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Serving the Canadian rental industry for 45 years.
4
EDITORIAL
It’s time to correct our behaviour toward women.
6
INDUSTRY NEWS
Cooper buys Hub...CRA board introduced...aerial safety manual update...
14 CANADA GOES TO ORLANDO
The northern view of last month’s ARA Show.
www.canadianrentalservice.com
20 WHAT WENT HONG
Planned muster stations for evacuation are part of your safety plan. by James Hong
16 HYDROGEN RAMPS UP
Hydrogen-powered construction equipment may be closer than you think.
21 AT YOUR SERVICE
Give some thought to your client meetings for best results. by Russ Dantu
10
LEAN LEADERSHIP
Concepts from manufacturing drive efficiency at Location de Beauce.
22
2023 CONCRETE SHOWCASE
Help your customers with their toughest construction projects with these new products.
28
HOPE IS NOT A PLAN
It’s time for a lot of us to start planning for what is next for our stores when we step away. by Adam Snook
JUST DON’T DO IT
by Patrick Flannery
Guys, it’s long past time to stop treating women like they aren’t equals.
IWho wants to work where they are made to feel different, lesser and not one of the gang?
was at a trade show booth recently with a female co-worker who is a happily married professional with 12 years’ experience in media sales. An attendee at the show stopped and asked about the magazine. His next question was whether she was the centrefold. He also managed to slip in a suggestion that the two of them should have dinner later. We did the thing of treating it as a joke with strained laughter, but after he left my blood began to boil. My friend shrugged it off with the comment that this happens all the time and she’s used to it. Not good. Not long before that I had seen a post on LinkedIn from a rental store telling the story of a customer that came in with a technical problem. When he was greeted by a female staff member, he immediately suggested she should refer him to a man who might know the equipment better. To that store’s eternal credit, the manager told him she was probably the best person in the store to help him and the store owner put out an indignant post about the incident expressing his support for the women who work in the rental industry. Perhaps the guy at the trade show thought he was being complimentary or “just joking.” Let me explain why that excuse doesn’t work (since apparently the millions of explanations published over the last 100 years haven’t sunk in with some people). Making flirtatious comments to my co-worker, having only just met her, sent the clear message that he had no interest in or respect for her role with our company or her expertise as a professional in it. Instead, it placed the focus on something that makes her different from him. When people in groups are identified as being somehow
different, the psychological fact is they are in a weakened position. On the defensive. The effect, however the comment is intended, is to demean the person and undermine respect for them.
If the guy was smitten and looking for love, he might have glanced at her ring finger before making his move. Or looked around and realized he was in a trade show and not a bar. Doing otherwise in a place of business sends the clear signal that you don’t think the person is worth doing business with. Even if that’s true, it’s hardly polite to communicate it on short acquaintance...and highly unlikely to get a romantic reaction.
The broader effect on women who might otherwise consider working in this industry is the infuriating part. Who wants to work where they’re going to be made to feel different, lesser, never fully one of the gang? Where people will single you out for a trait you share with 50 percent of the population and focus on that instead of what you bring to the business? It has to stop.
Some men seem to find it very difficult to understand how they should communicate with women if they aren’t allowed to do it in these terms. It makes me wonder about their upbringing, but that’s a longer topic. Instead, I’ll offer a very concrete bit of advice that will keep you out of trouble 99 times out of 100. Just run what you’re going to say through a very simple filter: would you say it to a man with your grandmother in the room? If not, don’t say it or say something else.
And, guys, if any of you are actually still dragging around antiquated notions that women somehow shouldn’t be in the industry or are deserving of poor treatment if they are, well, you’ve lost. It’s over. History has spoken. Women are your equals and expressing feelings to the contrary, in any way, will only make you and your company look like idiots. CRS
Deere and the Wirtgen Group have built a worldwide reputation o f getting the job done smart er , safer, and more sustain ab l y. Join us at CONEXPO-CON/AGG to see our largest booth yet — featuring the latest innovations across your production systems. From dirt to rock to road, we’ll have it in Vegas.
COOPER BUYS HUB EQUIPMENT
Cooper Equipment Rentals has announced it has purchased 100 percent of the shares of Toronto-based Hub Equipment. Established in 1946 in Moncton, N.B., Hub Equipment moved its operations into southern Ontario in the 1950s and is recognized today as a leading provider of specialized heavy equipment, offering brands such as Cat, Volvo, Hitachi, John Deere, Komatsu and more.
“We are thrilled with the opportunity to be a part of the Cooper organization from coast to coast, and to grow our legacy with a diverse, larger and rapidly growing organization that shares our common values and vision,” said Hub president, Tom Stevenson.
Hub Equipment will operate as a specialty division of Cooper under the leadership of Stevenson and Raegan Fatouros, general manager.
“Hub’s prime location and facility in Etobicoke intensifies our coverage in the important greater Toronto market and their strong presence in Alberta enhances our ability to serve customers better in western Canada,” said Darryl Cooper, president and COO of Cooper Equipment Rentals.
“We’re pleased to welcome Hub Equipment into the Cooper family,” said Cooper CEO, Doug Dougherty. “The Hub family have built a fine business with a reputation for quality and integrity in the construction equipment industry. Consistent with the growth vision for Cooper Equipment Rentals, this acquisition is a further step towards Cooper firmly establishing itself as the only Canadian-owned, nationally positioned, rental company.”
ASG TO REPRESENT DYMAC
DyMac Canada has announced in a LinkedIn post that Arceneaux Sales Group will sell its products to the rental industry in Ontario and the Maritimes.
“Clyde and his team have many years of experience in the industry and share many of the same partnership values as we do, making us well suited to work together in support of our customers,” DyMac Canada managing director, Mike Marion, wrote. “Welcome to the DyMac family, ASG.”
DyMac provides fluid storage solutions, including tanks for fuels and lubricants. ASG is rental equipment sales representative with a broad portfolio of rental-ready equipment including heat, compact equipment, power tools, aerial lifts and more.
BRANDT NOW CARRYING SLEIPNER
Brandt is now the exclusive Canadian dealer for the complete line of heavy equipment mobilization products from Sleipner Finland, which are used in the mining, quarrying, and construction industries to improve efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of operations. Sleipner is a well-known brand throughout the world, with a presence in more than 50 countries. Their products are proven to deliver travel-time reductions of up to 85 percent when transporting tracked or wheeled equipment in tonne-class sizes from 30 to 570, including front shovels, large dozers, excavators, wheel loaders, trucks, drills, and more. What this means for mining customers is a lower total cost of ownership, higher mechanical availability of equipment, more productivity and increased effective machinery use. Producers will see multiple benefits by enhancing the mobility of their production-class equipment. This includes safety, productivity increases of up to 20 percent, lower overall operating costs due to reduced fuel and maintenance costs and a measurable reduction in carbon emissions. Another development is that Brandt has already sold two Sleipner units. The E550 dolly transport system will be going to a customer in Quebec in March and the DB130 trailer system for off-highway use will be delivered in May to a customer in Ontario. The latter is the first of its kind sold in North America. The sales is notable for its pairing with a modified John Deere 460 articulated dump truck, which Sleipner says is the first time this combination has been used in the world.
“Partnering with Brandt was a natural fit for Sleipner as we expand our frontline presence in the Canadian market,” says Sleipner CEO, Jukka Koponen. .
INDUSTRY NEWS
UNITED RENTALS SURPASSES 335,000 TELEMATICS-ENABLED ASSETS
United Rentals has announced it has surpassed 335,000 pieces of equipment outfitted with telematics technology in its rental fleet. The equipment includes aerial work platforms, earthmoving equipment, generators, all-electric trucks, compressors, e-dumpsters, light towers and more.
“Businesses face ever-increasing pressure to improve productivity and safety on jobsites. If they don’t have visibility to equipment operating on their sites, they could face cost or schedule overruns, as well as safety risks,” said Tony Leopold, senior vice-president of strategy and digital at United Rentals.
“Telematics technology generates valuable insights for our customers into the condition, utilization, location and performance of their rented and owned fleets. Our long-standing commitment to using data to improve the customer experience has led to this new milestone of 335,000 telematics-equipped fleet units, enhancing the value delivered by our rental offerings.”
In a connected world, and on a connected jobsite, United says data is the key to working smarter. Telematics data in particular is critical for optimizing fleet strategies and working toward sustainability goals. The company listed four ways that telematics solutions can improve productivity and safety on the jobsite: improving equipment uptime; optimizing equipment utilization; improving worksite safety and security; and advancing sustainability strategies.
SUNBELT REPORTS BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED 2022 RESULTS
The third-quarter 2022 report from Ashtead CEO, Brendan Horgan, reports strong growth and investment in 2022 and predicts the company will beat predictions in its full-year report. Ashtead is the parent company of Sunbelt Equipment Rentals. From the investor report:
The group delivered another strong quarter across all geographies, contributing to rental revenue growth of 25 percent for the nine months at constant currency. [...] We are executing well against all actionable components of our strategic growth plan, in end markets which remain strong. In the period, we invested $2.6 billion in capital across existing locations and greenfields and $970 million on 38 bolt-on acquisitions, adding a combined 120 locations in North America. This significant investment is enabling us to take advantage of the substantial structural growth opportunities that we see for the business as we deliver our strategic priorities to grow our general tool and specialty businesses and advance our clusters. We are achieving all this while maintaining a strong and flexible balance sheet with leverage near the bottom of our target range. We expect capital expenditure for the full year to be slightly ahead of our previous guidance at $3.5 to 3.7 billion. Looking forward to 2023/24, our initial plans are for gross capital expenditure of $4 to 4.4 billion, of which U.S. rental capital expenditure is $3 to 3.3 billion. This should enable mid-teens rental revenue growth in the U.S. Our business is performing well with clear momentum in strong end markets, which are enhanced by the increasing number of mega projects and recent U.S. legislative acts. We are in a position of strength, with operational flexibility to capitalise on the opportunities arising from these strong markets and the ongoing drivers of structural change, including supply chain constraints, inflation and labour scarcity. We now expect full year results ahead of our previous expectations and the board looks to the future with confidence.
2023
March 28 - 29 Quebexpo Drummondville, Que. crarental.org
April 13 - 14
Atlantic Heavy Equipment Show Moncton, N.B. ahes.ca
April 21 - 22
Expo Grands Travaux Saint-Hyacinthe, Que. expograndstravaux.ca
May 26 - 27
Canada North Resources Expo Prince George, B.C. cnre.ca
June 20 - 23
Canada’s Farm Show Regina, Sask. canadasfarmshowreginask.ca
Sept. 26 - 28
The Utility Expo Louisville, Kty theutilityexpo.com
2024
Feb. 14 - 15
Canadian Concrete Expo Mississauga, Ont. canadianconcreteexpo.com
Feb. 17 - 21
The ARA Show New Orleans, La. arashow.org
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
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 hundreds of Canadian rental companies. 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:
Number of stores:
Number of rates collected in Q4 2022:
108,263
LEAN LEADERSHIP
Applying concepts from manufacturing has transformed Location de Beauce.
No one is sure how many rental companies in Canada incorporate the Lean management framework, but Location de Beauce in St. George, Que., has gone full in, and continues to reap many benefits.
by TREENA HEIN
The Beauce team applied Kaizen practices to come with ideas to make the shop a better and easier place to work in, with impressive results. Here are before and after images of just one area of the shop transformed by the team’s ideas for better organization..
Adherence to Lean efficiency principles has one of the key reasons president Martin Rancourt – whom his staff members call the best boss they could have – has doubled profits since he bought the business only six years ago. His success is also due to the strong respect and care he shows his employees, his two decades of business experience and the way he continually learns from other firms.
Location de Beauce has served the population of St. George (about 35,000) and the surrounding areas (another 15,000) since 1975. During that period, Rancourt was growing up, getting a business degree at Laval University and heading out to make his mark on the world.
“When I graduated in 1992, the business climate wasn’t great, but I started my own business-to-business marketing firm with no money
and no experience,” he explains. “A few years later, I bought a firetruck manufacturing business called Maxi Metal with a partner and he mainly ran it.”
Rancourt enjoyed both businesses, but when he reached the age of 50, he sold them both. He’d always had a dream to retire around that age and was keen to make it a reality. “But it wasn’t a good idea for me,” he says. “My accountant found me Location de Beauce and I decided to buy it with a partner. Three years ago I bought my partner out.”
The move into rentals made a lot of sense for him. First, he could apply what he’d learned with both previous businesses. But second –and most important - he would enjoy the challenge of taking Location de Beauce to its full potential.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
The first change Rancourt made was to create a comfortable break room for the employees. “We created a really nice area to store their personal items and put in comfortable chairs and a table, with a microwave and refrigerator,” he says. “I believe employees are the base of everything you want to do and should be treated very well. The second thing I did was introduce Lean.”
He and his partner had used Lean at their firetruck plant, but Rancourt hadn’t been sure how to apply it to a service business. After he visited the R&D centre of Hilti Tool in Texas, however, he had the confidence to proceed.
Lean is all about introducing efficiencies and innovation with the least addition of new resources. It’s an ongoing process but special events and rewarding innovation are also part of the Lean system. After doing some training of his new employees on Lean concepts, Rancourt
held a “Kaizen blitz” (a Lean brainstorming session) and one idea that came out of it – to add a separate return counter –was a no-brainer to implement right away. Meanwhile, Rancourt communicated
his vision for the business of not seeking to offer the cheapest prices but offering the best in terms of excellent service and products of top quality and efficiency. He switched some equipment brands
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Pierre Lacombe (left) and Christopher Busque handle outside sales. Rancourt credits his veteran employees with a great deal of the store’s success.
and expanded the range of equipment. And he also told staff he wanted every piece of equipment going out for rental to look like new.
“It’s a big part of our secret,” says Rancourt. “It provides a really different customer experience to have such clean and new-looking equipment. We knew word of mouth would spread, and it did. It became the talk of the town. We have two full-time dedicated cleaners and sometimes two others join them. We use only a few cleaning products but they are the right ones. One of our employees helped a lot with finding the right products. He had worked in car cleaning before.”
To make sure painting was done well, an employee suggested a building addition containing a dedicated paint shop. Rancourt proceeded right away. Another employee suggested a whole tool storage reorganization and Rancourt supported that fully. The entire building was also extensively cleaned and every inch of it remains extremely clean and organized to this day.
“A lot of rental store owners come here to see our model,” says Rancourt. “Most of the time it’s because an equipment sales rep says to them, ‘You have to go and see it.’ Sales reps come here and say it’s the most beautiful store in the country. I am very proud and our entire team is very proud of what they have done.”
At the same time, especially early on, Rancourt was visiting other rental stores. “I am always doing this and I did it again in
Self-Propelled Walk-Behind Lawn Roller
The LR30 lawn roller from Reist, is powered by a 5.5HP Honda engine. Self-propelled, an Eaton hydrostatic transmission allows the unit to be run in forward or reverse.
Fresh from the paint shop. Beauce leaves no stone unturned when in comes to renting equipment that looks like new.
early March,” he says. “It’s the best way to improve, to get ideas and see what not to do. My best experience was in the first year visiting Hilti. There were so many great ideas and I took a lot of pictures. I had also visited a lot of businesses over the 20 years in marketing all over North America and I learned again and again what the successful ones did and what not to do from those that struggled.”
Rancourt currently has 25 employees, almost all full-time. About 70 per cent of the business is contractors, 20 per cent industrial/institutional and the rest is DIY. They both rent and sell the full range of equipment from construction and elevation to heating, landscaping and hand tools. Location de Beauce also provides repair services to some customers for their equipment.
EXPANSION IN 2022
With all the changes he’s made and so much business growth since he took over, Rancourt knew around 2021 that only a little more growth would be possible at the St. George location. He was keen for a new challenge, and that year he found a building about 90 kilometers away, just outside Quebec City.
“There are competitors inside the city but not outside,” he explains. “We opened in summer 2022 after about a year of planning and transforming the building. We are renting with
the option to buy. We’ve applied all the same concepts that we have here and the businesses are identical except that the number of individual pieces of equipment of each type is fewer right now. I am there at least once a week and one of our people here, Luc Roy, goes almost every day to make sure the experience is the same, to be sure it’s going exactly as we want.”
That employee is very well suited to this position. Over the last few years, Rancourt has taken the time to have every one of his employees go through aptitude testing with an outside agency. He’s taken the results to move them (as needed and as best he can) to positions that meet their needs, interests and natural skills.
“It’s the president’s job to bring your employee assets to as high a level as possible,” says Rancourt. “There was a lot of opportunity to move people. One of our team, Luc Morin, had worked here about 11 years when I bought it. After the test-
ing, he’s now officially our Lean Six Sigma Guardian. We’ve also sent him for management training.”
Another employee, Christopher Busque, had been at Location de Beauce for about 17 years when Rancourt became owner. He’d started there cleaning and serving customers and for the last 10 years he’d managed the store. But when his testing came back, Rancourt noted his very strong sales aptitude.
“Christopher has a very good view of the whole business and having him out seeing customers suits him much better and we’re so much better as a business,” Rancourt says. “I got him a truck and he’s out visiting customers every day, making sure all is well and dealing with any problems right away. He talks to contractors constantly about the advantages of renting instead of buying.”
Busque adds, “Also, our customers contact me with questions all the time. We like to know who is satisfied and who
is not, and if not, why. This has all been due to Martin’s support.
“We have the best president we could have. When the business is not well, he says it’s about him and if it’s going well, he says it’s about us.”
FUTURE GOALS
Rancourt is not done with expansion, but he says adding a new store someday (and the growth of the Quebec City store) will depend on the economy and other factors.
Meanwhile, he is focussed on maintaining outstanding customer experience every day. “I enjoy the rental sector because it’s straightforward,” he says. “In my past, with marketing, it’s a lot about concept and there is always the concern of sounding phoney. Rental is down-toEarth: here is the product, here is our service to you. It’s basic and always honest. You deal with people and give them every reason to choose you next time and the time after that.”
From left, Luc Vaillancourt, general manager; Martin Rancourt, CEO; Luc Roy, sales and development; Luc Morin, Six Sigma Guardian.
INDUSTRY EVENT
CANADA GOES TO ORLANDO
Notes from North America’s big rental show.
Canadian Night was a little different at the ARA Show on Feb. 12, with not one but two events for Canadian attendees happening concurrently with the Super Bowl.
by PATRICK FLANNERY
RIGHT: It’s a bird...it’s a plane...it’s...Canada Man! Humble purveyor of Ahern rental equipment by day, intrepid promoter of the frozen north by night, Tom Bell recovered his iconic maple leaf disguise from a packing box in the nick of time for the Canadian receptions.
There were two events because the Canadian Rental Association and the American Rental Association are now separate entities following their split in 2019. Angie Venekamp, ARA Region 10 director, has been determined to maintain a Canadian presence for the ARA and to continue to offer ARA services to Canadians who have kept their ARA membership, so she along with ARA staff, added the ARA Canadian Happy Hour event at a restaurant in the convention centre. Venekamp was visibly thrilled at the result - she had planned for 150 attendees and the crowd on hand looked to be closer to 400. Luckily, the bar was large and able to accommodate everyone... barely. It’s common to report a buzz in the room... this was more of a roar. Several people commented that Canadians seem to react well to an open bar. ARA incoming president, Steve Mau, was on hand, making time between two other events he had to attend the same night. He is a true independent rental operator, running one store in northern Minnesota in a town of about 25,000 people. He can relate well to the Canadian rental store experience and commented that most of his clients have pulled something out of the ice and eaten it. Several other leaders from the Canadian industry were there, including past CRA presidents Jeff Campbell and Ed Dwyer, past region 10 director Jill Holtsman and past ARA president, Richard Paquette. There were probably more but it was impossible to see everyone.
A lot of the people at the ARA happy hour made their way over to the CRA’s Canadian Hospitality
Night, held in a cool upstairs space at a nearby Hispanic-themed bar. Several big screens enabled people to watch the Super Bowl. More familiar faces on hand, including chair-elect, Sheldon Fingler, executive director, Nathalie McGregor, and secretary-treasurer, Colin Wilson. Ken Malott was on hand despite having supposedly retired and closed down Kensal Rental in 2020 – he’s been helping out Campbell at St. Thomas Rent-All for fun. Neil DeJong of ITE is eager to see regular Ontario meetings start up again. Once again, Tom Bell of Ahern provided the entertainment with his iconic Captain Canada getup, which apparently was narrowly rescued from oblivion in a moving box just prior to the show. Rental people were happy to see it back, Bell’s wife maybe not so much.
ARA ECONOMIC FORECAST
Tom Doyle, vice-president of association program development, hosted a press conference sharing information from the ARA’s economic data team including Scott Hazelton frlom IHS Markit and John McClelland, ARA’s chief economist and vice-president of government affairs. They reported on a survey that showed Canada had the highest 2023 purchasing intentions of any of the ARA’s regions, with 65 percent of stores asked saying they were planning to add to the fleets. “Canada has had a sensational run,” Hazelton said, referring to the last two years of record revenue growth. Their survey showed 44 percent of construction contractors were planning to increase their reliance on renting this year, with intent to rent online reaching 27 percent. Unsurprisingly, availability of equipment and delivery has shot to the top of rental customers’ concerns, overshadowing such considerations as price and maintenance. The presenters said they are seeing telematics growing in popularity.
The ARA team talked a lot about revenue but the profitability of stores in this time of high inflation is a fuzzier picture that they didn’t have data on. Hazelton and McClelland were confident, however, that stores have been overall doing quite well at the bottom line. They are predicting flat growth or a quite mild recession for both the U.S. and Canada in the general economy, but feel the rental business may escape it as contractors turn to rentals rather than buy expensive and hardto-obtain equipment for themselves. McClelland felt that in general government infrastructure investments were good news with the benefit outpacing any inflationary impact, most of which he said is coming from wage inflation. The effects of interest rates on homebuilding remain concerning, however, though Hazelton predicted central banks are unlikely to do any more aggressive rises this year.
ON THE SHOW FLOOR
The show floor did its usual Orlando thing of being busy and buzzing in the morning then getting quiet as attendees joined their families at the pool or Disneyworld. Exhibitors seemed overall happy with some saying it had been their best show ever. Canadians seem to have certain vendors they prefer, as some booths reported seeing lots of them and others hardly any. Cooper reportedly sent 45 people to the show. Notably absent were JLG and Skyjack, both apparently choosing to focus on ConExpo. Electric versions of equipment dominated the promotions, of course, with some really very heavy stuff being powered by lithium batteries now. Manitou introduced an 8,000pound telehandler that is battery-powered – 700-volt batteries!
ORGANIZERS THRILLED
The ARA didn’t provide specific numbers in its post-show report but described attendance as “phenomenal” with the number of rental stores “increased tremendously” from the October 2021 edition. There were 750 exhibitors with some celebrating as many as 66 years attending the show. Over 700 rental professionals attended the full-day education programs.
“It was so good to be back on our normal schedule for The ARA Show and it’s the first time in three years that our exhibitors and attendees were able to interact without restrictions.” said Tony Conant, ARA CEO. “Being able to see products firsthand, speak with exhibitors, attend education sessions and network on such a large scale all in one place is such a unique opportunity.”
“Overall attendance exceeded our initial expectations and the momentum seemed to build from Saturday education programs to the trade show floor opening,” said Christine Hammes, vice-president of association services and events. “It was exciting to see the trade show floor buzzing with activity.” CRS
HYDROGEN RAMPS UP
A look at the hydrogen-powered equipment already available...and what’s ahead.
While many still consider hydrogen to be a “fuel of the future,” it’s already here – and at a rental store near you. It promises a zero-emissions solution without some of lithium’s limitations.
by TREENA HEIN
Most construction OEMS have at least concept versions of hydrogenpowered equipment. Some engines can run on a variety of fuels including natural gas and diesel as well as hydrogen.
The EODev GEH2 hydrogen generator is currently being distributed in North America by Generac Power Systems to such dealers as United Rentals, says Stephanie Rodgers, Generac’s senior public relations manager, who are then able to resell or rent. Generac does not disclose how many other rental firms may be among its dealers. We do know, however, that demand for hydrogen-powered products is growing. Both rental store commercial and DIY customers may increasingly want to rent hydrogen-powered equipment in order to be environmentally friendly (no carbon emissions) but also because the technology is already better on some performance fronts.
EODev chief marketing officer, Thibault Tallieu, says their hydrogen gensets have an
electrical efficiency of 55 percent, much higher than the 20-to-30-percent efficiency of internal combustion engine gensets. Hydrogen combustion motors run very clean, without even slight darkening of engine oil over long periods of time. Hydrogen fuel cells have a rapid charging time that beats lithium electric by a mile. Refueling with H2 gas is very quick, just minutes, and Tallieu reports that availability of gas is getting better every day. He explains, “Transportation is easily handled by all gas companies (Linde, Air Products, etc.) just like any other gases. They have been doing it for a very long time as hydrogen is already widespread in the steel, fertilizer, refinement and medical industries.”
“The hydrogen charging infrastructure is still immature for now in some markets, but it will be
improved through R&D from many companies and government organizations,” notes Hyundai Genuine senior researcher, Soonkwang Kwon.
DESIGN AND COST
Where to put hydrogen storage tanks on machines can be a bit of challenge. The tanks are generally larger than those for other types of fuel. Tallieu says tank size for their gensets depends on gas pressure and load profile, but most bundles will last for a workday. Consumption at 80 percent load is about 3.8 kilograms of hydrogen per hour. Equipment OEMs are already innovating to address the challenge of on-board hydrogen fuel storage. Conversations at ConExpo revealed plans to develop shaped fuel tanks for hydrogen that can store the fuel in a carbon-fibre-walled tube that runs around the engine compartment.
The capital cost of hydrogen tech, says Tallieu, is balanced by a proper leas-
ing schedule, subsidies and decreasing operational costs. EODev is working on a range of higher power gensets, up to over a megawatt. “Demand is increasing fast,” Tallieu reports, “for zero-emission products.”
Generators are a logical first choice for development of hydrogen technology as they don’t face the vibration, contamination and other issues that moving equipment faces. However, that hasn’t stopped other firms from making hydrogen-powered excavators and much more.
CUMMINS
Cummins has gone the route of creating a spark-ignited “fuel-agnostic” common base engine platform with cylinder heads and fuel systems specifically tailored for hydrogen, natural gas, diesel, methane and other biofuels. The company showed a 15-liter version of this platform at ConExpo. It boasts a significant increase in power density,
states Cummins, in a more compact installation envelope, “enabling OEMs to increase machine capability and productivity with no impact on running cost.”
The hydrogen version of the engine has ratings from 400-to-530 horsepower and a peak torque of 2,600 newton-meters. Jeremy Harsin, Cummins off-highway marketing director, reports that the list of OEMs interested in hydrogen internal combustion engines continues to grow. “We have already publicly announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Buhler Versatile, a Canadian-based company, to evaluate our H2-ICE engines in their machines,” he says. “This adds to a long list of on-highway market announcements we have made regarding this technology. The customer pull is definitely there and strong.”
Looking ahead to the further rollout of hydrogen tech, Harsin notes the general construction industry view is that
TECH TIPS
small, compact equipment will trend to electric as it will support the duty cycles of those units. But Cummins sees potential developing H2-ICE in medium- and heavy-duty applications.
“Within this space the typical market drivers and infrastructure considerations will be applied,” says Harsin. “We are seeing interest from a wide variety of application types, with probably the most notable construction segments being earthmoving and port support equipment.” When asked about timelines, Harsin says Cummins is following a general guideline of seeing the opportunity to commercialize H2-ICE within this decade.
“Most of the customer discussions we have for off-highway indicate that non-diesel machine production will continue to be a small percentage of the total for still some time,” he explains. “Off-highway OEM volumes are lower than on-highway to start, then considering a percentage of that which will transition, having a low-carbon option that lets them maintain commonality with the diesel platforms makes good sense. With H2-ICE, the OEM can maintain the same drivetrain as their diesel-powered equipment from the engine back. The OEMs just need to install the H2-ICE engine system and the focus then turns to packaging H2 tanks on the
HYDROGEN POWER IN REVIEW
There are two types of hydrogen power, combustion and fuel cells. With either, the only emission is a small amount of water vapour.
Combustion engines are similar to a diesel engine, with compressed hydrogen gas flowing through fuel lines into the cylinders and then ignited by spark plugs. They are sometimes referred to as H2-ICE engines.
A hydrogen fuel cell has negative and positive electrodes on either side of an electrolyte. H2 gas is fed to the negative terminal and air to the other, resulting in a continuous flow of electricity to drive an electric motor.
machines. While this isn’t necessarily an easy task, it does offer the OEMs a great opportunity to pace their engineering efforts until wider market adoption occurs.”
He adds, “What we cannot reiterate enough is that advanced diesel is still very much relevant in off-highway markets. The market demands dependability, reliability and versatility, which diesel allows. Today’s lead emission engines are very eco-friendly compared to legacy equipment in the field and future diesel enhancements will only serve to improve upon current. Advanced diesel platforms also serve as the base scale to support alternative fuels such as hydrogen to develop.”
HYUNDAI
Hyundai Genuine has created a hydrogen-powered concept excavator, the
HW155H, and is working on a hydrogen-powered wheel excavator and a five-ton forklift. Kwon explains, “We think that a key factor of any alternative-powered machine is the ability to work consecutively without interruption. The HW155H will offer its users eight working hours on a single charge. We redesigned the upper body to accommodate hydrogen storage and we adopted 700 bar-capable hydrogen storage which is known as maximum pressure among previous commercialized equipment. The good balance between efficient space layout and optimal storage size was one of our achievements.”
He adds that Hyundai has conducted exhaustive research on how to efficiently use hydrogen and hydrogen power safely, making this a top priority. The hydrogen power pack of the HW155H was devel-
Earth Drills and Trenchers Trenchers, Tillers & Grinders
oped in collaboration with the Hyundai Motors, based on the hydrogen power pack that has been used in the Nexo, HMC’s first dedicated hydrogen-powered SUV. “We utilize the hydrogen leakage detection sensor and sophisticated control algorithms to secure the safety of using the hydrogen power system,” says Kwon. “We also conduct test case scenarios to validate all of the safety features onboard the machine.”
ZOOMLION
In December 2022, China-based Zoomlion launched 32 new lithium battery and hydrogen energy equipment products across many construction areas including concrete pumping, mixing trucks, aerial work, earthmoving, mining machinery and industrial vehicles. Zoomlion also has created an hydrogen-powered 45-megapascal hydraulic drive piston compressor and has introduced two new heavy-duty general chassis
products, for electric and hydrogen use.
CATERPILLAR
In late 2021, Caterpillar announced the launch of various products that can be configured to operate on natural gas blended with up to 25 per cent hydrogen. At the 2022 Caterpillar Investor Day in May last year, Joe Creed, Caterpillar group president of energy and transportation, noted that their Solar gas turbine generator sets have had the capability to run hydrogen blends since 1985. “Today,” he stated, “both our gas turbines and reciprocating engine generator sets can operate on 100 percent hydrogen.”
JCB
JCB introduced a hydrogen combustion engine backhoe in May 2021. The firm also tested hydrogen fuel cells to power its 220X excavator over 2020 and 2021, but concluded that they were current-
ly too complicated and costly for the off-highway market.
SANY
In February 2022, five Sany hydrogen fuel cell mixer trucks, the first batch of this type of truck ever delivered in the world, arrived at Yueyang Communications Construction Investment Group in China for urban construction use.
VOLVO
In 2022, Volvo Construction Equipment started testing the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell articulated hauler prototype, the Volvo HX04. It’s charged with 12 kilograms of H2 in about 7.5 minutes, enabling about four hours of operation. So it looks like hydrogen is about where lithium electric was 20 years ago. Given its faster charging and ability to power heavier equipment, this could be a technology for rental stores to keep their eyes on. CRS
Mini Skid Steers made in Wallenstein, ON
WHAT WENT HONG
Have an exit plan
by James Hong
Evacuation muster points are an important part of your safety apparatus.
Muster stations are an integral part of your evacuation plan. They are areas designated for workers to assemble in the case of an emergency. Workers gathering at a muster point provide supervisors and safety officers the ability to do a roll call for a head count. The number can then be applied to the overall worker count. This informs the status numbers of any possible missing workers. The status is then communicated to emergency crews, who will do a search for the missing workers.
Every workplace requires an emergency evacuation plan that includes the evacuation route and muster stations. Muster points must be clearly marked on the evacuation plan either by the words “muster point” or an approved muster point symbol. The evacuation plan is to be posted in areas where emergency exits are obscured from sight and in high traffic doorways and exits either 78 inches above the floor, which is above workers’ heads, or 45 to 66 inches above the floor, which is at workers’ eye level. The evacuation plan and muster site locations should be included on your dedicated bulletin board with all your other safety information. The plan and muster points must be thoroughly explained to every new worker and new crew during orientation, which is required the first day of attendance.
Muster point determination is based on accessibility, size and safety considerations. Locations require easy access. They should be close to the building without hazards or obstacles in the way. They should also be placed far from immediate hazards and be large enough for all workers assigned to that point to gather without crowding or physical hazards.
Importantly, evacuation drills should be performed twice per year in permanent locations. When substantial chemicals and equipment are
present the recommendation is every three months.
The placement of evacuation signs is as important as worker awareness. Thousands of fatalities and injuries have resulted from lack of awareness of all hazards, and that includes ignorance about evacuation plans. The signage must be visible to all workers, which requires placement in a high traffic area without obstruction. Your workers need to be able to see the sign and understand the meaning instantly, which is why evacuation plan orientation works hand in hand with worker awareness.
Consider the size, placement , and viewing distance when placing your signs at eye level. A ten-by-seven-inch sign is readable from 21 feet. Fourteen-by-ten inches takes it out to 31.5 feet. Twelve-by-eight and 20-by-14 gets you to 42 feet. Sizes 24-by-18 and 24-by-24, at eye level, can be read up to 63 feet away. The size of your shop will impact the signs you need.
Another main factor is the implementation of the evacuation to muster points in a manner that prevents overreactions, to prevent stampeding and overcrowding which puts workers at further risk.
And, last but never least, all evacuation plans require a dedicated safety officer to be responsible for managing all aspects of the evacuation muster points. This includes planning the evacuation traffic flow, mapping the evacuation routes, making evacuation roll calls, maintaining communication with emergency crews for missing workers and record-keeping and dissemination for safety board analysis afterwards.
In all emergencies, let’s know where to go, how to get there safely and what to do when we get there. Be safe. Be well. CRS
James Hong is an OH&S consultant, independent writer and journalist.
Making coffee count
Put some thought into your sit-downs with clients for best results.
by Russ Dantu
Have you ever been asked to coffee or lunch with a supplier and afterwards you wondered what the point of it was? Maybe they didn’t seem to pitch you, ask for help or thank you for your business. I’ve had many of these meetings over the years where I left scratching my head and wondering why I wasted my time. To further compound the issue, there was no follow-up afterwards. Most of us are very busy and cannot afford to be wasting time.
So, if you want to impress a possible prospect or current customer when you invite them out for coffee or lunch (or golf, hockey or other event), follow these suggestions below which will help you be more successful.
Specific is terrific. Be specific when you ask to meet with them. Let them know what it is you are hoping to achieve. This will get their wheels turning and help them be better prepared for when they meet with you or have them decline so that they aren’t wasting your time and you aren’t wasting their time.
Once they agree to meet, do some deeper research. Look for recent news or something interesting on their website or LinkedIn that you can mention when you meet with them. This will impress them that you took the time to learn a little bit more. Follow up the day before to make sure they are still available. I always leave my cell number with them, just in case they have issues right before the meeting.
Arrive 10-15 minutes early. It’s never a good thing for your prospect or customer to arrive before you. Arriving early gives you time to clear your mind of all the clutter that may have been happening in your head before arriving. It also allows you to review whatever agenda you have with that specific person. It’s never a good thing to be late to a meeting. If you want to annoy a prospect, being late will definitely do the trick! If it’s coffee, definitely pull out your wallet to pay
because you invited them. If they argue and want to buy their own, push but not too hard. Some people may think you are trying to buy their business. Since they have given you their precious time though, I think you should always buy. If it’s lunch, dinner or an event, you absolutely have to buy.
Don’t ask for several things in your initial meeting with them. Have one clear objective and if it goes well, then you can schedule a time to meet again in the future to ask for something else. When I do well in the first meeting, I’ll usually ask if I can see their place of business and let them know that it helps me refer them if I hear someone mentioning a need for whatever it is that they do.
I always take a notepad with me. Our minds can forget a thought in less than 30 seconds. Having paper and a pen nearby helps us remember important things said during a meeting.
Always respect your customers’ time. If you asked them for 30 minutes and they agreed to that, at 25 minutes, make sure you bring it up and see if they have extra time or need to wrap up the meeting to stay on time. This again, shows you care and respect your customer and their time.
Follow up afterwards. Thank them for meeting with you, recap what you spoke about and what the next steps are. Book a second appointment if necessary. Even with a prospect where the coffee date didn’t go exactly as I had hoped for, I usually ask if I can check in with them in three months or six months. Sometimes things change by then and the prospect is now in need of what I offer. We all have too many meetings each and every week. When you set up a meeting with a prospect or existing customer, be prepared. 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.
Technology is advancing fast in the world of concrete. Here’s the latest.
CONCRETE PROCESSING AND FINISHING
DOES THE WORK ITSELF
8 cratos.com
The MCE400 from Cratos Equipment is a wheelbarrow that does the work for the user. The MCE400 is a 100-percent battery-powered wheelbarrow and can haul up to 880 pounds with the ease of pushing a button. No more tiresome dragging and pushing heavy loads slowly. Customers can remove debris easily for up to eight hours on a single charge. At just 33.5 inches wide, interior demolition becomes a breeze as it fits through most standard sized doors and is safe to use indoors with zero emissions.
Weighing only 320 pounds, the wheelbarow can be safely transported via elevator for interior jobs on higher levels. The wheelbarrow’s bin comes with the option of a 16-cubic-foot aluminum bin or a 12-cubic-foot polyurethane bin. Customers can work faster, safer and longer without exhaustion with the MCE400 battery-powered wheelbarrow.
BETTER DATA FOR BETTER RESULTS
8 converge.io
Converge, a concrete material and operations optimisation company, and DeWalt have
teamed to help decarbonise construction through Converge’s AI-based platform, ConcreteDNA, powered by data from DeWalt’s new wireless concrete sensor, the DeWalt Signal Sensor. ConcreteDNA interprets realtime data from the Signal Sensor allowing users to observe compressive strength gain of concrete and to predict when it will reach critical strength through advanced AI and local weather data. This allows concrete professionals to begin work sooner as users can directly measure hardening rather than relying on estimation. In addition, they can tailor the exact amount of cement needed in the mixture which helps reduce unnecessary carbon emissions. With deep insight into the strength of the material, lower embodied-carbon concrete mixes can be produced without sacrificing performance or safety to meet jobsite deadlines.
EXTRA USER COMFORT
8 wackerneuson.com
Wacker Neuson’s battery-powered backpack vibrator has been re-designed to reduce the overall weight making it even more comfortable and convenient for the operator. The ACBe backpack concrete vibrator is a portable, cordless backpack concrete vibration system that provides excellent consolidation of thick concrete with and without reinforcing steel. Because of the portability, the system is ideal for use anywhere as there is no need for additional power while providing a quiet, zero-emission option for indoor and outdoor use. The three-part modular system consists of the backpack
with an integrated converter, a removable/replaceable battery and an internal vibrator. The backpack itself was engineered by a leading hiking backpack company that understands the need for ergonomic comfort. It is fully adjustable for varying heights, chest, shoulder and waist sizes. The weight of the new backpack has been reduced by 40 percent and weighs in at only 9.3 pounds. (With the battery inserted the unit weighs under 30 pounds.) The lightweight fabric, padded shoulders and even weight distribution allow for extended working periods. The vibrator shaft connects to the bottom centre of the backpack that allows for easy left-hand or right-hand operation. The heart of the ACBe backpack vibrator is Wacker Neuson’s BP1000 lithium-ion battery, which is the exact same battery that powers the company’s zero-emission battery rammers and vibratory plates. The battery is easily inserted into the converter backpack without the need for any special tools, and
because there is no cord, the operator has flexibility and mobility to move around the job site. By running on battery power, as opposed to a gasoline engine, the operator is no longer exposed to heat, exhaust fumes and engine noise.
LESS FATIGUE, MORE WORK
8 alleneng.com
Allen has announced the debut of their newest Mechanical Super Pro Rider. The rider model 465 Mechanical Super Pro is a compact eight-foot rider, that comes with electric start, powered by a Kubota engine. The MSP465 comes equipped with a liquid-cooled gasoline engine, a 10-gallon aluminum fuel tank and assisted steering. This machine allows for reduction in operator
fatigue and longer run times. This rider produces excellent torque even at high rotor speeds, which makes it excellent for panning or finishing on the job. MSP465 standard features include a 57-horsepower Kubota WG1605 liquid-cooled gasoline engine with a push-to-spray foot pedal and an aluminum 10-gallon tank. The rider comes with push-to-start, assisted manual steering and operates at 170 RPMs.
BATTERY-POWERED SCREED
8 mbw.com
MBW’s ScreeDemon is an innovative and ergonomically friendly wet screed. MBW has partnered with Milwaukee Tool to develop its first electric version of
the ScreeDemon powered by the M18 RedLithium battery system. Along with being easy to assemble, it is now very easy to run. The M18 wet screed is quieter than an engine version and includes lights to improve visibility in darker work areas. The zero-emission power supply makes it perfect for indoor work. MBW’s clamp system makes assembly and disassembly fast and easy. The sealed exciter requires no maintenance. Hand and arm vibration is 50 to 90 percent less than other screeds.
KEEPS THE FORCES IN THE CONCRETE
8 oztec.com
Epoxy coated rebar presents a particularly troublesome problem. Steel heads act like an electric hammer, striking any rebar or forms they contact, over 10,000 times per minute, with a force from hundreds to over 2,000 pounds per blow. Contact
with a steel vibrator head for as little as one second can chip enough coating to subject the steel to deep rust. Oztec’s patented high-efficiency RubberHead vibrator head not only meets non-metal head specifications for protecting coated rebar and expensive forms, but exhibits some very special and unique properties. The high efficiency RubberHead urethane-dimpled construction sends strong shock waves off the entire length of the head, with a larger radius of action, producing denser concrete with less voids to patch. Oztec’s patented RubberHead protects epoxy-coated rebar and expensive forms. It performs well in low-slump to zero-slump concrete –essential in large pours of very stiff concrete. The head vibrates at 12,000 vibrations per minute and never drops below 10,500 vibrations per minute when lowered deep into lowslump concrete. All Oztec vibrators meet or exceed ACI specification #309. When a smooth vibrator head (round, square or any other shape) is lowered into a relatively stiff concrete batch, the front or nose of the vibrator drills a hole. It pushes away concrete faster than it can return. As a result, shock waves are produced mostly from the vibrator’s front end. The RubberHead has a large number of openings which allow wet concrete to cool the inner shell. These openings act like suction cups, which keeps the concrete in contact with the entire length of the vibrator head.
PERFORMANCE WITHOUT HASSLES
8 milwaukeetool.com
The MX Fuel vibratory screed from Milwaukee provides consistent starts and reliable pours with the power to pull up to 16-foot bars with no gas headaches and two hours of runtime per charge with a 12-foot bar. The Powerstate Brushless Motor delivers the power to pull 16-foot bar at 9,000 vibrations per minute with a variable speed trigger, giving users maximum control in stiff and wet concrete. The MX Fuel Redlithium battery pack provides instant power with no gas headaches and requires no regular maintenance, produces less noise and has zero emissions for a safer workspace, indoors or outdoors. The push-button start delivers instant power, eliminating the repetitive motions of a pull start and reducing downtime, allowing workers to get jobs done faster without sacrificing power and runtime. The battery-powered vibratory screed is compatible with all MX Fuel Redlithium batteries. The screed can accept bars up to 16 feet long without sacrificing power and can run two motors on one bar for increased mobility. Redlink Plus Intelligence ensures optimal performance and provides overload protection to protect the machine and battery during the toughest applications. The screed is One-Key compatible,
allowing stores to track, manage and secure the equipment from a mobile device or computer using Milwaukee’s huge Bluetooth community tracking network. If the screed is ever lost or stolen, stores or users can prevent tampering with remote lockout capability.
PROVEN FOR DECADES
8 bartellglobal.com
The BC436 walk-behind trowell from Bartell Global is a 36-inch-diameter power trowel precision-balanced for smooth,
easy operation. It comes with a one-year warranty. The BC436 is designed to be a versatile and economical work-horse that is perfect for any concrete finisher. Featuring superior balance and quality, the BC436 has been proven by contractors for decades. Bartell’s long-lasting consumables, wide range of purchasing options and enhanced balance and quality make the BC436 economical. The BC436 handle is precision-balanced to keep downward pressure consistent and vibrations minimal and chrome-plated for easy cleaning. A cast iron spider assembly with precisely machined arms delivers tight tolerances to eliminate flexing for a more consistent finish.
The trowell includes finishing blades with combo blades also available. There is an optional hoist hook for safe and easy transport. A centrifugal safety switch automatically kills the engine if the operator loses control of the machine. A low-emissions muffler is available for safer use indoors.
PERFECT FOR TIGHT SPACES
8 nationalequipmentdirect.com Designed for small jobs and tough-to-reach spaces, the Helix grinder from National Flooring Equipment is a 16-inch planetary grinder that creates the perfect profile for new coatings. This easy-to-operate machine has a built-in edge grinder, dual-speed oper-
ation, an adjustable handle and a floating dust skirt for maximum efficiency. Featuring a 17.5-inch width with a 16-inch disk, the Helix produces a 128pound grinding pressure with 304/171 RPMs in the 120-volt version and 291/164 RPMs in the 230-volt version. Included accessories are a magnetic tooling holder, a floating dust skirt, the Helix grind and scrape plate and a one-year warranty on parts and labour.
The new Gen-Eye X-POD Plus® sewer camera from General Pipe Cleaners includes Gen-Pack™ battery adapter, Wi-Fi transmitter, and on-screen distance counter. The Gen-Pack lets you operate the camera system remotely for up to 12 hours. The on-screen distance counter shows how far the camera has travelled down the line.
HOPE IS NOT A PLAN
How to win at retirement
by Adam Snook
Planning now for your exit will generate benefits.
Ayear or so ago I talked about the rental industry going through a period of consolidation and what to do to make your business more sellable to a larger player. We may be in a different economic environment now, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t decisions to be made.
A recent CFIB article talked about how over $2 trillion in business assets are at stake as over 75 percent of small business owners are planning to retire in the next decade. If you look at the majority of independent rental companies around you, they are owned by operators who are nearing retirement age. If you fall into this group, you can consider these other guys as your competitor in more than just renting equipment. If you don’t have family actively working in the business to take it over, or a key employee who’s interested in assuming ownership, you’ll be competing with a growing group of sellers and a shrinking group of buyers. So you’ve got some time to get a plan in place if you don’t have one already. That time however will go by fast. Here’s a couple things to consider as you start your “escape.”
Figure out the fair market value of the business. This always falls somewhere in between what we think our decades of work is worth and what the auction value of the assets is. Paying for an evaluation is often well worth the money. Determining the actual valuation of your business is something mergers and acquisitions people have turned into something of a science. There are often good seminars on the basics of this at industry conferences like The ARA Show and the Rental Mart. Highly recommend sitting in on one to at least understand what buyers look at so your aren’t surprised when people have different numbers in mind than you do.
Also look at how “sellable” the business is. Equipment, facility and its reputation all should be in top shape. Spend the time and money to
make sure all appearances are as good as possible. Buyers these days will care as much about the businesses online reviews as they will about the equipment mix.
Are you profitable or do you treat the business like a personal bank machine? If you are constantly bleeding the company, you are starving your future self. Most serious buyers will want to see a minimum three years of consistent profitability, especially if external financing is involved. If you are not profitable, all you’ll end up getting is auction value for your equipment with no goodwill. You didn’t put over 20 years into your business to recuperate just the depreciated value of your fleet - your could have done that by buying it and leaving it in a garage.
Be prepared to offer financing or terms that help the buyer. A lot of times this will get you a better selling price, but it requires a lot more legal due diligence and trust in the buyer.
The rental industry is a niche market and usually requires a niche buyer. Maybe you know someone who fits that description. Maybe you’ve got a go-to employee who loves the business and always goes above and beyond without being asked. You could have a potential buyer in the company already. It might require creative financing, such as giving a small amount of shares in lieu of raises over the next few years. There are many options.
The other side of this coin is that, if you’re a buyer, opportunities will abound. There will be great businesses who will be willing to help you into an ownership position with very little money down. Not to sound too opportunistic, but there won’t be a choice for many of them. If you can demonstrate reliability, a good work ethic and a willingness to learn the mundane tasks required to run a company you will have your pick of the litter. Start planning. CRS
Now your customers can inspect drain lines far from a power source. The Gen-Pack battery adapter allows up to 12 hours of remote operation with limited access to power. The Gen-Pack is also sold separately.
But wait, there’s more. Your customers can track how far the camera has traveled down the line with the on-screen distance counter. And they can now record on a ash drive or send the recording to their smartphones with the built-in Wi-Fi transmitter.
For more information, visit www.drainbrain.com/XPodPlus, or call the Drain Brains ® at 800-245-6200
NEW Gen-Pack™ Battery Adapter. (Battery not included)
