.
The enclosure is constructed of heavy gauge powdercoated steel and the control system has an integrated key switch start with hour meter, low oil/high temperature shutdown protection. The tower’s rated output is 4000 W (4-1000 Watt Metal Halide) with enhanced flicker-free operation. One very significant attribute of the PureLight 30 is that the Machine does not require ballasts that are costly and require frequent replacement. www.rdsi.ca http://lt-eng.com/products/light-towers.html
A night on the water
The CRA will spend a night on the waters of Lake Ontario during a social event planned for September 13. Members
From left, Mary Flannigan-Hockin, development co-ordinator, Fanshawe College; Michael Pascoe, co-ordinator, Horticulture Technician program, Fanshawe College; Students, Horticulture Technician program; Ed Zynomirski, president, ECHO Power Equipment (Canada); Lawrence Kinlin, vice-chair, Fanshawe College Foundation (incoming chair, Sept. 2009). Back row, Brent Baer, district manager, ECHO Power Equipment (Canada); Horticulture Technician students; Mario Scopazzi, co-operative education consultant, Jack Parker, faculty, School of Design; Catherine Finlayson, executive director, Fanshawe College Foundation.
will board the Tall Ship Kajama, the same ship that has become a Toronto harbour landmark and was featured on the CBS program, The Amazing Race.
Launched as the Wilfried in Rendsburg, Germany in 1930, the Kajama traded under sail for nearly 70 years. In 1999, Kajama was delivered transatlantic by Great Lakes Schooner Company and restored to her original profile.
The cost for this event is $60 per person and includes related cruise expenses and dinner. James Morden, CRA Ontario president, recommends association members make reservations early. “The Great Lakes Schooner Company and CRA Ontario are proud to offer this 164-foot three-masted gaff-rigged schooner, for this one-of-a-kind private sunset evening dinner cruise,” he says, adding that there will be a prepared meal in Kajama’s spacious single dining room; a 1006 square foot, open and airy venue that enjoys natural lighting and ventilation through massive skylights. “This is unique for us and it will certainly be one of the special occasions of the year,” says Morden.
www.crarental.org
Golf tournament scores 40
The Canadian Rental Association (CRA) Ontario will host its annual golf tournament at Trehaven golf and Country Club between Orillia and Barrie on September 15. Organizers say this event will mark the tournament’s 40th anniversary.
Registration is $135 which includes 18 holes, breakfast, lunch and a steak dinner. Prizes are available for ‘closest to the pin’ and for ‘longest drives.’ Hole in one holes are worth $10,000 each. Participants will also have a chance to win a trip for two to Orlando, Fla.
The golf tournament will coincide with the CRA’s national meeting which will take place two days prior. n
