Group Publisher- Martin McAnulty mmcanulty@annexweb.com
President - Mike Fredericks mfredericks@annexweb.com
Publication Mail Agreement #40065710. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESS TO CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT, P.O. BOX 530, SIMCOE, ON N3Y 4N5
e-mail: cnowe@annexweb.com
Printed in Canada, All rights reserved. Editorial material is copyrighted. Permission to reprint may be granted on request.
ISSN 0383-7920
Circulation
e-mail: cnowe@annexweb.com
Tel: 866-790-6070 ext. 208 Fax: 877-624-1940
Mail: P.O. Box 530, Simcoe, ON N3Y 4N5
Subscription Rates
1 Year $42.00 (plus 5%
- 1 Year $60.00
- $44.10)
From time to time, we at Canadian Rental Service make our subscription list available to reputable companies and organizations whose products and services we believe may be of interest to you. If you do not want your name to be made available, contact our circulation department in any of the four ways listed above.
the Canadian rental industry for 33 years.
A boost for the industry
While it’s not a government bailout for the equipment rental industry, the Federal government’s Economic Action Plan will directly benefit rental companies.
Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced the 2009 Budget late in January saying that it would stimulate economic growth through a number of incentives. These include expanding and accelerating the recent historic federal investment in infrastructure with almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding for roads, bridges, and other similar work across the country.
Rental companies will reap the spinoff benefits of construction contractors, who will need to rent machinery for the infrastructure projects. But there is also something for smaller rental shops that count homeowners as their primary customer base.
A home renovation tax credit will give up to $1,350 in tax relief on home improvement projects done between Jan. 27, 2009, and Feb. 1, 2010.
The 2009 budget introduces a temporary Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) that provides a temporary incentive for Canadians to undertake new renovation projects or accelerate planned future projects.
Basically, the tax credit will provide a temporary 15-per-cent income tax credit on eligible home renovation expenditures for work performed, or goods acquired, exceeding $1,000, but not more than $10,000.
Check it out by visiting www. budget.gc.ca/2009/pamphlet-depliant/ pamphlet-depliant3-eng.asp.
For example, homeowners will be able to claim expenditures for major renovation projects such as finishing a basement, renovating a kitchen, or building an addition. Costs associated with such
projects will be eligible for the credit, including permits, professional services, incidental expenses and equipment rentals.
Yes, that’s right…renting tools and equipment is part of this!
Examples of HRTC-eligible expenditures include:
Renovating a kitchen, bathroom or • basement
New carpet or hardwood floors
Building an addition, deck, fence or
retaining wall
Installing a new furnace or water
heater
Painting the interior or exterior of a
house
Resurfacing a driveway
Laying new sod
Everything a homeowner would need to accomplish any of the projects on this list can be supplied by a rental company and the cost of the rental is included in the tax credit!
Although the mainstream media covered this when the story broke, it quickly faded into media obscurity, buried under recession-dominated headlines. Several people I speak to are still unaware of the tax credit.
That’s where you come in. How many rental companies are actively promoting this to their customers? If they are not doing this they are missing a golden opportunity to get some extra business.
The simple and cost-effective task of printing flyers and/or doing an advertising mailout could very well prompt customers to take advantage of the credit and visit your rental store to pick up what they need. The Home Depot store in my neighbourhood has already been handing out flyers. So, what are you doing to get a piece of this? n
-Editor, Chris Skalkos
Cover: Barry Weaymouth, Elgin Equipment Rentals, Elgin, Ont.
Photo by Chris Skalkos.
From a crawl to a run
By Rich Porayko* PROfILE
Rental operator thinks outside the box to complement business
The Town of Elgin in Ontario is referred to as the Hub of the Rideau Canal. Located northeast of Kingston, it is situated in the heart of a picturesque region of the province known as cottage country. The area has traditionally been a rural tourist destination; however, it also boasts a thriving agricultural industry, a strong and developing industrial base, and now an innovative rental operation.
Enter Barry Weaymouth, former Air Force policeman, Foreign Affairs regional security officer, security consulting specialist, astute entrepreneur, savvy businessman, visionary, community figure, landlord, student, and owner of Elgin Equipment Rentals and Elgin-U-Stor-It facilities, located on the town’s Main Street.
Weaymouth describes the area and sums up the history of his property, “Elgin may only have a few hundred people but Rideau Lakes Township has a population of 10,000. Twentytwo kilometres in any direction from our location is where 85 per cent of those people 10,000 live. There is a good drawing card here for a very small rental business. When I bought the property in May 2004, it was an old lumberyard that hadn’t been occupied in over four years. It had lain fallow in a terrible state of disarray and there was 40 years of lumberyard debris everywhere. I spent tens of thousands of dollars to clean it up and now you can eat off the grass!”
The first thing Weaymouth did in May 2004 was look at its potential. “The previous owner had stored peoples’ things for them in this corner and that corner. Right off the bat I built lockers and opened up the Elgin-U-Stor-It facility. One of the buildings was an old office showroom which was a heated space so I put climate controlled lockers in there. Not too many locker companies have heated space unless they are in the city so that was an attractive feature for customers. The other buildings I turned into open storage and unheated lockers. I started to rent locker space right away and by the fall of 2004, I had to put up a fence and gate on our four-acre property because during that first year, I wasn’t around full time so I ran the business off of a mobile telephone. Since the lockers rented quite quickly I realized I had to staff the place.” He says he wanted to make the position full time and needed something else to keep the employee busy. That is when he first thought about renting.
“I did some research and the closest tool rental companies, which I knew nothing about at the time, were in Kingston, Brockville, Gananoque, and Smiths Falls, which are roughly 30 to 40 minutes from our location.”
Weaymouth knew right away that he was in a very central location to start a small tool rental business. “In April 2005, I opened up Elgin Equipment Rentals. I used part of the buildings I had on site as a tool shop and tool storage and the rest of the buildings were for Elgin-U-Stor-It.”
Barry Weaymouth, a former Air Force policeman, Foreign Affairs regional security officer and a security consulting specialist, now adds rental operator to his list of titles.
Elgin Equipment Rentals and Elgin-U-Stor-It facilities is located in Elgin, Ont., northwest of Kingston, in an area commonly referred to as cottage country.
As planned, Elgin Equipment Rentals started off slowly, “Nobody knew I was here and I didn’t have a lot of equipment. I was building my inventory. However, I have slowly and steadily grown year after year.” He started marketing the business with mail-out advertising, which generated a little revenue that year but, he says, was slowly gaining momentum.
“I still haven’t made a profit yet but I’ve only been in the rental business for almost four years. It could take five to seven years to really turn a business properly and I understand that.”
A top priority was inuring his equipment and he turned towards HED (Hayhurst Elias Dudek Inc.), the insurance company for the Canadian Rental Association (CRA). “We have
a significant amount of equipment on site and I’ve been adding more since day one. It’s a sizable investment,” he says, adding that it’s important to protect your investment.
Weaymouth soon discovered there is a multitude of different equipment to service different rental markets and set about educating himself.
“Not knowing anything about the business, I did a lot of research on equipment before making any purchases. I purchased a new John Deere 3320 Tractor Backhoe which is a mid-size unit, so it is great for the rural country. Most people in this area who want a bigger backhoe already own one. I also have a Kubota mini excavator U35 zero tail swing unit that weighs approximately 8,800 pounds. This was also a good move for me because in a rural area customers don’t want little things, they want bigger equipment that can pull large rocks out of the ground. My Case 420 skidsteer is a mid-size unit that will only pick up 1,750 pounds; however, it’s still a good unit because it’s only 60 inches wide and it can get into small places such as a barn.”
Elgin Equipment Rentals also sells new Jonsered chainsaws, Honda small engines and various new Wallenstein products. “I have Wallenstein chippers and splitters in my rental fleet which all kinds of people have wanted to buy because they want something used. But then I have to replace them. I could have sold my John Deere 20 times in the last three years.”
Weaymouth knows his clientele well, filling gaps in consumer demand with products and services that complement his rental operation. Thinking outside the box, some items may be considered outside the norm of a typical tool rental company, yet Weaymouth knows the value they have for the company in the big picture. “One item in our rental fleet that is out all the time and is very attractive to customers is our six- by 12-foot v-nosed enclosed trailer. Being in cottage country, people are moving things back and forth from the city all the time. Or people who live out here have kids that go to and from college or university. I purchased that trailer three years ago and it has paid for itself already. There is a demand for certain products not currently being offered. I try to fill that demand and it has worked well for me.”
He says he has several different types of equipment, 10 or 11 pages of documented inventory that he hands out to clients, and he is adding more regularly.
“I’m crawling to walk to run,” says Weaymouth. “I’m starting slowly. I’ve got my three biggest pieces on five year notes so in two years those pieces will be paid for. Then I will add more equipment. I will have two backhoes and maybe a tracked skidsteer instead of just a wheeled one. But that is a few years from now. I would like to also have a scissor lift and a telehandler. But they are costly. Right now if I have call for them I will rent them from either Battlefield near Kingston or Rental Village in Smiths Falls. We’re 40 to 60 kilometres away from each other so every time I rent from either company they give me a discount so I can still make something out of the deal. In my experience, the other rental companies have been very helpful.”
He says that he has also started to purchase party rental equipment such as small quantities of wine glasses, cutlery, tables, chairs, and dishes. “If I need a large quantity, I’ll rent
Tough Jobs Need Tough Tools
That’s why professionals across the country choose ECHO products–durability, power and performance. ECHO is the only manufacturer that offers commercial users a minimum of one year warranty on all of their power tools, including lifetime ignition.
Plus, the new Power Boost Vortex™ engine is more powerful,fuel efficient and runs environmentally clean. Tough jobs need tough tools – visit your local ECHO professional servicing dealer today to see the full line of ECHO products!
PROfILE
The company started off with storage, offering climate controlled lockers, open storage and unheated lockers and then added rental tools and equipment to complement the operation.
In May 2007 the company picked up a 2,000-gallon propane distribution centre and acquired Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) licence to fill tanks. Arrangements with campground owners allow customers to swap them on site instead of driving to the pumping facility in Weaymouth’s rental yard.
them from another rental company. Generally, in the cottage country, if someone is having a wedding, anniversary, birthday party or other event, they only want three or four dozen glasses. They don’t want 10 dozen. Rental Village has a big party rental inventory and they are really into tents. So if someone wants a big order, I might rent it for them or just refer them directly to Rental Village.”
Weaymouth was looking for additional ways to complement the rental business so in 2006 he started offering propane swap tanks. “We didn’t do much with them the first year. But in May 2007 an opportunity came along to pick up a big 2,000-gallon propane distribution centre. I got licensed by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) and I started pumping propane for all sorts of tanks from five, 10 and 20 pounders for barbecue tanks all the way up to 30, 40 and 60 and hundred pounders. It immediately started to draw more clientele to the property because people need propane in cottage country.
We’ve got 10,000 residents that live here full time and in the summer it grows to 60,000. They are all scattered around lakes all over the place. But they still come to town to buy propane and groceries.”
Using a combination of logic, entrepreneurial spirit and carefully calculated risk, Weaymouth recognizes opportunities overlooked by others: “I don’t technically deliver propane but since there are a lot of lakes and campgrounds around here, I have put cages in those campgrounds with 20 and 30 pound tanks so the campground managers can swap tanks with their clientele. It doesn’t matter if you live in an apartment or a house, in the country or in the city, it has happened to everybody, there is nothing worse than barbecuing and you run out of fuel.”
He explains that the arrangement has worked well because it is a convenience for customers. “They may need a 20-pound tank of propane for their barbecue or a 30-pound tank for their RV, most swap companies do not swap or trade 30-pound tanks. I have taken the initiative to put them in campgrounds so if people run out in their RV they don’t have to get in the car and drive here to get them filled; they can swap one. So it is a little niche market that I am slowly building up. I am picking up two more campgrounds this summer for a total of six with 20- and 30-pounders in them. It is providing a needed service to the area, it is enhancing my propane business, and everybody knows that Elgin Equipment Rentals is doing this.”
Being in the rural community with limited competition has its advantages; however, as with all businesses in a global economy the company is not shielded from rising costs. As Weaymouth explains, even with prices rising, there is a lot of value to providing diversified products and services at a competitive price. “The price of propane has been going up like every other fuel. Not as much as diesel or gasoline, but it certainly has increased in value. We’ve held the price steady up until recently when I had to raise it. However, I’m still cheaper than anyone in the area. If it doesn’t go up crazy this summer I’ll be holding the price where I am right now. Propane is certainly going to permit me to be profitable in five years rather than seven years. It has drawn more people to the property. It helps cash flow turnover and it’s a product that everyone uses now. Propane was a very good thing to bring onto my property. I’m not big like the national companies, but I’m trying to carve out a niche market here and it’s working.”
Last year, some former employees of the lumberyard where Elgin Equipment Rentals is located asked Weaymouth if they could rent one of his buildings and some of his outdoor space to set up a lumberyard again. Weaymouth agreed and after performing some tenant improvements, a brand new lumberyard opened up in April 2008. “They have done very well and have exceeded their expectations for the first year. They are taking more building, yard and rental space from me as well as they are bringing in more lumber and related products, all the time.”
Weaymouth says the lumberyard has increased traffic flow to this property by at least 40 per cent, which is helping his business by about 10 per cent. “They did so well in their first 12 months, now they are a regular lumber store with a professional showroom.”
Elgin Equipment Rentals also offers some retail items such as new Jonsered chainsaws, Honda small engines and various new Wallenstein products.
In April of last year Weaymouth welcomed a new lumberyard store as a tenant in one of his vacant buildings, which has increased traffic flow to this property by at least 40 per cent and helped his rental business.
With extra room and steady traffic, Weaymouth is embarking on yet another opportunity to cross-sell to customers throughout the Rideau Lake Township. “This spring I’m bringing in annual flowers for May, June and half of July. Potted plants, geraniums, marigolds and ivy; the things people plant every year. With the cottage country people, they like to buy baskets that are already done. They put them on their decks and don’t need to worry about them. A lot of cottage properties are rocky or have thick brush and trees and don’t have a lot of gardens. We believe that we’ll see a return on our investment immediately but it will only last two and a half months. If it works, I may make it a permanent feature. I have the room to build a temporary structure and expand next year. At the end of July I can take it down and it just disappears.”
He says the people the lumberyard is drawing in will help the flower business. “I think it will add to my cash flow early in the spring. I may also consider bulk landscape material such as mushroom manure, black soil, sand and pea gravel. I have the room so I may sell that as well.”
All of this is designed to complement the rental business. Weaymouth estimates his customers are broken down
to approximately 30 per cent cottage owners, 30 per cent homeowners and 40 per cent contractors. Contractors who rent cement equipment and hydraulic breakers use propane. Cottage/homeowners who rent wood chippers and chainsaws also use propane. All of them are also customers of Elgin-UStor-It. “They rent my equipment and if I have these other things here, then it will certainly provide a service and enhance our ability to serve the public.”
In order to keep customers up to speed with what is happening at Elgin Equipment Rentals, Weaymouth has successfully enlisted the services of bulk mail marketing with Canada Post. “Canada Post will deliver an 8.5- by 11-inch flyer for 10 cents each. Every spring I send it out to 3,500 households. With printing, the whole thing costs me $500. We estimated that 20 to 30 per cent of the flyers would go straight in the recycling bin, but the first year I had the propane, I put a coupon on the flyer and it was amazing how many people brought them in. It worked and I’m going to do the same thing this year with the flowers.”
Weaymouth stresses the importance of offering complementary products and services, “When couples come in the men drool when they are looking at the John Deere tractor backhoe, they want to drive it. I often hear them saying to their wives, ‘we could use this for this or that.’ So if they come in to use a coupon for the flowers, I know I’m going to have some spin-off on my equipment rentals. I know I am.”
Additionally, Weaymouth reinforces his marketing efforts through strategically placed advertising in the bold print telephone directory and local vacation/leisure guides that cover seven small villages within 20 kilometres of any direction from his office. “It’s expensive but it’s working. The ads and the annual flyer really give me return on my investment.”
Weaymouth is a rookie in the rental business but he is not green when it comes to exploring new careers. Originally, he was a police officer in the Canadian Air Force and then a senior regional security officer for Foreign Affairs Canada. In 1987, Weaymouth retired from Foreign Affairs and set up his own security design and engineering firm. He travelled frequently around the world providing consulting for security design and personal safety applications on a vast assortment of highprofile projects. “Being an Air Force policeman and then going to Foreign Affairs and being in the security engineering and design business taught me how to think things through in a logical manner. And that is basically what I am trying to do with these businesses.”
“I was an international traveller and that wears you down. I’m 61 now and theoretically I should be retired,” Weaymouth chuckles. “But I am running two businesses. I’ve wound down my engineering and consulting firm. Dealing with international customers and clients in Calgary and Toronto and Montreal and Ottawa all the time, it is quite demanding and I can’t spend the time doing that if I am here growing these businesses. It was time at 60 years old to step back from the consulting world anyhow. I’m actively involved eight to 12 hours a day. To me, I’m semi-retired and enjoying it. It’s a fresh change. I’m not one to sit around.”
With 56 per cent growth in February 2009 alone, Elgin
Equipment Rentals is not standing still. Last year the company grew 21 per cent over the previous year, even with sales down 50 per cent in December 2008 over December 2007, due largely to 20 days of snow and freezing rain. “I don’t think I’m going to continue that astronomical growth but if I can maintain 21 to 25 per cent increase in 2009, then I will have turned the page and made a profit within five years.”
Echoing the views of many rental companies across Canada, Weaymouth remains optimistic about the economic future of the industry. “Speaking to people in the rental business who have been around when there have been dips in the economy, my understanding of a recession and the rental industry is that it will not affect me. I’m not in the city where the contractors are slowing down. The cottagers will still come and instead of hiring a contractor to do work for them, they will do it themselves. They are going to need the equipment and chances are they aren’t going to buy it because they are going to watch their pennies. I’m still in a growth pattern and the things I’m doing are still drawing people to my property so I’m not feeling the pinch.”
Future plans include building an office and a showroom. “I’ve got the building permit. I just haven’t acted on it yet. It’s going to be a 24- by 38-foot regular rental showroom with stuff hanging off the wall and equipment on display shelves. All our stuff right now is either in the yard or in the workshop. I will probably also sell and service more equipment when I have my
showroom. I’ve been talking to the Milwaukee distributor and he would like to set up a display here but I can’t do that without a showroom.”
Weaymouth reiterates his mantra about controlled growth at a steady rate. “It’s a cash flow thing. It cost me money to prepare the space for the lumberyard to move into, but I got that back in the first year’s rent and they have another two years on their lease, but they are doing so well, they aren’t going anywhere. The lumberyard is also taking more space this April so I have to replace that space by building another structure for storing boats, motor homes and vehicles. Either this summer or fall, maybe I’ll add on to that building.”
He says that in business priorities change all the time and rental operators need to be flexible.
“We’ve got out of the crawling stage and we’re walking now and I just want the momentum to continue. I don’t see the recession hampering that just yet. I’m new to the rental industry but we’ve taken the common sense approach to providing a valuable service to the public and it seems to be working.” n
*Rich Porayko is a professional writer and founding partner of Construction Creative, a marketing and communications company located in Metro Vancouver, B.C. richp@constructioncreative.com.
“Little Beaver earth drills consistently rank in our ROI TOP TEN.”
Jeff Bevers has been renting equipment for more than 27 years, so he knows what works. After his customers rent Little Beaver earth drills, they know too. “We have a wide variety of soil conditions from, hard clays to hard rocky ground,” says Bevers. “But because of the torque tube design, our customers feel safe and comfortable operating the equipment. I had purchased several tow-behind machines from another manufacturer, but after purchasing the Little Beaver tow-behind, my customers only ask for the red one.”
“Customer satisfaction is one of the reasons we have rented Little Beaver equipment for over 27 years.”
Jeff Bevers, Owner - Equipment Rentals, West Bend, WI
Promoting rentals SHOW REPORT
Whether contractors were buying or kicking tires at the National Heavy Equipment Construction Show in March, many of them were hearing about renting.
Hall 2 was home again to the Rental Equipment Pavilion, a section of the show that has grown over the years to include rental product specialists in the light and heavy construction sectors that occupied more than 100 booths.
“It’s more of an awareness show to let contractors see the equipment rental companies can offer them,” explains Jim Freeman from Rentquip Canada, who was showing several new products.
“Several of the exhibitors in this section are not really selling as much as they are promoting rental companies,” says John Jiang, from CM Equip. “This is the time of year when contractors want to see what’s new in the market.”
With the show drawing approximately
Paul Everitt, right, from Rentquip Canada shows rental operators Art Bedford, Bob Eon and Mathew Eon from Metro Rent-All, one of the new products on display at the National Heavy Equipment Construction Show.
10,000 visitors, several companies that are well known suppliers to the rental equipment industry saw the marketing value of displaying their products. Daniel Campo from Campo Equipment was among them. “I see a lot of contractors here as well as some of my rental company
customers. I sell to the rental industry but I like to meet the contractors and show them the equipment and answer their questions. That really seems to help them and it keeps your brand name out there,” he says. “And when they show more interest I point them to the rental houses.” n
Dean Nasato, left, from Wacker Neuson greets Richard Hayhoe from Hayhoe Equipment and Supply.
A better hose TECHNOLOGY
The evolution of hoses in the rental industry
Hoses. Every equipment rental company needs them and just like the equipment they are fitted to, they have evolved.
Back in the 1970s, the most common and popular rentals items that required hoses were air compressors and water pumps, but over the years the technology and advancements in hose products have changed drastically to meet the demands of the rental industry. This is most evident when it comes to suction and discharge hoses for pumps.
“Back then the suction hose of choice was a black rubber hose with a metal helix wire embedded in the reinforcement and the discharge hose was also a black rubber hose with reinforcement without a helix wire,” says Mike Stone, CEO and vice-president of National Hose and Equipment, a warehousing distributor for industrial and hydraulic hose and fittings in Scarborough, Ont.
Early in the industry the suction hose of choice was a black rubber hose with a metal helix wire embedded in the reinforcement.
In the early stages, he says, there were many unique issues the rental industry had with these products
For example, the suction hose was very heavy, especially when used in three-, four- and six-inch sizes, with standard lengths of 20 feet. So for a six-inch-size hose the weight is seven pounds per foot for a total of 140 pounds plus couplings on the ends, which brings the average weight of a six-inch suction hose to 150 pounds. This, together with the fact it has a helix wire that quite often would kink and eventually break through the cover, posed a problem.
The discharge hose, while quite durable, was also very heavy in weight, especially in the three-, four- and six-inch sizes with
Thanks to the rental industry National Hose and Equipment has been presented with an award from Kanaflex as one of its top 10 major distributors in North America. Right, Mike Stone, CEO and vice-president of National Hose and Equipment, is congratulated by David Beach from Kanaflex.
standard lengths being 50 feet. A six-inch rubber discharge hose with fittings attached weighed about 130 pounds. “But the most evident issue the rental industry had with this product was its inability to roll up for storage. The industry much preferred a product that could roll up with ease something like a fire hose, but without the cost,” say Stone, adding that there was such a product on the market. “It is best known as Blue PVC discharge hose. This product began to stir the interest of the rental industry back then and started to get popular,” he says.
While it solved the problem of being very easy to roll up, it was light in weight and very inexpensive compared to rubber; it was not and still is not a durable product that can stand up to the rental industry and is considered today a disposable hose.
“Given these lists of all the concerns that we were hearing from the rental industry on suction and discharge hose problems, it was very evident the industry required something better,” he says. “In the 1980s we came across a unique manufacturer by the name of Kanaflex, a Japanese company manufacturing in the U.S. They manufactured suction hoses, not a typical suction hose, but one we saw as unique and a definite fit for the rental industry so we decided to bring it to Canada.”
He explains that Kanaflex had the technology for bonding rubber and plastic together to produce a suction hose that was made of rubber, but had an external plastic helix instead of a wire one. They used what is called a uni-construction, meaning the tube cannot be separated from the cover.
Its advantages to rental companies are obvious. It weighs almost half of what conventional rubber suction hoses weigh, it stays flexible in cold temperatures and it is much more durable than conventional rubber suction hose. It is also kink resistant and slides along the ground with ease. Even more appealing, it is priced in most sizes less than conventional rubber suction hose products.
“This is the Kanaflex 300 EPDM product which National Hose
TECHNOLOGY
Left: The Kanaflex 300 EPDM product named Flextuff has become the rental industry’s hose of choice.
Right: While blue PVC discharge hoses were light, inexpensive and easily rolled up compared to rubber, they are now considered disposable hoses.
named ‘Flextuff’ and it is the rental industry’s hose of choice by its volume and demand,” says Stone. “Since this product hit the market there have been many copies introduced from other
manufacturers. In our opinion these products have come close, but they are still not quite there,” he says, adding that as a result of these copies Kanaflex now puts its name right on the product so you the customer can tell the difference.
“As far as the discharge hoses are concerned we were one of the first to bring the higher grades of PVC hose into Canada,” says Stone. The most common PVC hose products in the rental industry today are the “green” and “brown” coloured hoses, which are a lot more durable than the standard blue, but are still considered somewhat disposable and not as durable as the rental industry requires.
“We have been introducing a new generation rubber discharge hose over the past few years called the Durapump, and we are impressed with its durability but the pricing of this product is still an issue which we expect to have resolved in time for spring next year,” says Stone. “Because of the demands of the rental industry we are always searching for a better hose.” n
Report gauges health of aerial work platform market
Rental will get an increasing share of a decreasing pie
According to the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), US Powered Access Rental Report, aerial work platform (AWP) related revenues reached US $8.8 billion in 2007 and are predicted to have fallen by three percent to US $8.5 billion in 2008.
The IPAF US Powered Access Rental Report is the result of a groundbreaking project to gather specific data on the powered access industry and to provide the industry with concrete data that was not available before. It was made possible by a first-time cooperation between the American Rental Association (ARA) and the IPAF, with research consultants IHS Global
The report says that the aerial work platform business in the US equates to about 35 percent of total revenue from the construction and industrial equipment rental market. It indicates the decline will continue into 2009, with AWP rental revenue in the US forecast to fall to US$7.7 billion, a decline of nearly 10 percent from the 2008 level.
The report predicts that the current US recession should end by late 2009, with shifts in the industry as residential and nonresidential construction spending switch roles.
A broad recovery of AWP rental revenues is not expected to take place before 2011. However, on a positive note, most of the major economic and construction spending indicators show markets stabilizing in 2010 and then growing strongly after that.
Interestingly, the decrease of AWP rental revenues stemming from the lower demand is not expected to reduce the incidence of renting within the marketplace. All factors considered, the report concludes that rental penetration rates will remain at high values and may even, depending on the overall economic development, increase.
First, the AWP fleets of rental companies are much younger than those owned by contractors. When investments are cut and business confidence is low, companies will prefer to rent rather than buy new equipment. Second, the trend of specialization and technical progress favour modern rental fleets compared to older equipment, leading to a higher propensity to rent equipment.
So, while the recession will lead to reduced demand for AWPs in the short-term, rental penetration will remain resilient and stay at high levels or even increase. In other words, rental will get an increasing share of a decreasing pie.
Another important plus factor is that AWP’s are used in a wide range of applications not only construction, but also maintenance, seasonal work and trade/transportation applications. These major business segments also influence the AWP industry and will provide some buffer from the difficulties in the construction industry.
Commenting on the report, IPAF managing director Tim Whiteman says, “In a difficult situation, it is ever more vital to have facts and figures to make sound strategic decisions. IPAF’s activities are growing in North America and this groundbreaking report is part of the support that we offer to members.” n www.ipaf.org
fOR THE RENTAL MARKET
Reaching new heights
Haulotte Group/BilJax has introduced the new 55XA Light-Weight Self-Propelled aerial work platform. This unit is the newest addition to an already established X-Boom family.
The company says the X-Boom product line has redefined the self-propelled machine with its light weight. With 45 per cent gradeability, 4.5 mph drive speed, and four-wheel drive capability, the 55XA fits in well with the previously launched X-Boom machines. This articulating, self-propelled boom lift offers 500 pounds of lift capacity, 61 feet and three inches of working height, and 33 feet, five inches of maximum outreach. The use of outriggers has replaced the heavy counterweight systems used on conventional self-propelled machines to allow for use on pressure sensitive grounds such as golf courses and landscapes.
There are currently two other models available in the X-Boom family of product offerings. The 45XA is another articulating boom offering 51 feet of working height, 27 feet of maximum outreach, and 500 pounds of lift capacity. The 36XT is a telescopic boom lift that offers 43 feet of working height, 32 feet of maximum outreach, and 500 pounds of lift capacity. None of the models of the X-Boom requires a commercial driver’s licence for towing.
Haulotte Group/BilJax has also introduced the new trailer-mounted boom lift to its new series of trailermounted boom lifts.
The 4642T was introduced as the latest model of the Summit Series trailermounted boom lifts. The 4642T offers a working height of 52 feet, four inches and a maximum outreach of 42 feet. The automatic, self-leveling hydraulic outrigger system, that is standard on all Summit Series lifts, allows setup and operation in less than 30 seconds when all four outriggers are deployed
simultaneously. Weighing in at 5,700 pounds, the 4642T can be towed with a standard half-ton pickup truck and has a 65 mph tow speed rating.
The extra-large, non-marking outrigger footpads make all Summit Series models ideal for indoor and outdoor applications. The controls on the ground and on the platform have the same, simple to understand, layout and push button design, so there is little operator learning curve; making them excellent for one-time customers or contractors who have multiple employees.
The Summit Series trailer-mounted booms have many advantages over other traditional aerial and scissor lifts because they provide more versatility, are easier to transport and offer the most reach for the least cost. They are perfect for building construction and repair; tree trimming;
fOR THE RENTAL MARKET
sign installation and repair; painting tall buildings and structures; and installing holiday lights and decorations.
Innovation, creativity, and imagination have allowed Haulotte Group to become a global manufacturer of people- and material-lifting equipment. With the acquisition of BilJax, one of the most recognized names in the rental industry, the product line has expanded to include frame, system, and utility scaffolds; trailer-mounted boom lifts; vertical and material lifts; contractor equipment; and event staging and seating. Together, Haulotte Group and BilJax complete a full line of access equipment for North America and the World. www.haulotte-usa.com
Minimum service requirements
Toyota Material Handling, USA, Inc., the sole distributor of Aichi scissor lifts, wheeled and crawler boom lifts, has expanded its product line including four new models of the SV-Series scissor lifts and two models of the SR-Series crawler boom lifts.
two existing models available in 20and 26-foot heights with 32-inch wide platforms.
The entire product line has an industry exclusive AC motor drive system featuring brushless technology to provide leading performance with minimum service requirements. The drive system features no directional contactors to maintain and a unique inverter designed to provide longer duty cycles and faster travelling speeds of up to one and a half times better.
Because there are fewer moving parts maintenance is simpler and access is made easier for inspections by mounting major assemblies on swing-out panels. Batteries are housed in an easy slide-out compartment for full access.
Toyota Aichi dealers offer four new models of the SV-Series scissor lifts: 15and 19-foot-high models with 30-inch platform width and 26- and 32-foot-high models with 46-inch platform widths. These models are in addition to the
Maintenance costs also are minimized based on the commonality of parts shared throughout the units.
The SV-Series also features a new optional proportional steering system featuring steering wheel control and return to-centre functions. This allows for steering that is much more intuitive.
The steering system on all models has a 90-degree steering angle to allow easy manoeuvring in tight workspaces. To make access through low clearance doorways easier, the folddown handrails result in one of the lowest stowed heights in the industry.
For increased productivity, Aichi scissor lifts offer one of the longest platform extensions in their class, with three feet, three inches of additional workspace. www.toyota-construction.com
Access space restricted areas
The new Genie GRC-12 Runabout Contractor is designed to be durable and productive on indoor construction sites where contractors are installing and repairing drywall, electrical and HVAC. The new GRC-12 offers contractors a two-person occupancy workspace with a narrow profile to get more done in a small amount of space. This new unit is engineered with a steel platform and rails, and the telescoping mast is encased in steel, giving it additional protection against worksite debris.
The company says it is perfect to use on work sites where contractors need the capability of a scissor lift with the compact size of a Runabout. It is lightweight and compact to easily fit in a freight elevator and use in space-restrictive areas. The features incorporated into the design of the GRC-12 make this machine ideal to use in low-floor load situations and highrise construction projects.
The steel platform on the GRC12 comes standard with a slide-out extension deck that gives operators an extra 17.5 inches of outreach. With a lift capacity of 500 pounds and the
fOR THE RENTAL MARKET
slide-out extension deck, up to two operators on the GRC-12 can work to a height of 18 feet. This unit also boasts a narrow two-foot, 5.5-inch width by four feet and 5.75 inches in length profile, allowing the unit to fit in most passenger elevators and to be driven through doorways with an operator on board. The GRC-12 is also driveable when fully elevated and the zero inside turning radius on the GRC-12 allows for quick manoeuverability in congested work spaces.
Engineered specifically to withstand the rigours of working on undeveloped indoor work sites, the telescoping mast on the new GRC-12 is protected by a steel tube and end cap. Also as a safeguard against worksite damage, the covers on the GRC-12 are made from ABS, a thermoplastic material that provides increased flexibility while retaining its original shape.
Uptime is increased on the easy-to-service GRC-12. This unit is engineered with a quick disconnect platform for ease of repair or replacement. And, the mast hydraulic cylinder, located just under the cap, can quickly be unbolted and pulled out for efficient servicing. Key components on the GRC-12 are easily accessible through the access doors on the base, allowing for quick troubleshooting and regular maintenance checks. Genie customers will find this unit easy to keep rental-ready because it is engineered with common components.
Operators will appreciate the two tool trays, one on each side of the mast, that come standard on the unit, which puts everything operators need within an arm’s reach. Also, the ground-level entry on the GRC-12 offers a 15.5-inch step-in height, the lowest in the industry. www.genieindustries.com.
Genie Industries, Inc. is a subsidiary of Terex Corporation, www.terex.com.
About Boxer Equipment
Compact Power, Inc. has manufactured the Boxer line of compact utility loaders since 2000. The Boxer mini-skid is an innovative machine that reduces the costs of performing key tasks and the process of improving the environments in which people live and work. By replacing hand labor as well as larger more expensive machines, the Boxer provides a cost-effective, terrain-friendly solution for landscapers, irrigation contractors, plumbers, electricians, and property owners as they dig, trench, till, auger, demo, place materials, and perform dozens of other tasks.
All Boxer models are built to handle a full complement of over 50 universal mini-skid attachments for a variety of industries, including full size attachments like a 36” auger or 48” trencher. All of these attachments are available from Compact Power. The Boxer’s standard quick attach system enables the user to quickly and easily switch from a bucket to forks to auger or other tools for optimum on-the-job exibility and bottom line performance.
Specializing in the lighter side of heavy equipment, Boxer is dedicated to manufacturing and distributing the highest quality, most versatile and affordable eet of compact machines in the world. Our eet includes an array of dedicated equipment, compact utility loaders and attachments, articulating loaders and tow-and-go system trailers. That’s why, when it comes to bottom line protability and equipment you can count on, “Boxer Means Business.”
fOR THE RENTAL MARKET
Common attachments
JLG has also launched a new family of common attachments for all three telehandler brands to increase the application flexibility of its telehandlers.
The company says it is setting an industry standard by providing a single family of attachments that utilize a
common, quick attach coupler across all three telehandler product lines. This will simplify attachment ordering and stocking for our customers and provide a full range of productivity enhancing attachments for all our handler models.
The new family of attachments includes a grapple
bucket, an eight-foot tower and a forkmounted work platform. In addition, a variety of material buckets, truss booms and carriages of varying sizes and fork options are also offered.
JLG’s compact telehandlers are not impacted by this change. This series continues to be offered with its own line of application specific attachments.
Stow it in a pickup
The JLG LiftPod is the first portable aerial work platform designed to replace the ladder. Its lightweight and portable design makes the LiftPod easily mobile around the jobsite and convenient for stowage in a pick-up truck, van or SUV.
The company says the innovative LiftPod can be used across multiple industries and can change the way contractors and maintenance professionals do their jobs. The LiftPod reaches a 14-foot working height and is operated using a common 18-volt drill or optional power pack. At 25 per cent the cost and weight of traditional work platforms, the LiftPod is a lightweight tool that can be used for a number of maintenance and repair jobs in almost any building type. www.liftpod.com or www.jlg.com
360 degree continuous turret rotation
Skyjack’s new A-Series Articulating Boom has been engineered utilizing many of Skyjack’s robust and reliable design features.
The A-Series boom lifts are available in two configurations featuring the 46AJ model with jib or the 46A without a jib. Both models boast an industryleading, standard equipped, 360-degree continuous turret rotation. Zero tail swing complements the unique turret design, allowing for flexible operation in tight locations. Superior positive traction and terrainability is provided by the axle-based 4WD used in many of Skyjack product designs, which accounts for a proven low maintenance, rugged and reliable drive train.
The AJs are equipped with a rearaxle hydraulic differential lock/unlock switch allowing the operator to lock the rear differential when negotiating rough terrain. The unlocked position improves
turning radius and reduces tire marks on hard surfaces. Rounding out the other key features are direction sensing drive and steer controls; true vertical rise with riser function, which prevents drifting forward or backwards; analog-based controls; and Skyjack’s standard colourcoded and numbered wiring system. www.skyjack.com
Special application lifts
MEC Aerial Work Platforms unveiled its highest working-height scissor lift and its first-ever Speed Level sigma lift. Models include an Ultra-Deck 5492RT scissor lift and a 3084RT Speed Level sigma lift. The two new models are the first releases from MEC’s new innovation plan to provide special application products.
The 5492RT is a 4WD rough terrain ultra-deck scissor lift with a platform height of 54 feet and a lift capacity of 1,500 pounds. The series features platform heights of 44 feet (4492RT) and 54 feet (5492RT) platform lengths up to 25 feet, six inches, with the optional Super Deck, optional dual slide-out deck extensions, and working heights of up to 60 feet. With 50 per cent gradeability, an oscillating axle, four-wheel drive and automatic levelling outriggers, this machine can handle the most demanding job sites. The Super Deck option adds an additional 40 inches of platform length to suit the longest working applications. Dual fuel and diesel engine options are also available.
45 per cent gradeability. Power choices include dual fuel, diesel or electric. The series provides the only possible method to drive elevated on a firm planar slope in applications such as tunnels with camber, auditoriums and steep aprons around buildings.
In December, the company announced that it is producing Large Deck all-electric 4WD scissor lift series. The new “91ES” series offers working heights up to 47 feet
fOR THE RENTAL MARKET White Lightning
and gradeability up to 40 per cent with rear oscillating axles that deliver performance over most any rough terrain.
Highlights of this new electric scissor lift series include being driveable at full height, fast cycle speeds for lift and drive, fully proportional drive and lift controls, a huge 113-square-foot platform work area and an optional 4WD Quad-Trax drive system. www.mecawp.com n
NEW SQ SERIES DIESEL ENGINE GENERATORS
• Generate power from 13.5 kW to 28 kW
• Lower fuel consumption – lower operating costs
• More serviceable – readily available replacement parts
• Quiet, cleaner emission, highly durable E-TVCS system
The 3084RT Speed Level sigma lift is the first in the MEC sigma lift series of rough terrain platforms. The other Speed Level sigma lift models in the MEC series include a 2684RT and two all-electric units: 2684ES and 3084ES. The series provides quick platform levelling without the use of outriggers. The platform and support structure level up to 14 degrees per side (side to side) and 10 degrees each forward and rearward with the operator’s choice of automatic or manual levelling within seconds. The 3084RT offers a platform height of 30 feet, a lift capacity of 1,500 pounds, optional 4WD, and a standard oscillating axle for a solid
BRITISH COLUMBIA/ALBERTA/YUKON SASKATCHEWAN/MANITOBA/NUNAVUT Frontier Power Products www.frontierpower.com
ONTARIO M-K Power Products www.m-k.com
QUEBEC Génératrice Drummond www.generatricedrummond.com ATLANTIC CANADA Eastcoast Power Systems www.eastcoastpowersystems.com
Contact a Distributor nearest you or go to: www.kubota.ca or http://generator.kubota.jp or www.kubotaengine.com in the USA
RENTAL RUMBLES
Target joins Vulcan
After 33 years of servicing the Canadian rental industry, Paul and Lois Tomc of Target Equipment Sales have joined forces with Vulcan Demolition Tools of Mississauga, Ont.
“I am looking forward to working with the Vulcan team,” says Paul. “This merger will allow me the time and flexibility to jointly promote Vulcan and Target products.”
The official date was May 1.
Bob Legault from Vulcan is pleased to be acquiring additional products to round out the line of air tools currently offered by Vulcan Demolition Tools. “Our customers will have one less call
Paquette elected CRA vice-president
The Canadian Rental Association (CRA) has announced that Andrew Paquette has been elected as the incoming senior vicepresident. Paquette is the owner and operator of Bravo Party Rentals in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que.
Currently, he serves on the CRA board of directors as the American Rental Association (ARA) Region 10 director representing the region of Canada. Jeff Campbell from Ontario and Ed Dwyer from Manitoba had also let their names stand.
Paquette has served on several committees for the ARA, including the Executive, Audit, Budget and Investment committees. He also is an advisor for the ARA Foundation’s
to make and we can ship or deliver Target and Vulcan products together,” he says.
“We have staff and state-of-the-art computer systems in place to also care for Target’s customers. We handle thousands of parts now, so more won’t be a problem,” says Wello Kase at Vulcan, adding that Vulcan Demolition Tools and Target Equipment Sales have a similar customer base, so the transition should be virtually seamless.
Vulcan will take on most of the lines currently held by Target, such as General Wire, Tsurumi, Prestige and Oztec. n
Rental Executive Advisory Program (REAP) and has been involved in the ARA’s Party and Event Services Shared Interest Group (SIG).
Paquette took over as senior vicepresident during the CRA’s annual meeting at The Rental Show in March. Rhonda Pedersen, of Pedersen’s Rental and Sales, headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., took over as Region 10 director for the ARA. n
Andrew Paquette
CANADIAN RENTAL ASSOCIATION
President’s Message
By Jay Williams, CRA president
As a rental operator I take great pleasure in providing a valuable service to my customers. As the president of the Canadian Rental Association (CRA) I take equal pleasure in helping members of this association.
You can image then how much I enjoy announcing the success of the Protected Self Insurance Program (PSIP).
After years of groundwork, the CRA and Hayhurst Elias Dudek (HED) Insurance and Risk Services will complete the third year of this program in June.
The program was launched in 2006, in response to the difficulty that many rental dealers experienced finding affordable insurance coverage that adequately protected rental dealers. The unique member-based insurance plan provides coverage for equipment out on rental and for re-rental of equipment, which was a key element for companies that could not get this kind of coverage.
As participation grows the program has the opportunity to enhance rate stability in the future and continue to improve the possibility of a rebate to members.
I congratulate the rental operators who saw the value of
to join us and benefit from the tangible value the CRA is offering to you and your business. Visit our website to learn more: www.crarental.org.
This is something we set up to help rental companies and I take great pleasure in telling you that it’s working!
Forward thinkers
Despite the economic downturn I was encouraged to see the high level of participation from both suppliers and rental operators at the CRA regional trade shows this year.
The shows in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick and Quebec were well attended and very well supported. Sure we hear about “recession” but from what I see, associate members are still launching new products and equipment lines, rental companies are still buying and businesses are still growing.
It proves that the professionals in this business are forward thinkers who know that things will get better. These are people I see on the show floor and in the exhibit booths. Yes, the economy will turn around, and when it does, these are the
The power to be efficient, precise and tough.
The Husqvarna® FS 500 series of small flat saws can handle blade sizes from 18" to 24". The small flat saws are developed with a strong focus on ergonomics and user friendliness, featuring many innovative solutions that make the job easier. Their patented engine and bladeshaft mounting system reduces vibrations, has better cutting performance and is ideal for medium to small service and repair jobs.
Mot du président
Par Jay Williams, président de la CRA
En tant qu’opérateur de centre de location, je prends un immense plaisir à fournir un précieux service à mes clients. À titre de président de l’Association Canadienne de Location (CRA) j’ai le même plaisir à aider les membres de cette association.
Vous pouvez alors vous imaginer combien j’aime annoncer le succès du Programme d’Assurance Auto-Protection (PSIP).
Après plusieurs années de travail de développement, la CRA et Hayhurst Elias Dudek (HED) et Services d’Assurance & Risques termineront la troisième année de ce programme en juin.
Le programme, créé et lancé en 2006 en réponse au manque de programme d’assurance pour centres de location, fut créé afin d’aider les nombreux entrepreneurs en location à trouver une police d’assurance qui couvrirait adéquatement leur entreprise, et ce, d’une façon les plus abordables. Ce programme d’assurance unique, accessible aux membres de la CRA seulement, apporte une couverture pour la location d’équipement ainsi que la re-location d’équipement : l’élément clé que plusieurs compagnies en location recherchaient et ne pouvaient trouver ailleurs.
Avec la croissance du niveau de participation, le programme a la possibilité d’améliorer la stabilité des taux à l’avenir et continue à améliorer la possibilité d’une remise aux membres.
Je félicite les opérateurs de centres de location qui ont vu la valeur de ce programme et qui ont décidé d’en prendre l’avantage dès le début. J’encourage les non-membres à se joindre à notre association et à profiter de la valeur concrète que la CRA nous offre ainsi qu’à nos entreprises. Visitez notre site Web pour en savoir plus: www.crarental.org. C’est une bonne chose que nous avons mis en place pour aider les entreprises de location et j’ai grand plaisir à vous dire que ça fonctionne!
Malgré le ralentissement économique, j’ai trouvé encourageant de voir le niveau élevé de participation à la fois des fournisseurs et des opérateurs de centres de location de la CRA aux salons régionaux de cette année.
Les salons de la Colombie-Britannique, de la Saskatchewan, de l’Ontario, du Nouveau-Brunswick et du Québec ont été bien organisés et bien soutenus. Bien sûr, nous entendons parler de «récession», mais d’après ce que je peux voir, les membres associés continuent de lancer des nouvelles lignes de produits et d’équipements, les centres de location continuent d’acheter, et les entreprises continuent de croître.
Cela prouve que professionnels de ce secteur savent à l’avance que les choses vont aller mieux. Ce sont ces gens que j’ai pu voir aux salons et dans les kiosques. Oui, l’économie va s’améliorer, et lorsqu’elle sera meilleure, ce sont ces professionnels qui seront prêts. n
INNOVATIONS
Concrete pump improves productivity
It is not knocking down buildings in downtown Tokyo.
The Groutzilla Placement System by Stone Construction Equipment offers the ultimate in innovative and efficient placement of grout in blocks, walls, forms and foundations. The system delivers optimal control, minimal cleanup and high productivity for masonry contractors.
There are two models in the line, a gas driven model and a PTO version. Both versions handle 20 cubic feet of material and perform the work of larger grout pumps at a fraction of the cost.
The company says that the Groutzilla Placement System offers significant savings in time and money for masonry contractors.
It features a patented self-wiping Talet auger system that efficiently discharges all the material allowing optimal discharge flow control, minimized waste material and easy cleanup. The auger, with reinforced, composite polymer flighting, prevents binding due to various aggregate sizes.
The angled geometry of the heavy-duty, replaceable hopper promotes flow to the auger and helps prevent accumulation of grout on the hopper’s sidewalls. In addition, the built-in splash guard reduces incidental spills and loss of material while transporting.
Reduction of clean-up time is 75 per cent over comparable units. An innovative swing-away discharge snout eliminates the need for tools to clean the system and is ergonomically designed to eliminate handling of heavy components. There is no need to take it apart or remove the auger during cleanup. It easily realigns with the auger and clamps in place.
The flow of grout can be directed by the mason at the point of discharge with a radio-frequency remote control. The remote is an option on the PTO version. Both the gas and PTO versions are offered complete with an eight-foot reinforced rubber discharge hose.
The Groutzilla Placement System was recognized by Construction Equipment magazine for introducing one of the 100 most exciting new products of 2008, in the “Concrete Pumps” category, for construction and related industries. www.stone-equip.com
Bending brake offers more throat depth
Van Mark Products has released its newest bending brake. The Metal Master features a completely new computer designed casting that allows renters up to 20-3/8 inches of throat depth, the biggest in the industry.
Other improvements include reinforced components for longer life cycle, ergonomic handles for more bending leverage, increased
Trenchers
INNOVATIONS
bending radius for easier hemming that results in less stress on the tool. Also included on all new models is the time-proven cam locking system, the most durable locking mechanism in the industry.
The company says the Metal Master gives rental companies the best return on investment of any brake in its class. www.van-mark.com
Remote control mower
New from Progressive Turf Equipment is the Roboflail One slope mower. Developed for demanding conditions it opens up new markets for grounds maintenance companies and landscapers.
The unique mower is designed to tackle difficult and demanding locations without risk to equipment, terrain or operator, regardless of weather conditions. It features an ultra-low centre of gravity for good stability and manoeuverability while allowing the mower to cut on slopes as steep as 50 degrees.
the operator experiences. Vibrations are virtually eliminated as the joy stick controls are completely set apart from the machine resting in a harness on the operator’s chest. Noise and vibration reductions reduce operator fatigue and enhance operator comfort.
www.progressiveturfequip.com
The fast fastener
Grip Clinch Canada is offering Scrail fasteners that can be driven with a pneumatic nailer and then easily removed with a screwdriver if required.
As a remote-control unit this unit allows the operator to run the machine safely and up to 300 feet away while taking away any vibration and noise hazards. It also allows the operator to stand on firm, flat ground, minimizing the risk of injury due to uneven terrain. Its 25-horsepower engine allows working speeds up to six miles per hour and its tracks allow it to travel on terrain normally considered inaccessible with wheeled mowers while providing stability and an even cut.
Another operator-friendly feature is the lack of vibration
Unlike ordinary nails or screws, SCRAIL collated fasteners are incredibly versatile fasteners that can be driven with a pneumatic nailer, making projects quick and easy.
The fasteners can save time and labour costs on almost any project that currently uses ordinary screws. The double-threaded BeckDeck version is perfect for quick completion of decking and fencing projects, reducing the need to deal with “mushroomed” material. The company says this is a contractor’s perfect job-site partner for subflooring, crating or framing.
SCRAIL fasteners are easily removable, perfect for adjustments or temporary applications like concrete forms or scaffolding.
A new FasCoat finish withstands more than 3,000 hours of salt spray testing, designed for applications where superior corrosion resistance is required such as decking or outdoor furniture.
Colour matching is available to most manufacturers’ colour assortments with more than 2,000 colours. The bending yield strength of SCRAIL fasteners meets ASTM Fl 667-05 standards.
www.gripclinchcanada.com n
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS
Sold out and busy is the best way to describe QUÉBEXPO, the Canadian Rental Association’s (CRA) regional trade show held in St-Hyacinthe, Quebec. As in previous years this trade show was well supported and well attended with several exhibitors introducing new products to the rental market. Watch for full coverage of this event in the June issue of Canadian Rental Service magazine!
THE fUNNY PAGE
Pickles & Onions
By Steve Milcik*
The stunningly handsome man meandered slowly down the treelined street, breathing deeply as a small smile spread across his movie-star good looks. He was home again, finally, the long road behind him fading off into his memories. Spring was not far off, and proof of that was evident by the sound of birds chirping in the air, the first patches of grass sprouting through the rapidly melting snow and the pile of defrosting doggie-do he had just stepped in.
Trade-show season was over, and Milcik was at peace.
It’s been a whirlwind of travel and activity this year, and despite the doomand-gloom of the current economy, the trade-show circuit has proved that the rental industry is still thriving and, in many cases, growing dramatically. My first show of the season was the CRA show in sunny Surrey, B.C. I knew it was going to be a good one when my GPS unit, still angry from the time I had ignored its advice to “take the next left,” decided to get even by guiding me in the wrong direction. Because of the fog, I didn’t realize I was in trouble until a border guard asked me why I wanted to travel to Seattle.
Shortly after that I attended the Special Event in beautiful San Diego, Calif. Party people from around the continent came to see and be seen, and many of them were in a buying mood. I arrived on a Saturday morning, and my luggage joined me the following Tuesday. I had to burn my underwear, unfortunately, which led to a loss of revenue as I wasn’t able to put them up for sale on eBay.
From San Diego, I flew directly to Las Vegas for the World of Concrete show, a massive affair filled with some of the biggest toys for boys available on the market. Initial estimates revealed that attendance was down about 25 per cent from the previous WoC, but the quality of those attendees was high. From Vegas, I flew home for a quick stopover before jetting off to the exotic locale of Moncton for the second CRA
show of the year. Now the fun was about to begin.
Trade shows, by y definition, are usually an intrusive and painful experience for most of us suppliers. We spend a long time preparing, more hours travelling, sleep in strange beds and pass many days on our feet with a smile plastered on our face. This is work, and hard work at that. But Moncton…well, this is a show I would never miss. Olivia and JR D’Eon greeted me with warmth and down-home kindness, then quickly told me that they weren’t going to be buying from me. Again. With that bit of business out of the way, I began preparing myself for the upcoming evening’s festivities. They began at the official dinner, beautifully catered (as usual) while a local musician serenaded us with songs from yesteryear. The night ended at a local watering hole, the Rockin’ Rodeo, where “Jiggy” Jay Williams and “BustaMove” Max Desmeules proved to us that white men really can’t dance. When I grow up, I want to be a cowboy. Yee-haa.
The ARA Show was next on the hit parade, and this time the destination was the peach of the south, Atlanta, Ga. I believe their motto is “Where Good Times Go To Die.” While the city itself is nothing to write home about, the show usually is. Sadly, with attendance down by around 50 per cent, this was not the event it usually is. Still, the attendees were there to buy, and many suppliers felt they had had a successful show. The highlight though, as usual, was the CRA reception held on Tuesday night at the Hilton. Hosted by our Queen, Her Royal Majesty Mandy “Off With His Head” Maeren, this annual party is a truly Canadian one, featuring a bathtub full of beer and Bloody Caesars. Once again, yours truly was recruited to be the guest bartender, and I was kept very busy for three hours. While the bar was well stocked in the beginning, by
mid-evening everyone was getting white rum and Coke, no matter what they ordered. The large suite was packed wall-to-wall with giddy Canucks, and a fabulous time was had by all until the first complaints about noise started coming in.
For me, that’s what these shows are really all about: the people. Prospects, customers, fellow suppliers, competitors, association members…friends. Priceless memories of giant men pretending to be jealous boyfriends thereby making my partner JP tinkle in his undergarments, snippets of scintillating conversations such as the one that HED rep Jeff Wallace had with a local female:
Her: “I hate wrestling, it’s just so fake.”
Jeff: “Um, I’m a wrestler.”
Her: “Oh, I am SO sorry.”
Jeff: “You don’t need to apologize…”
Her: “No, no, I’m sorry you’re a wrestler.”
So many memories, not many printable but all of them very fond. This is what I will miss when the trade-show season once again comes to an end. I won’t miss spending 22 hours on a three-hour flight, and I won’t miss hotel ventilation units that sound as if a train is driving through them every 20 minutes…but I will miss all of you. Until next year.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering what the title of this article actually means…well, what happens in Moncton, stays in Moncton. n
*Steve Milcik writes from Montreal, Que., and is a softy, at heart. Feel free to fill his inbox with spam at smilcik@ orion-soft.co
