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Serving the Canadian rental industry for 44 years.
4
EDITORIAL
Mike Wood has donned the hero’s cape for the event rental industry during the pandemic.
14 PUTTING OFF THE RUST PAYDAY
The evidence is in: rustproofing extends equipment life.
20 AT YOUR SERVICE
Double check orders to avoid costly mistakes. By Russ Dantu
6
INDUSTRY NEWS
Ontario OHSA Green Book… COVID impacts equipment manufacturers… Tri-Lift now a Bronto Skylift distributor…
22 THE SHOW GOES ON
The Rental Mart is ready to bring us together this March.
21 WHAT WENT WONG
Checking the harness thoroughly can save lives. By James Wong
10 EVENT CANCELLED Canadian event rental operators have risen the greatest challenge of their careers.
24
RENTAL MART SHOWCASE
A sneak peek at products attendees can expect to see at our virtual trade show.
30
HOPE IS NOT A PLAN
Specialty rentals give us a shot at better margins. By Adam Snook
The miraculous Mike Wood
In these terrible times, one man has risen up to don the hero’s
Trying times demand a hero and Mike Wood has emerged as one for the Canadian event rental industry, and Canadian small businesses generally. What Wood has accomplished since the start of the COVID pandemic is little short of miraculous.
Wood is the owner of Ottawa Special Events, an event rental store providing mainly staging, lighting and sound solutions for public events around the city. He was the cover boy on our March 2020 issue, which turned out to be eerie timing as it was at the same time the pandemic hit and turned Wood’s life in a totally different direction, at least for now.
Like every other event rental operation, Ottawa Special Events’ business went from whatever it was to essentially zero in a matter of weeks. Like every other event rental store owner in the country, Wood was looking glumly at an entire lost season of sales, with no prospect for the concerts, festivals and other live events he depended on happening. Unlike everyone else, Wood decided to take action – public action.
He started calling local politicians and media. Just calling them, saying he needed to talk to them about what small businesses were facing in the lockdown. This bore fruit in the form of an invitation to appear on a local radio show, Afternoon Drive with Kristy Cameron. As a former rock
ON THE WEB:
CounterTalks episode #16: Quieter lawn care
Toronto is the latest city to contemplate restricting use of leaf blowers, and Mark Peart of G.C. Duke joins the podcast to recommend some things we can do to keep our fleet out in urban areas.
CounterTalks episode #17: Building back better
Jim Mandeville works for FirstOnSite, a disaster remediation company that coordinates recovery efforts after fires, floods, storms and more. He tells us about some of the things he’s seen, and about the important role of rental stores in helping communities bounce back.
Download episodes of CounterTalks at canadianrentalservice.com >Podcasts or subscribe on your favourite podcasting service.
by Patrick Flannery
musician (he still teaches music at Algonquin College), Wood is comfortable on a microphone. And we media types don’t like to work too hard. Having shown himself to be an articulate spokesman on the topic of COVID impact on small business, Wood’s phone started ringing. He quickly lost count of the TV and radio hits as he was asked to guest and host roundtables discussing small business challenges over and over.
At the same time, politicians started to take notice. A conversation with his local city councillor turned into a suggestion to call his MP – who happened to be Catherine McKenna, the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. Apparently that call went well.
Since, Wood has registered as an official lobbyist and chalked up meetings with over 16 MPPs including Prabmeet Sarkaria, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape. He’s presented to the federal and Ontario Finance Committees and appeared as a witness at the Ontario Bill 215 committee creating COVID relief legislation for Ontario small businesses. He’s squeezing a conversation with me in this week around his meetings with the federal NDP finance critic and Sarkaria. You’ll get to see that conversation, by the way. We’re recording a video interview to release as part of the Rental Mart on March 8.
Wood isn’t getting paid for any of this. It comes from his distress at having to lay off about half his staff and watch the business he built since 2009 languish. He’s obviously had some good luck to make such high-level connections, but his energy, passion and hard work are impressive. In these dark days for the industry, Wood is the hero we need. CRS
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ONTARIO OHSA GREEN BOOK 2021 AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER
Occupational Safety Group is reminding Ontario businesses that they need to post a copy of the Ontario Health and Safety Act and Regulations (“The Green Book”) in a prominent place in their workplaces. The 2021 issue is now available for pre-order from OSG and other safety organizations. The notice from OSG follows: We’re reaching out to remind you to pre-order the 2021 Green Book. Why? Ontario workplaces that are regulated under Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act are required to post a copy of the The Green Book. This is required by Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. Every year, hundreds of orders are issued by the MLTSD for not posting a copy of The Green Book. Even organizations affected by COVID-19 need to post The Green Book to help ensure their workers know their rights and responsibilities.
LEAVITT MACHINERY ACQUIRES RELIABLE FORKLIFT
Reliable Forklift Sales and Leavitt Machinery have entered into an agreement whereby Leavitt Machinery, based in Surrey, B,C., has acquired Reliable. The transaction was completed on Jan. 1. Reliable, started in 2005 by Don and Mary Carlson, continues to experience tremendous growth year after year. The acquisition by Leavitt Machinery, one of North America’s largest material-handling equipment dealers, will strengthen Reliable’s resources to enable strategic growth and expansion within Arizona.
Reliable Forklift founder and president, Don Carlson, said, “Our people continue to be the foundation of the fabulous business we have built from our full service branch location in Phoenix. Joining forces with one of North America’s largest forklift dealers, Leavitt Machinery, will bring added strength and resources to allow for our strategic growth plans for Arizona.”
Leavitt Machinery president, Tom Leavitt, said, “Our executive team is excited to have Reliable join Leavitt Machinery and build on a solid presence in the Arizona marketplace. Reliable is well-known in the industry for having a great reputation with customers and vendors alike and a hardworking, dedicated team of people. We are going to plug some resources into key areas of their business that will enable them to continue to strengthen their position in the market. Our companies share similar values and work ethic and understand the importance of customer service.”
TSURUMI CANADA APPOINTS
STEVE PELOQUIN AS TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE
Tsurumi Canada has announced the appointment of Steve Peloquin as a technical representative to join its sales force. Peloquin joined the team on Jan.4, with the main mandate to promote Tsurumi Pump products and to showcase its diversity throughout the distribution network in Quebec, Maritimes and Newfoundland and Labrador. With more than 10 years’ experience catering to the distribution network through sales and technical support with major product brands such as Honda, Koshin amd Husquvarna, Peloquin favours a consultative approach focussing above all on sustainable partnerships. Tsurumi Canada’s national sales manager, David Prevost, is excited about this addition. “From here on, Peloquin will become the official technical representative for Tsurumi Canada in this territory. This appointment, aligned with the corporation’s strategic orientation, will allow Tsurumi Canada to strengthen its privileged business relationships with its Canadian distribution network.”
ACCES LOCATION TO OPEN A LAVAL BRANCH IN 2021
Acces Location has announced the opening of a new branch located in the SaintVincent-de-Paul Industrial Park in Laval , Que., in the spring of 2021.The acquisition is part of Acces Location’s growth plan to continue to be a leader in its industry by relying on the aptitude and commitment of its team members. Requiring an investment of $3 million, the project includes 70,590 square feet of land and a building measuring 13,295 square feet. The interior space will include offices as well as the mechanics’ work shop with seven garage doors. The branch will possess an inventory of 18 million, the equivalent of more than 350 machines. This capacity will allow us to provide excellent service to our clients. Possession is scheduled for June 2021. Subsequently, work will be carried out to make the building operational and built to the company’s brand image.
“This new point of service is a strategic addition to the development of Acces Location. We will serve the areas of Montreal and the North Shore with greater efficiency and will maximize our transport times, which will soon be affected by the planned repairs to the Louis-Hippolyte-LaFontaine Tunnel,” explained Luc Bertrand, president of Acces Location.
Upon completion of the project, 20 jobs will be created at the branch. This opportunity will also give Acces Location a better showcase in the region with which to serve clients. Continuing with its head office in Beloeil, Que., the company will pursue its objective of exceeding expectations through excellent service due to the available inventory as well as the members of the team who will be at the heart of these operations at this new branch.
COVID-19 TAKES TOLL ON CANADIAN EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on equipment manufacturers in Canada, according to a new survey released by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. The survey was in the field from June 22 to Aug. 5, 2020. The 24 respondents weighed in on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy; the industry; their companies; supply chain and manufacturing operations; their financial expectations; and the challenges they continue to face and specific ways the federal government can keep equipment manufacturing strong and ensure the nation’s economic resilience. Nearly half (47 percent) of equipment manufacturers in Canada surveyed said it would take one year or more for their organization to recover to pre-COVID business levels. More than three out of four equipment manufacturers in Canada surveyed identified a decrease in demand (new orders) as the primary impact of COVID-19 on their business and manufacturing operations (76 percent). Four out of ten (43 percent) respondents identified supply chain issues as a major impact. Fifty percent of Canadian equipment manufacturers say they have used or
TRI-LIFT APPOINTED AS A BRONTO SKYLIFT DISTRIBUTOR
Tri-Lift has been appointed as Bronto Skylift’s distributor in Canada. Tri-Lift is a division of Tri-Crane, which was founded by three partners – Jason Hanna, Mark Williams and Aaron Hanna – in March 2019 and is based in Ontario. Tri-Lift was established in 2020 and will be carrying out sales, service, spare parts and rentals of Bronto Skylift’s non-insulated aerial platforms.
“When we got to know Bronto Skylift we did some background research and saw great potential in the Canadian market. We have had good experiences with the European OEM’s. I know how Finns do business and really look forward to the co-operation,” said Williams.
Tri-Lift and Bronto Skylift were brought together by Jason Darnell, sales manager at Bronto Skylift, who knew the crew from his previous career. In addition to selling and renting the non-insulated models of Bronto Skylift aerial platforms, Tri-Lift will provide full maintenance and spare part services for Bronto aerials. The first 230foot model, the S230XR, is already ordered and will be available for demonstration and rentals in March 2021. The Tri-Lift crew truly enjoys working hands-on in the industry’s most difficult projects and going the extra mile for their customers. Being able to provide Bronto aerial platforms gives Tri-Lift the flexibility to cover multiple industries and complicated projects in the filming industry, the wind sector and other applications. All three partners of Tri-Lift have an extensive career in the lifting and rental industry. Williams is a third-generation family business owner and has grown into the industry
intend to use Canada’s federal COVID-19 assistance programs to help their business, with the other 50 percent saying they haven’t or will not.
Of the equipment manufacturers in Canada accessing the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, 55 percent said it was “easy” while 22 percent said it was “relatively easy,” and another 22 percent saying it was “moderately difficult.”
The top additional policies equipment manufacturers believe the government of Canada should undertake to help their businesses through the COVID-19 crisis are recognizing the critical importance of Canadian manufacturing capacity; implementing measures to increase the competitiveness of the sector and reward innovative Canadian manufacturers (65 percent); investing more federal money in infrastructure projects, including increasing the federal portion of funding for provincial and municipal projects (60 percent); and creating a program to replace older equipment with new, lower emission equipment through tax credits or government grants and loans (60 percent).
from a young age. Jason has been in the industry from the late ‘80s and served as a crane operator and in various managerial roles before coming the president of TRICrane and Tri-Lift. Aaron Hanna is the vice-president of sales and brings 20 years of sales experience in the industry. Aaron also started as a crane operator, so there is vast knowledge about the daily operations in the lifting industry.
“With their extensive knowledge, the partners of Tri-Lift enable us to explore and expand our market in Canada,” said Janne Pulkkinen, vice-president of Bronto Skylift.
The current distributor, Hycotec, will also continue to operate as a Bronto Skylift distributor in Canada.
2021 STARTS WITH NEW LOCKDOWNS IMPACTING RENTAL
Construction sites remained open in Quebec during a four-week lockdown announced the first week of January. Construction, as well as manufacturing, deemed essential in December, were allowed to continue operating. The province said activities in each industry should be limited to meet current commitments and keep on-site crews to a minimum. Staff able to work remotely were obligated to do so. Quebec premier Francois Legault asked factories to postpone “nonessential” manufacturing. The type of production that will be designated “essential” was decided following discussions between manufacturers and government officials.”
Similarly, Ontario went into lockdown Dec. 26, with updated measures announced on Jan 13. Ontario premier Doug Ford announced in December that small businesses forced to close or “severely” restrict activities in this period will be eligible for $10,000 to $20,000 in provincial assistance. Equipment rental stores were on the list of examples of eligible businesses. No specific mention of party or event rental operations
was made . Updated anti-COVID measures announced in January suggest rental stores will not be able to keep showrooms open to the public for as long as the measures stay in place. Previous changes on Dec. 26 restricted rental stores to appointment-only services.
The government statement said places of businesscould open for retail sales to the public if they used an alternative method of sale, such as curbside pick-up or delivery; they had a public entrance that opens onto a street or exterior sidewalk; and members of the public were not permitted to access the place of business, except in exceptional circumstances
The new list of essential services included equipment rental operations as it has in the past. Ontario premier Doug Ford released a list of construction projects that were deemed essential during the emergency lockdown. New residential construction where a footing permit had been granted was be allowed to go forward, as was residential renovation work. Commercial construction was restricted to a list of essential buildings and to maintenance services.
JCB NAMED UNITED RENTALS’ SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR
Construction equipment manufacturer, JCB North America, was recognized this month by United Rentals as its 2020 Supplier of the Year. The award recognizes JCB for outstanding value, timely delivery, product support, training and procurement excellence. This is the second year in a row that JCB has been recognized with this achievement.
“Being recognized for the second year in a row as the United Rentals Supplier of the Year is an outstanding achievement for JCB and a tremendous recognition in particular during this challenging year,” said Andrea Whelan, vicepresident for direct sales at JCB North America. “Our team at JCB is proud to continue to support our partner of over 20 years, and this award is an acknowledgement of the hard work and commitment the team provides.”
JCB has supplied United Rentals with a large range of construction equipment and material handlers since the company was founded in 1997.
“I would like to congratulate JCB for being named the 2020 United Rentals Supplier of the Year,” said T.J. Mahoney, vice-president of supply chain for United Rentals. “As we all know, 2020 brought a year of uncertainty. We thank JCB for their ability to consistently find new ways to support our teams in the field and at our service locations. Whether it be through virtual product installations and training events or new COVID safety procedures, JCB has continued to show perseverance and dedication to excellence through their products and customer support.”
ROB MESSINA RETURNS TO JLG AS SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT
JLG Industries has announced that Rob Messina has rejoined the company’s access team as senior vice-president of product development and product management. In this new role, Messina will lead the global JLG and Jerr-Dan product development and product management teams.
“During these challenging times, having experienced and steady leadership is more important than ever. We are fortunate to have industry-leading talent across the entire Oshkosh organization,” says Frank Nerenhausen, Oshkosh executive vice-president and president of JLG Industries. “Rob is no stranger to the access segment. He led product development for JLG from 2013 to 2015 before taking on several key strategic initiatives across Oshkosh business units.”
“I’m passionate about innovation and excited to lead
our organization in the development of products that will redefine the job site of the future,” says Messina. “This new opportunity will allow me to bring my past experience with the access segment and my broader experience within the Oshkosh organization together to shape the future of the JLG and Jerr-Dan product lines. Moving forward, we will continue to focus on the company’s product strategy to elevate access across three pillars: safety, productivity and technology in support of tomorrow’s connected job sites and smart cities.”
Messina has been with Oshkosh since 2010, serving in various engineering, product management and technology roles. Prior to Oshkosh, he worked at Chrysler in both engineering and manufacturing positions.
EquipmentWatch is a trusted source for heavy equipment data and intelligence, producing leading database information products for the construction equipment industry. It is a world leader in heavy construction research and serves more than 15,000 professional, high-volume users of construction and lift-truck data. Find more heavy equipment intelligence at equipmentwatch.com.
Cross-Canada Rate Report
A look at average national rental rates
The Cross-Canada Rate Report is provided to Canadian Rental Service as a free service to the Canadian rental industry. Rate data shown are national averages generated by quarterly surveys of 458 Canadian rental stores. Rates shown are reported list rates and may not reflect the actual changes to any particular customer. For in-depth analysis, subscribe to CounterTalks at canadianrentalservice.com or through your favourite podcasting service.
Number of rental companies:
54
Number of stores:
458
Number of rates collected in Q4 for 2020
89,130
EVENT CANCELLED
Perserverance in perdition in the Canadian event sector.
In spring every year, as is the case with all Canadian event-focussed rental firms, things started to pick up in March 2020 for Ottawa Special Events. “We had a big show scheduled that month and some other events in April and May,” says co-owner Mike Wood.
By TREENA HEIN
But as the pandemic took hold, Wood (and other business owners) needed to know if the city was going to, as he says, “shut down.” He reached out to three local MPs and had a Zoom call with one of them, Catherine McKenna. “I said to her that the 10 percent wage subsidy being proposed will never work, that I’d had to lay off all my staff,” he remembers. He also told her that “only a rate similar to that in Europe of 75 percent would make a difference.”
Wood also met online with well-known Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre, the Ontario Minister of Small Business and others. Poilievre’s team asked Wood to appear virtually before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance in June, and he did so, along with leaders in other sectors. Wood later met with the Finance Committee chair, Wayne Easter, together with many other Ottawa-area small business owners. Wood also presented at the Ontario government’s Standing Committee of Finance and Economic Affairs. In addition, he’s been negotiating with Hydro Ottawa on his own behalf and for other businesses.
Reflecting on his efforts so far, Wood says, “I think I’ve helped get the first rental assistance program, Canadian Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance, in place. It was going to come to an end July 1, and I said to Wayne Easter that everyone is going to lose their businesses on Canada Day if nothing is changed. At the last minute, the government extended it another month. I also feel I’ve played a role in getting the wage subsidy expanded from 10 to 75 per cent. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses
– we’ve all been on the same page, we are all pushing for more help. The feds gave a loan, and the Ontario government has provided some grants, and I think the feds need to forgive the loans.”
Wood has also been working hard to convince the feds to make changes for business liability insurance. “Businesses are now being declined coverage or getting reduced coverage for the same payment,” he explains. “We need no-fault bankruptcy too. I’ve been pushing the feds hard on that. People took loans with their houses as collateral to start their businesses and it’s wrong that COVID would cause them to lose their houses along with their businesses. That can’t happen.”
On January 19, Wood discussed these issues and more in a meeting with five other business owners and Conservative party leadership, including Poilievre and Opposition Leader Erin O’Toole. Wood says, “It was excellent.”
He believes that while more loans are coming for businesses in the hardest-hit industries, it’s not going to be enough. He also thinks that companies in the pharmacy and construction sector that received wage subsidies should pay them back. He also worries that business taxes will be raised to try and recoup the money all levels of government have spent on COVID. For his own part, Wood let go of all employees in March and 2020 revenue was four percent of 2019 (he got a little from renting some items to three companies that have been filming movies in Ottawa). He’s been a parttime instructor at Algonquin for 13 years and his teaching has continued virtually. He’s also
been able to access the CERB and CRB benefits.
Still, for all the stress, Wood says that outside of a few negative comments online, he’s loved the experience of working for change for his business and other businesses during this crisis.
“I’ve made a difference and I hope to keep making a difference,” he says. “I used to be in a band so I was already used to speaking to crowds. I think my writing skills have improved. I’ve learned to be more patient. And I’ve learned that people do care whether they can do something or not about something. They are doing their best.”
SEVERAL PIVOTS
The pandemic found Infinite Event Services in Edmonton in the midst of moving in February 2020 to a new location. “We still had to move 22 shipping containers and that’s where the pivots started,” says owner Sheldon Fingler. “Shortly thereafter I was moving shipping containers privately for people across the region. Our team wasn’t trained in doing that but we all pulled together and learned quickly in order to survive.”
Shortly after that, Infinite got a few tent bookings and again, Fingler was grateful for his amazing team. “We
worked on large tents with the smallest crews we had ever had. My team knew my loyalty to them and they were loyal back and did everything they could to help keep us going,” he says. “The hours of day or length of work hours never mattered as we all did what we could to keep things moving forward.”
Indeed, the unavoidable need to lay off staff at the start of the pandemic was the hardest business decision Fingler had ever made. “I love my team and they are more than staff to me,” he says. “They are truly partners in my business in many ways.” Through the wage subsidy, Fingler is thankful he’s been able to
The event rental industry has faced extreme upheavals during the pandemic, making only a fraction of what they would have earned under normal circumstances.
keep his three longest-term employees employed. Fingler is also grateful for the critical and constant flow of information and updates from the Canadian Rental Association.
To make business income, Fingler tried selling sanitizer but due to the competition had limited success. At some point, he made the decision to build a virtual studio in his warehouse. It evolved into a full studio with 4k cameras, multiple televisions, over a dozen computers and more. Infinite began offering Zoom and streaming support to customers across Canada in an effort to take these meetings to the next level. “We still think that this will be a longer-term alternative for our customers that still need to have amazing events, just in a different way. We are even hosting holiday parties with comedians who can actually see their entire audience and interact the way they haven’t been able to yet. With 200 people on screens in front of them, they truly are experi-
encing the closest to reality.”
USING THE TIME WISELY
For Kim Rixon, founder and owner of Muskoka Party Rentals in Bracebridge Ont., COVID has caused her and her business to come full circle, but not in a good way. “I started in 2004 with three employees and I built it steadily and now employ a manager, additional fulltime employees and about 20 seasonal employees,” she says. “Right now, it’s only me and my manager – I’ve been able to keep her on through the wage subsidy and I’ve accessed CERB myself – and to have to go back to where you started has been disheartening. At times, you start to question if you should throw in the towel, if you have the energy, but overall, we’ve plugged on.”
By May, Rixon had let her employees go and she and her manager were doing a recycling renovation in the warehouse and a huge re-organization. Some business came in during July, August and
September, and while it was exciting and good to be back to normal, the state of the warehouse made it a scramble.
“Everything was everywhere, so it was a bit crazy and my dad pitched in to help,” says Rixon. “Those events gave us about five percent of what we would have made in 2020.”
Rixon’s enterprise is located in a region in Ontario known as Cottage Country, where many people from the Toronto area have cottages and there is a booming summer social scene. About 85 per cent of her business is weddings, with the rest mostly being events at resorts or children’s camps, and private parties. This year, Muskoka Party Rentals does have some weddings booked, both some that were postponed from 2020 and some new ones, but Rixon is skeptical that normal socializing and celebrating will get back to normal before at least 2022.
Right now, Rixon and her manager continue to organize the warehouse
Post-pandemic, there is a chance of an overloaded schedule of events, which would be a good problem for the event rental industry.
and Rixon is also revamping her website so that customers can see everything she offers and can plan their events completely online. She’s kept in touch with her 20 seasonal employees and she thinks about five will come back in 2021, if there is work for them. “Overall, I think the pandemic has definitely taken a toll on everyone’s mental state,” Rixon says. “It’s been like a rollercoaster. But we just have to keep going and hope for the best.”
Many across the world believe that group socializing – family gatherings, celebrations of various types, concerts and so on – will reach an extreme level once COVID is put behind us. If that happens, it will create other stresses on Canadian event rental firms, but ones they will probably welcome. CRS
“Pivot” has been a common word during the pandemic. The team of Infinite Event Services in Edmonton, Alta., kept busy during the down times caused by COVID-19 by moving shipping containers privately for people.
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DELAY THE RUST PAYDAY
Maximize profits by keeping equipment rust-free.
Your degree of success in the equipment rental business depends heavily on your equipment staying in good workable condition for as long as possible. While it is necessary to periodically maintain and repair the mechanical aspects of the equipment – such as engines, motors, brakes, scissor lifts and so on – another critical need that may not initially come to mind, but becomes obvious as the years progress, is rust prevention.
by JULIE HOLMQUIST
Over time, rust can take its toll on the bodies, electrical components and fuel tanks of your rental equipment. This is a natural process of life as metal components are exposed to moisture, air, fluctuating temperatures and humidity and other corrosive conditions. Equipment stored outdoors or in coastal conditions are especially at risk, as are rental vehicles that have to pass over winter roads treated with deicing salts. Rental loading equipment that has to handle corrosive compounds like deicing salts or fertilizer also faces a higher risk of corrosion. Exposure to these conditions accelerates corrosion on equipment, shortening their useful lifespans and leading to a “payday” when rust forces you to pay your corrosion debt by repairing or retiring your previously valuable equipment.
The good news is that taking simple strategic measures to deter corrosion on rental equipment can go a long way toward extending service life and getting the maximum profits
out of your rentals. The most comprehensive approaches will take into account external body protection as well as protection of internal fuel tanks and electrical components. Fortunately, there are many things that can be done through the use of coatings, regular washing, VCI emitters and fuel additives.
COATINGS AND CLEANERS
The most obvious need for corrosion protection is on rental equipment bodies. Alas, the original coatings never last forever and eventually begin to bubble and chip away to reveal rusty patches that may one day turn into holes. Rental companies storing heavy equipment in seaside conditions will notice this especially fast and can particularly benefit from applying a corrosion-inhibiting permanent or temporary coating right over the original equipment paint. By using a clear coating or one tinted to match the original equipment colour, changes in appearance can be kept to a minimum.
This was true for a heavy equipment dealer on an island in Oceania. The country had hit an economic crisis and the dealer had to store overstock equipment in a yard near the sea. The body paint began to blister and crack over time, and the bare metal corroded in the seaside environment. Conventional paint applied over the damaged areas cracked off in one to two months and the dealer was back where they started with corrosion. At this point, they decided to try a water-based corrosion inhibitor coating called VpCI-386. The coating was colour-matched to the equipment and no further corrosion was found on trial areas upon inspection three months later, leading them to adopt the coating for protection of the full equipment bodies.
The same coating was adopted at a Pacific air force base familiar with similar problems. Due to the humidity and saltwater proximity, vehicles on the base typically had to be repainted within five years of purchase, often in conjunction with extensive corrosion-related body repairs. Because of this, they wanted a way to protect their new multi-million dollar Airfield Damage Repair vehicle fleet from early deterioration while leaving the equipment in a ready-to-use condition at any time without product removal required. One of the solutions was to apply VpCI-386 CMA (clear matte finish) right over the heavy equipment bodies. Although the sergeant in charge was only concerned about corrosion and did not care what colour the coating was, the coating had the advantage of drying clear and unnoticeable over the original paint, while promising to help extend the service life of the fleet and so create a significant monetary savings. VpCI-391, a water-based removable corrosion inhibitor coating that can be cleaned off with an alkaline cleaner but is often left on with minimal change to surface appearance, was sprayed inside the engine compartment, in the wheel wells, and on firewall surfaces. These two coatings were an important part of a plan that addressed practically all aspects of the vehicles – from electrical components to hinges, pintle hooks, grease zerks and forklift tines.
PLATINUM
Another interesting example is the experience of a North American barge-loading company that operated in different ports on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. After just one year, they would see a drastic change on their fertilizing and deicing salt loading equipment, which was already looking 10 years old. They adopted application of VpCI-391 as part of their annual maintenance plan, cleaning the equipment off with a flash rust inhibiting cleaner (Cortec VpCI-410 series) for good surface prep.
rience of a Metro area department of transportation in the Midwestern U.S., known for severe winters and excessive use of deicing salts. These deicing salts were taking a serious toll on snow plows and deicing trucks, which would come back from a job with chlorides caked in the cracks of the vehicle joints and underbodies. The salt was also being dragged into the cab on the drivers’ boots so that some of the drivers’ seats were at risk of falling through the floors from rust. There were also many other
“Electrical components on rental equipment are vulnerable to corrosion, but can be protected.”
REG ULAR EQUIPMENT WASHING
While an extra layer of protective coatings can play a very helpful role in preserving vehicle body life, sometimes the key can be to implement a good washing program. This is evident in the expe -
problems with rust deteriorating the vehicle bodies. The department began washing their trucks with a custom version of VpCI-406 after every outing. VpCI-406 is a phosphate-free cleaner that is excellent for removing grease, grimes, and salts and also provides flash-corrosion protection. The regular
washing made a significant difference on the trucks compared to those that were neglected and allowed to rust over the weekend. This basic maintenance best practice could be easily transferred over to the rental industry for good upkeep of equipment that operates in harsh conditions of one sort or another.
RESTORING AND PRESERVING FUEL TANKS
The problem of rusting fuel tanks is another issue to avoid on your rentals, especially so when storage conditions are severe. Here again, the experience of a heavy equipment dealer in Oceania is insightful. After storing heavy equipment near the sea where almost constant winds circulate the corrosive atmosphere, the dealer found that almost all units had fuel tank corrosion. The rust was cleaned out of the tanks first using MCI Super Remover (a low pH biodegradable alternative to phosphoric, muriatic, and nitric acid cleaners) and VpCI423 (a biobased rust remover). This was followed by a rinse with VpCI-416 flash rust corrosion inhibitor cleaner/degreaser at 10 percent dilution. This pleased the dealer, who was happy to remove the rust quite effectively without the use of mechanical grinding. The tanks were flushed with diesel fuel and a corrosion
Taking steps to prevent corrosion can help keep equipment from reaching junkyards early.
inhibiting fuel additive was applied for ongoing corrosion protection. VpCI-386 was used for external protection of the tanks and tinted to match the original colour. This allowed the equipment to remain usable while taking precautions against the problem happening again.
PROTECTING ELECTRICALS COMPONENTS
While any type of vehicle has electricals and electronics, rental equipment is especially likely to have electrical junction boxes and exposed electrical connections that control lifts, shovels, and other power accessories. These electronics are also vulnerable to corrosion and can be protected in a couple of ways. One easy option is to place small cups of vapour-phase corrosion inhibitors inside the electrical control boxes. These work well in any type of enclosure because they release corrosion-inhibiting vapors that fill the compartment and attach to metal components. This protective
molecular layer remains as long as the cabinet is closed and quickly self-replenishes once the panel is re-closed after servicing. Exposed electrical contacts can be protected by spraying them with a light corrosion inhibiting film. These same steps were implemented on the previously mentioned Pacific air force base by adding VpCI-105 and VpCI-111 Emitters to fuse boxes and spraying ElectriCorr VpCI-239 (a dual cleaner/ protector) on electrical relays, wiring, electrical motors, battery connections, and electrical components of their ADR fleet.
CHOOSE YOUR PATH TO CORROSION PROTECTION
There are even more options that can be helpful for protecting the varied components on rental equipment – corrosion-inhibiting underbody coatings; corrosion-inhibiting greases applied to grease zerks; corrosion-inhibiting all-purpose lubricants for clutch releases,
hinges, and other moving parts; and VCI emitters for tool boxes and other enclosed compartments. While a comprehensive plan provides the most protection, you can still benefit by choosing just one or two options to get started. Maybe you’ve noticed more problems with your electrical components and want to begin there. Maybe you want to amp up the corrosion-inhibiting power of your cleaning activities with a flash rust inhibitor wash. Maybe you are ready to add an extra, unnoticeable protective coating on top of the original paint. Whatever the path you take, rest assured that there are practical options available to cut down on rust and extend the service life of your rental fleet so you can make it last longer, maximize your profitability, and push the rust “payday” farther down the road. CRS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Julie Holmquist is content writer at Cortec Corporation. Visit cortecvci.com for more info.
AT YOUR SERVICE Mistakes are costly
by Russ Dantu
It’s Tuesday, Dec. 15. I get a phone call from my customer saying she received the Christmas clothing order and everything was good… except the 2 Roots vests I shipped were the wrong size! Now, two of her office staff would be without their gift while everyone else would receive theirs. I quickly brought up the order and realized I keyed the wrong size when placing the order with my supplier. Completely my fault. I apologized, took responsibility for the error and told my customer I would air ship in replacements, get them embroidered and then air ship them to her so she would have them before Christmas.
My package arrived on the 16th late afternoon and I whipped it over to my embroiderer. She fit it into their busy Christmas rush and I picked it up the morning of the 17th. I filled out the Purolator weighbill online with the correct weight but not dimensions. Air freight came in at almost $80 for two vests. Crappy, but that is the price of fixing a mistake I shouldn’t have made in the first place.
I’m in Calgary. She’s in Sudbury, Ont. The package would be going to Hamilton, Ont., first and then by truck. I would be shipping on Dec. 17. Purolator said it would be delivered on Monday, Dec. 21.
I notified the customer and she was happy. I followed the shipment and saw it had landed on the 18th in Hamilton. On Monday morning, the 21st, it showed as in the Sudbury depot. I notified my customer that it was in Sudbury and scheduled for delivery that day. The end of the day came and it still didn’t arrive. I let my customer know that it didn’t make it out that day. The next day came and it showed that it was still in Sudbury. I got on-line with Purolator around noon and started talking to their “chatbox.” After five minutes, it said it could not give me any updates and that I should call Purolator to speak with a customer service rep.
I called on the 22nd…twice. The first time I was on hold for 57 minutes, the next time for 40 minutes. Neither time did I get through to anyone. On the 23rd, it still showed up as at the Sudbury depot. I tried calling again. Still couldn’t reach anyone. Another 35 minutes on
hold! There wasn’t even an option of emailing anyone.
The package finally arrived first thing in the morning on Dec. 24. I called my customer on her cell and apologized for the delay but said the package was now there. She informed me that their office was already closed for the Christmas break. The package was dropped off and left outside their office door. Somehow, it didn’t disappear and my customer’s staff were in on Dec. 28 to see them there.
A simple mistake on my part caused a lot of anxiety and grief for myself and my customer. It also cost me a lot of extra time and money replacing vests and with extra freight and the hours involved correcting my error. To top it off, when the Purolator bill came in, it was for almost $120!
I called and argued with a customer service representative and got a fairly cold reply but managed to get a 25 percent discount.
Several nuggets came out of this experience. Double check your work to make sure it is right. Mistakes are costly! Take ownership of your mistakes and make it right as soon as possible. Stay in constant contact with your customer throughout the issue so they can see and feel that you truly care about making it right. While my customer was disappointed, she thanked me for my efforts to make it right. Give them something extra, if you can. If you are a supplier (in this case, Purolator) that doesn’t deliver what they are supposed to, at the time they are supposed to, make it right with your customers. Have an account in place so you can track how many mistakes are made each and every year and the cost associated with those mistakes. This is one area that many businesses do not calculate. Focusing on errors and making your entire staff aware so they can take extra care, will lead to eliminating a lot of mistakes.
Take care of yourselves, your customers and your employees! CRS
Russ Dantu is a 30-year veteran of the rental industry and has been delivering workshops, seminars and keynotes on customer service for over 15 years. Visit russdantu.com.
by James Wong
Harness safety inspections
Does your staff know how to perform a thorough checklist examination of fallprotection harnesses? I’ve seen several scenarios around workers using and doing harness checks. Some workers purchase their own. There are standard kits available that are pretty reasonably priced, but personalizing can get pricy depending on what you’re looking for. Some workers depend on the company to provide the harness, which can mean they are getting what you provide.
Harnesses can survive the trauma of a fall or run-over without the damage being visually apparent, so detailed checks are important. If you suspect a harness has experienced a trauma you should remove it from service due to “loss of faith.” It’s critical to perform a thorough inspection. A “quick look” inspection is not sufficient for the user’s safety because any small imperfection can lead to a malfunction. Those working at heights well know it’s not the time to discover a problem once you’re up there. With that in mind let’s go over the requirements for inspection.
The checklist is broken down into material sections. Let’s go through it.
Webbing and straps: Common webbing fabrics include nylon and polyester. Materials used for hazardous conditions like welding and arc flash exposure contain fire retardants and some type of grounding material. These straps secure every single part of the harness as well as the body. Any visible variations, even the smallest, can cause a malfunction.
D-Rings, buckles, adjusters and snap hooks: This hardware secures the functionality of the harness. Check for damage that distorts or defaces as well as any marks on any part of the hardware. Make sure springs aren’t sticking or jamming.
Stitching: The condition of the stitching on any part of the harness should always be flawless to support the worker in a fall and for fall restraint. There should be front and back stitching, both in perfect condition without frays and missing or loose stitches.
Lanyards and lifelines: The CSA standards for personal energy absorbers and lanyards
were updated Feb. 1, 2020. The most important updates were in the instructions for use. The updated standard includes new information on the selection, use and lifespan of fall protection gear, especially energy-absorbing lanyards and horizontal lifelines. Manufacturers are now required to include a table, chart or graphic in equipment manuals illustrating the use of energy absorbers based on the user’s weight and free-fall distance. This illustration will specify the complete range of weights and distances permitted for the device. Along with all the checks mentioned in this article, ensure there is CSA information and check the spring tensions for retention and indicator activation.
Labels and markings: Labels and markings are records of the harness’ CSA testing to meet standards for safety and performance. Ensure the labels are securely held in place, that you can read the CSA markings and labels, and that the manufacturer’s in-service date is present. That’s the date the harness was made available for use, which also date stamps how old the harness is.
Harness capacity over 310 pounds is available, but not CSA-rated.
Suspension trauma is also known as harness hang syndrome. It occurs when the body is held upright without any movement. If a person is strapped into a harness or tied to an upright object, it will eventually cause fainting. The harness straps will stop the blood in the backof-the-leg veins and block blood from going to the heart. This will eventually diminish oxygen to the brain, which is what causes the fainting. It is critical to have a rescue plan for suspension trauma. It can cause unconsciousness in 10 minutes and cause death in 15 to 40 minutes. Working at heights without being properly trained and without being comfortable doing so can lead to serious injury and even death. While safe use of fall-arrest gear is your customer’s responsibility, not yours, you might feel better knowing you’ve done your part to educate them. CRS
James Wong is an OHS Chief for the construction industry.
THE SHOW GOES ON
The Rental Mart is coming to your screens this spring.
Everyone had different expectations from the year 2020. It was a year that held so many possibilities before it arrived. But, things do not often go as planned. 2020 will primarily be remembered as the year that an unwelcome guest in our lives, COVID-19, wreaked havoc on the world. However, with the bad came a lot of good. As humans, we evolved, adjusted, innovated, learned to live life anew and kept moving forward.
by SUKANYA RAY GHOSH
The Canadian Rental Mart has always been about the equipment. We were challenged to come up with an online solution to replicate the experience, but with the help of some whizz-bang event software we think we’ve come close.
For the Canadian equipment rental industry, 2020 was supposed to be a Canadian Rental Mart year but could not be. However, in the spirit of moving forward, organizers have decided that the show must go on. Canada’s big-ass rental show will be coming to everyone’s screens this year on March 24.
For over 30 years the Rental Mart has been the country’s biggest expo of rental-ready equipment for construction, homeowner DIY, landscaping and event rental equipment. Each year, the show welcomes rental
store owners to find the friends and fleet they need to make their businesses succeed. A big part of every event is the logistics involved in getting everyone together in one venue. Therefore, in the past, the attendees of the event have typically come in from the GTA. Since the show will be held online this year, the Rental Mart will be welcoming rental operators from coast-to-coast using the show’s virtual platform, Pheedloop.
As always, the 2021 Rental Mart promises to bring great value to equipment rental store
owner/operators, distributors and even home renovation contractors.
The virtual trade show will be bringing the latest equipment for the rental industry from top suppliers. All attendees will have the opportunity to roam the virtual halls of the “show floor” to network with friends, peers and suppliers.
WELCOME, CONTRACTORS
The 2021 Rental Mart has presented a very special opportunity for us to not only connect you to your suppliers, but also to connect you to an even more important group: your customers. Last spring, Canadian Contractor magazine became part of the same publishing group as Canadian Rental Service , which gave us access to its circulation list of over 20,000 renovation and custom homebuilding contractors across the country. We thought it would be a great idea to give them a chance to see the new technology they can expect to find in their local rental store this year - and encourage them to think about renting the equipment for their next job. So this year, for the first time, the Rental Mart has been promoted to construction contractors and registration is open to them.
CROSS-COUNTRY CONVERSATION
In addition to the trade show, two interesting education sessions have been planned featuring industry experts. Adam Snook of Just Bins, Blake Menning of All Choice Rentals, Jeff Campbell of St Thomas Rent-All and Paul Van Staveren of Stayner Rental will come together for a CrossCanada Rental Panel moderated by Canadian Rental Service editor, Patrick Flannery. The panel will talk about what’s going on in rental stores and on construction sites across the country. The discussion will touch on tech, markets, trends, threats, opportunities and more. The pandemic might come up. Here’s a little background on the panellists.
A serial entrepreneur, Adam Snook has been in, out and around the rental industry since 1998, first as a
CROSS-CANADA RENTAL PANEL
mechanic for RSC in Regina. After building a company providing water systems to grocery stores throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta, he bought a small rental store with partners in Wetskiwin, Alta., in 2006. From there he added companies, getting involved in waste disposal, fracking equipment, oil field services and vacuum excavation, to name just a few. Today, Adam is back in Regina and focused on his JustBins waste bin renting operation and writing his Hope Is Not A Plan column for Canadian Rental Service
Born and raised in Drayton Valley, Alta., Blake Menning has been an active member in the oil and gas industry. Starting his career as a pipe fitter to the transition into different business development roles, Blake is committed to providing excellent customer service to all customers. Blake holds an MBA from Queen’s University and was elected class president in 2016. He currently sits on the board of directors for the Canadian Rental Association and is committed and focused on promoting ACR’s products and services and growing this local business.
Jeff Campbell is a 42-year veteran of the rental industry, taking over management of St. Thomas Rent-All in St. Thomas, Ont., from his father
in 1988. He’s a passionate advocate for the Canadian rental industry, rising through the chairs in Ontario to become national president of the Canadian Rental Association in 2013. When Jeff is not in the store, he’s in his garage fixing up his beloved collection of antique cars.
Paul Van Staveren left banking in 1990 to open Stayner Rental in Stayner, Ont. Leveraging his education in agriculture mechanization at the University of Guelph, Paul and his family have grown the operation to fill a 30,000-square-foot, multi-building facility carrying a full array of equipment for construction, agriculture and landscaping uses. They’ve even designed their own ramps for their flatbed trucks.
KEYNOTE KEN
Ken McDougall, president of Skyjack, will be presenting the keynote on what the events of 2020 have meant for the Canadian rental industry and how he sees the future for 2021 and beyond. McDougall will also present some key insights into new developments at Skyjack.
McDougall has been working his way through leadership positions with leading global manufacturer Linamar (Skyjack’s parent company) for over three decades. With roots as a tool designer and manufacturing engineer, McDougall has seen a variety of roles within the company including leading the development of Linamar’s Asia-Pacific and Linamar’s Mexico operations, and as president of Skyjack throughout the mid-2000s. With a passion for process-driven development, McDougall returned as president at Skyjack in 2019.
WOOD YOU BELIEVE IT
A special guest interview with Mike Wood from Ottawa Special Events will also be featured on the event platform. The pandemic has brought many changes, but few as radical as the transformation of Mike Wood, humble co-owner of Ottawa Special Events, into a champion of the rental industry and small business in the halls of power in Ottawa and Toronto. CRS
Adam Snook
Jeff Campbell
Blake Menning
Paul Van Staveren
Rental Mart Showcase
TAKES ON CANADA’S TOUGH CONDITIONS
8 glasvangreatdane.com
Glasvan is your provider for Landoll’s 400 and 900 series travelling-axle hydraulic full-deck tilt-and-tail trailers. Available in two- and three-axle versions, Landoll’s lineup of hydraulic trailers allow for the safe and efficient loading, delivery and unloading of a
variety of rental equipment. Landoll tilt bed trailers are offered with many smart options for Canadian operations, like full hot-dipped galvanizing to
protect your investment against structural rot caused by today’s harsh road de-icing chemicals. With faster hydraulics; upgraded winch options for loading distressed equipment; a high visibility package with nine lights per side as standard; plus a centralized grease port system that allows you to lubricate many critical components from one spot, Landoll trailers lead the way. Glasvan offers Landoll tilt bed trailers both new and used in stock for quicker delivery requirements and we can also have one of our experts consult and specify a custom build for your operation.
ALTERNATIVE TO DIESEL
8 ces-sales.com
Offered as a more economical alternative to diesel powered models, Bomag has introduced the BPR60/65 Honda-powered reversible plate compactor. Bomag’s newest addition to its lineup of robust and reliable reversible plate compactors features a Honda GX390 engine. The BPR60/65 comes standard with electric start as well as recoil start, low oil shutdown and an hour meter. Also included is a fully enclosed engine cover with easily accessible service and maintenace flaps; a heightadjustable, low-vibration operator control; a locking operator handle for transportation; and a foldable single-point lifting hook. The powder-
coated base plate is highly wear-resistant. The Bomag BPR60/65 has a working width of 25.6 inches and an operating weight of 926 pounds with a centrifugal force of 13,490 pounds. The BPR60/65 is ideally suited for construction of roads, sub-bases, sewer and watermain construction and foundation work.
HELP MANAGING WEBSITES
8 alertrental.com
Need website assistance?
Alert Rental can do the work while rental store managers focus on what they know best: the rental business. Alert can create a store website, improve its search engine optimization features and connect it with the store’s Alert management system. Users can drive
bottom line results with a strong online presence. Alert Web Requests or Customer Portal is included with a three-page basic website. Additional charges apply from Alert’s partner. An Alert website will allow customers to browse an online catalog from Day One. Storefronts come to life on any device with photos, videos, and forms. The high-speed platform means clients won’t wait when they are ready to do business. SEO boosts business with a high Google
search ranking. Optimized security minimizes vulnerabilities to protect the store’s information. Google analytics allows stores to monitor traffic and user behavior with monthly reports. Clients can request quotes online then convert the quote to a bid with just one click. The Customer Portal allows clients to pay invoices, reprint tickets, take equipment off-rent, view reservations, and more. A full e-commerce package enables 24/7 sales with a fully integrated customer experience featuring realtime reservations and sales synced to inventory.
UNITIZE THE LOAD
8 bandngo.com
Steel Strapping Econo Packs from Band-N-Go are valuable tools for rental
shops and their contractor customers. Steel Strapping Econo Packs are 200-foot lengths of standard steel strapping in either 1/2- or 3/4-inch widths packed into a self-dispensing carton. These handy coils weigh only 10 pounds for 1/2-inch or 15 pounds for 3/4-inch material. The cartons are 10 1/2 by 10 1/2 by 1 1/2 inches. They are an ideal size for the service truck or to keep on a shelf in the shop. The steel strapping in
these handy self-dispensing cartons can be used to unitize loads before lifting them onto a truck. A load that is unitized or bundled and then strapped down on the truck is more stable and secure than loose items loaded and strapped. A unitized load can be safely loaded with a forklift, saving time and money. Steel strapping can be used to bundle scaffolding, fencing, lumber and other construction or industrial products or materials. The standard grades and sizes of steel strapping used in the Econo Packs are compatible with all standard strapping tools. Steel Strapping Econo packs from Band-N-Go are produced and stocked in its facility in Vaughan, Ont., and proudly bear the Ontario Made logo.
THE CLASSY CLASSEN
8 classenturfcare.com
The Classen Pro HTS20
Hydro-Drive overseeder is in a class of its own. A unique 40-pound floating seed box to follow undulating terrain and (26) 1-1/2 inches spaced slicing blades allow for higher rates of germination. Equipped with turf tread flotation tires for reduced soil compaction and thumb controls for forward and reverse. The fold down handle provides easy transportation and storage.
EASY NAVIGATION
8 littlewonder.com
Little Wonder brush mowers carry a two-year rental store warranty and will navigate through brush and overgrown vegetation up to two inches thick. Its welded steel frame and 13-horsepower Honda engine provide excellent balance. It features variable speeds with a fingertip forwardand-reverse-controlled hydrostatic transmission. It uses strong linkages with no cables to get tangled in brush along with no-flat
tires. Users can navigate through weeds, heavy brush and overgrown vegetation with ease.
OPTIMIZE THE MATERIAL FEED
8 barretomfg.com
The Barreto 3107C chipper utilizes a series of loadsensing hydraulic valves to optimize material feed. As the load on the feed system increases, or as the chipper flywheel slows, the feed rate will automatically slow or stop to allow the flywheel to maintain maximum RPM. The feed
wheel and motor are mounted to a tensioned pivot-arm system. The arms pivot on heavyduty composite bushings instead of the plastic wear slides used by machines of similar size.
QUIET, COMPACT, STURDY
8 gcduke.com
The new RZ48R 82V rideon residential zero-turn mower is quiet, compact, sturdy and perfect for the homeowner who is seeking commercial-grade power and performance without the noise, mess of gas and oil or servicing of engines.
Equipped with a 48-inch 10-gauge fabricated steel deck, sixteen cutting height adjustments, a seven miles-per-hour maximum forward speed and three 1.5-kilowatt brushless blade motors providing up to 13,582 feet per minute of blade speed for durable and reliable cutting performance. The equipment cuts up to 2.25 acres per charge. Available with optional electric takeoff enabling both powered and non-powered attachments.
VERSATILE SOD CUTTER
8 ryanturf.com
The exclusive Ryandesigned hydraulic cooling system and Hydro-Gear BDU transmission of the Ryan Hydro Sod Cutter
give you the desired durability and reliability for maximum productivity. Independent of the cutting blade, the variable speed hydrostatic transmission has both forward and reverse drive for incredible versatility. The user’s arms will thank them when they experience 75 percent less vibration with the latest Ultra-Low Vibration Technology. The equipment is available in 18- and 24-inch models.
ERGONOMIC AND PRODUCTIVE
8 scag.com
The Scag Windstorm is an ultra-compact, agile and ergonomically designed stand on blower with surefooted traction and smooth clutch engagement. Powered by a 37 horsepowerf Briggs Vanguard Big Block EFI engine producing up to 7500 CFM makes for unmatched productivity.
Ideal for leaf/debris or road construction cleanup. With its 18 degrees of vertical tilt from its fingertip nozzle direction system controls, maximum air output is achieved in any direction the nozzle is aimed.
MULTIPLE USES
8 brownproducts.com
The multi-use Redefiner 450HA allows rental stores to offer their clients three configurations; a bed redefiner, the WireMaster model to install invisible dog fencing or the standard sidewalk edger. Powered by a Honda GX160 engine, it features bed redefining productivity of up to 60 feet per minute or dog fence installation up to 25 feet per minute. This commercial unit is light, easy to transport with fold-down handles and manoeuverable making it ideal for home owners and contractors alike.
TAKES ON BIG JOBS
8 sinoboom.com
Sinoboom’s self-propelled telescopic boom lifts offer rugged, excellent performance and reliabililty to provide users with a safe and adaptable MEWP that meets challenging conditions and requirement needs. Selfpropelled capability during aerial operations increases flexibility and productivity. Telescopic models go right up to 44 metres maximum working height, with a large range of motion operation, high efficiency, powerful engines and a large load capacity. Units are able to hold two to three operators and boast up to 40 percent gradeability, enabling ease of positioning and reducing the risk of wheel slippage. These telescopic boom lifts are widely used in shipbuilding and repairing,
large-scale steel structures (including manufacturing), construction engineering, urban utilities, building maintenance, gardening, airports and harbours, curtainwall engineering, petrochemical industry applications and much more. Working at heights safely is a priority for Sinoboom.
DBP COMPLIANT
8 nationalhose.ca
National Hoses’ Eco Pump and now new Eco Glow, are among the very first DBP compliant discharge hoses in North America. In accordance to municipal sewer bylaws, the Eco Pump and Eco Glow meets and exceeds the DBP Pthalate requirements set forth.
Available in sizes from one and a half inches up to six inches, both the Eco Pump and Eco Glow meet various discharging applications, and unique colours for identification purposes. The low temperature flexibility of these hoses make it one of the most flexible discharge hoses available. For more information on the municipal bylaws, and on the Eco Pump and new Eco Glow, a local distributor will be more than happy to assist you.
FURTHER ECOMMERCE FUNCTIONALITY
8 point-of-rental.com
Point of Rental has acquired Rental Hosting, a web design and hosting company that builds integrated websites for rental businesses. The acquisition marks another step in the company’s prioritization of eCommerce functionality. It acquired RentItOnline, another eCommerce platform, late in 2020.
“As we move eCommerce to the forefront, both as a
company and as an industry, this acquisition gives us the resources to do so in innovative, thoughtful ways,” said Point of Rental CEO Wayne Harris. “This will bring our teams closer together for collaboration earlier in the development process and allow us to better serve our customers’ needs.”
Rental Hosting provides fully integrated websites uniquely built for rental businesses, including eCommerce, customer portals, and online payments. Their sites display rental and sales inventory, show instructions and videos associated with each item, provide shopping cart functionality, capture customer contact information, and automate quotes. In addition,
LITERATURE REVIEW
integrated customer portals allow customers to manage their own contracts, view items on rent (including job sites), pay contracts, and submit quote requests within a dedicated portal.
“Rental Hosting and Point of Rental have been a part of the same family, same community, for years,” said Rental Hosting CEO Caleb Yell. “This move won’t affect current Rental Hosting customers during the transition, and they’ll reap the benefits of our closer collaboration with Point of Rental’s development team as we build an even more tightly integrated eCommerce process.”
SUPER VERSATILE 8 eurekapartytents.com
In 2020, Eureka Tents
celebrated its 125th anniversary. What started as a small canvas shop in 1895 in Binghamton, N.Y., has grown into a major tent brand focused on quality, innovation, design and manufacturing. The X2 Keder frame tent has become a bestseller. It’s ease of use, fast ROI and versatility have helped make the X2 very popular. Available in the most popular widths – 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 feet – all with interchangeable components, making the X2 is suitable for all applications. All sizes are wind-rated, with engineering and blueprints available. CRS
GENERAL’S NEW GEN-EYE X-POD® INSPECTION RESULTS IN A FLASH
Gen-Eye X-POD® sewer camera from General Pipe Cleaners features a powerful Command Module with USB recording capability to record video inspections on a flash drive. Combines camera, reel, and monitor into one compact package. Includes 7” color monitor, self-leveling camera, one touch recording, and 4X digital zoom. Inspect 3” to 10” lines.
IS NOT A PLAN
Find a niche, find profits
by Adam Snook
Having specialized knowledge adds a competitive edge to your business.
We’ve all been watching the race to open and acquire more specialty branches by the consolidators. Whether it’s power and HVAC, trench shoring, pumping, heat or even floor care, they’ve seen that a focused stand alone can generate better ROI than their average general rental location.
There’s always been independent operators who had a focus on a single product line. Most notable were the aerial rental specialists. The largest ones were then bought up by the consolidators, who proceeded to add full line rentals and take the “specialty” out of the business. The idea being that cross-selling customers and sharing overhead among multiple lines would lead to a more profitable operation.
Now the rush is on to bring specialized knowledge and experience back to the rental industry and charge a premium for it. That should tell all of us something.
That “something” should have been pretty obvious all along. If you’re competing against Home Depot for the price-conscious retail or small contractor customer with your rental business, you’re probably going to lose.
The logic of being able to charge more for specialized knowledge shouldn’t come as a surprise to most of us. There are mechanics’ shops that specialize in transmissions, diesel engines, hydraulic systems and so on. They tend to charge more than a general repair shop, but you’re willing to pay it because you want the job done correctly and there’s a cost associated with the knowledge to do it correctly.
Here’s a story I’m sure some of us have heard about just this topic:
There was a huge ship engine that no other marine mechanic could get fixed. So they called in an old veteran mechanic to look at it. He tapped it with his hammer in the right spot and the engine started running.
A few weeks later when the bill came to the ship owner for $5,000 he called the old mechanic in a rage. “Why did you charge me $5,000 for five minutes of work?!” The mechanic replied, “It’s not the five minutes I’m charging you for. It’s the 60 years of knowledge and experience.”
So if you want to thrive instead of just survive, look for your niche or specialty. It’s not easy, but there are opportunities if you look for them. I recently had lunch with an old supplier who mentioned that the boom in pot grow operations has led to opportunities for dehumidifier rentals and service contracts. Reach out to the people who have boots on the ground all across Canada and see what’s moving in other areas.
For some of you it might be as simple as expanding your service departments to take on more outside repairs and become warranty depots for other manufacturers. Maybe it’s getting into portable toilet rentals if there’s not a lot of competition in that area where you’re located. It’s not always going to be clean or glamorous work, but little in the rental industry is.
Be creative, there’s a lot riding on it. CRS
Adam Snook owns JustBins, a Regina-based provider of waste disposal solutions. His background includes building First Choice Rentals, an Alberta-based equipment rental and oilfield service provider.
There is no denying that over time, only the strong survive. Tradespeople have become attached to their time-tested Super-Vee® small line machines with good reason—they’re strong, dependable, well designed and well loved.
Ask any plumber that’s been doing this for awhile how long they’ve had their Super-Vees. Don’t be surprised if you find some have been around for 30 or more years. Now that’s a real testament to longevity.
Call the Drain Brains® at 800-245-6200 or visit www.drainbrain.com/super-vee
