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
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Cover: From left, Ken Plaskett, Richard Girard and Sean Lehmann, Dynamic Equipment Rentals, Vancouver, B.C.
Photo by Richard Porayko
Serving the Canadian rental industry for 32 years.
When the weather’s good, we’re going crazy. We’re running almost beyond capacity,” says Ken Plaskett, general manager of North Vancouver based Dynamic Equipment Rentals, in British Columbia. He adds with a laugh, “Everyone is happy that we have had a great summer!”
Walking into Dynamic Equipment Rentals you get a sense right away that it is a fast-paced, fun place to work. The team is young, friendly and energetic. And plentiful. Everyone busy with a job to do but no one too busy to smile and greet customers and visitors.
The 35-year-old company employs 22 staff and a popular shop Belgian Sheppard named Zambuka, at its head office in North Vancouver and at its additional location in West Vancouver. Plaskett says they are probably higher staffed than most other rental companies in the area, but as he puts it “we want to make sure all our customers are well looked after.”
The company services many sectors including homeowners, contractors, industrial, government and the film industry (70 per cent commercial and 30 per cent homeowner) primarily on the North Shore, but also throughout the Lower Mainland.
and rented equipment for the $600 million Sea-To-Sky Highway project, however, the company strategically opted to not get involved in very many large 2010 Olympic venue and infrastructure projects underway in the region. “We know where our fit is within the industry. We’ve worked hard to identify our core customers and we focus heavily on pleasing that group. We want to offer everything we can to those customers. We are never going to promise what we can’t deliver.”
The company carries all standard rental store products from small hand tools to lawn and garden equipment, right up to 7,500 lbs. excavators, skidsteers from 1,500 to 2,500 lbs., and all sizes of compactors. Plaskett says the “ most popular products include rotary and demolition hammers, compaction equipment, cutoff saws, and generators.”
www.canadianrentalservice.com
Dynamic Equipment Rentals has sold
The summer job that never ended Plaskett joined Dynamic Equipment Rentals in 1981, when it was known as Lonsdale Rentals, a family-run rental business that was started in the mid1970s and owned by the Baillie family. Plaskett recalls, “The Baillie family was really decent to work with. Andy Baillie taught me the importance of maintaining the highest level of customer service. It
From left, Richard Girard, West Vancouver store manager; Sean Lehmann, North Vancouver store manager and Ken Plaskett, general manager.
was a great experience learning from people who were pretty much pioneers in the rental industry. It was a very small industry that was relatively unknown back then.”
Fresh out of high school, Plaskett started what became “the summer job that never ended,” he chuckles. In the last 27 years, he has paid his dues and he takes his job seriously. Plaskett has been through four ownership groups throughout his career, and the diversity shows, “We’ve managed to combine the best aspects of corporate, which are structure and accurate reporting, with a family-run business, which focuses on people. That makes for a successful, and enjoyable, lively workplace.”
Plaskett started with the company gassing engines and washing equipment. He quickly advanced, completing “pretty well every service school and program available to get as much training as possible.” Training and education was as much a core value under the Baillie family with Lonsdale Rentals, as it is now operating as Dynamic Equipment Rentals with David and Tess Stewart as owners since 2003. The Stewarts strongly encourage manufacturer’s training and paid education for the staff.
Tight labour market
B.C. has one of the one of the tightest labour markets in the country and finding good help is a challenge provincewide. “Finding labour has been a huge issue, whether it has been mechanics, drivers, counter people, anything. You have to screen them as best as you can and try. Some are a fit, some aren’t. It’s a challenging process at the best of times, so when the labour market thins out, it’s a more painful process,” he says.
The management of Dynamic recognizes the value of quality staff and low turnover. Plaskett says, “We’ve managed to find some really good people and we compensate fairly, we offer a great place to work, and we get people that want to stick around. We are very pleased with our staff.”
And he is working to keep it that way. “We want everyone to be looking forward to coming to work. We try to make it fun for everyone. We treat our staff as family. The Stewart family is very much a driver of that. We want minimal turnover in the staff. We want the best people in the industry. The only way to do that is to treat them well, in all aspects, compensation and work environment. It is very positive.”
Sometimes more innovative measures are required. “With rising real estate prices, North Vancouver has become an expensive place to live and to do business. As a result some of our employees live in neighbouring municipalities. The owners and management really want to help the staff so much, we’ve given some employees assistance to move closer to work to the extent that we have actually budgeted that into the hiring process.”
“Another advantage of being a small, private company, is that we encourage our staff to look to the future and be open with ideas. And because of our size, we can actually listen to and follow up on our staff’s feedback.”
Plaskett remembers a time when the company was owned by an out-of-province corporation, “I moved up quickly from service person to driver to mechanic to counter clerk to assistant manager to store manager by 1990, then by the time we were in our second ownership I was in management. The third ownership group in 1999 was a corporation. And then things really changed. That was when we learned how corporations really worked, some positive, some negative. The reaction time of corporations can be frustrating. With private ownership you’re more able to make decisions faster.” Plaskett adds, “We
Dynamic Equipment Rentals has two locations on Vancouver's North Shore, in North Vancouver and West Vancouver, B.C. The showroom displays
PROFILE
try to make all of our decisions primarily on numbers, but there is always an element of gut instinct involved and you have to rely on that and your experience when there is no data available. Corporations can be reluctant to rely on gut instinct.”
Anew beginning
The company remained under corporate ownership for four years and the business became static. Fast forward to when South African migrants and entrepreneurs David and Tess Stewart bought the company in May 2003 and offered something the business had not seen in quite some time; entrepreneurial spirit. Plaskett explains, “From then on we started seeing some major positive changes including huge improvements in morale, quality, levels of inventory and new product lines.”
Shortly after the Stewarts bought the company in 2003 there was a big shift in the B.C. economy, and it really took off. He says, “when that happened there was just a shortage of everything from labour to materials, and it is still going on to this day. The big shift we saw was that people were choosing to purchase more of their equipment, as they could see it was a long-term utilization period here for top-end equipment. Often it makes much better sense to own it at that point.”
“That’s when we decided to focus some of our attention on sales dealerships. Right now we carry some exclusive product lines for B.C., and one exclusive product line for all of Canada, and all of which are high end. We would never sell or rent low end equipment that’s why we represent manufacturers such as Power Barrow, Yamaha Power Equipment, Weber MT Compaction, Husqvarna and Canycom.” He also points out that other benefits of being a dealer for the equipment they rent is they always have the stock to draw from. “And our customers can try it before they buy it, which they appreciate,” he adds.
Developing new markets
Dynamic is the exclusive B.C. distributor for Power Barrow, which is a four-wheel drive, gas-powered wheel barrow. “We introduced this product to this market based on customer demand,” he says. “Abig segment of our customers’ business is high-end homes where they are taking up a significant portion of their lots. Our customers need to get large quantities of bulk materials such as soil, gravel, or rock, into back yards or front yards and they have very limited space to get through with gates, where a bobcat skidsteer wouldn’t make it, or it may just be a smaller project than is required for a skidsteer. We picked up the dealership for Power Barrow and we have been very successful in selling them.”
“We’ve also got a unit called Canycom, which is track and crawler equipment. They have track power buggies that are much narrower than traditional power buggies plus they are on rubberized tracks, which offer great traction and minimize ground damage. The biggest issues that contractors find in this area are the steep grade, the wet and the mud, so wheeled machines do not work well in these conditions.
“We just opened up a whole new portion of our business which is bulk-material handling. Alot of this stuff is employee driven from feedback directly from our customers. They were coming to us and saying, ‘This doesn’t quite work for our application, what else do you have? Here’s my problem’.” We started to do our research into what’s out there because few traditional wholesalers carry products like this so it’s up to us to source this out. When you do this you suddenly develop markets that you didn’t know existed. Now we are doing fairly
well at this and getting requests nationwide for our products.”
The strong Canadian dollar has also helped with some of the products that Dynamic Equipment Rentals imports from the United States such as the Power Barrow and Weber MT Compactors. “We’re the Metro Vancouver dealer for Weber MT Compaction, which has been really advantageous for us. We order in quantities with these larger machines and we pass those savings right along to the customer. Because of the exchange rate our prices can fluctuate month to month, often to our customer’s benefit, but we feel it is fair and honest and we are always offering the best value for the dollar.”
Dynamic Equipment Rentals services and repairs all of the products the company sells, but it also services most other makes and models of equipment. “We have two dedicated service technicians and two certified mechanics as well. We’re also a warranty depot for a number of different manufacturers.”
Plaskett stresses “It’s all about the service, we want to be the one-stop rental place. We will try our best to do everything we can. And if we cannot supply the product, we will take the customer’s phone number down, and we will do our best to find
LEFTTOP: The company carries all standard rental store products from small hand tools to lawn and garden equipment, right up to 7,500 lbs. excavators, skidsteers from 1,500 to 2,500 lbs., and all sizes of compactors.
LEFT: The 35-year-old company employs 22 staff and a shop Belgian Sheppard named Zambuka, pictured here supporting store managers, from left, Richard Girard, Ken Plaskett and Sean Lehmann.
PROFILE
the information they require and we will get back to them. Even if the equipment isn’t purchased or serviced through us, we want to be their first call next time. If we have solved a problem for them, they will call us again. We want to build a long-term relationship.”
“We have probably four or five of us that have been here for more than 10 years with the company. And another large number of employees who have been here in excess of five years. So there have been a lot of relationships built. The North Shore is a relatively small community. Most of the guys that work here grew up here, so we all know a lot of people, and when you develop those relationships you do business on a more personal level, which you feel a responsibility to treat people with respect. They are your neighbour. They are your livelihood. You want to make sure that everybody is happy.”
Based on service Plaskett says “We have faced some challenges as new competition has come in over the years. We have had larger rental chains aggressively move into the local market offering new inventory and discounted rates. These situations reinforce our commitment to customer service that we strive for every day.”
“We welcome the competition, it actually adds exposure to the whole industry, and there is still a huge number of people that don’t know that rental exists. We are pleased with that aspect of it. There is quite a bit of co-operation between the local rental yards, big and small. Equipment gets rented back and forth. We all work together to keep everybody happy.”
“The discounting we avoid at all measures. We offer a service.
We staff our stores heavier than most other rental yards in the region and we do that because the equipment is a commodity, the service is what you really have to work on. So we try to get the best people.” Plaskett explains further, “We don’t want to keep our customers waiting. Areasonably large component of our customer base are homeowners. These people may never have rented before and you may need to spend 15 or 20 minutes with a customer, if you have one person behind the counter and 10 customers waiting, that might not work so well.”
When asked about supplier support, Plaskett responds without hesitation: “We’ve found supplier support to be very good. We have a number of people we deal with from the larger rental house suppliers that I’ve known since they were 17 as well and we have literally grown up in the industry together. Now some of them own the companies, so again, it’s the long-term relationships with suppliers that have also worked out very well. All of the products we align ourselves with, both rental and sales are top end, such as Husqvarna and Yamaha. Those products offer fantastic support, and they are high end, top quality products. We’re not interested in selling cheap items that you could buy at big box stores, we want the high end products that customers are asking for.”
When I bring up the topic of offshore equipment, Plaskett adds candidly, “We’ve tried some offshore products. Some are not bad. Some haven’t worked out as well as we would have liked. We prefer to stick to a known product that has local support. We brought in two pieces of offshore equipment and we quickly realized that, even though they had brand name engines, the rest was completely substandard and we moved on very quickly.”
Claessen Pumps
Servicing The Canadian Industry Since 1976
Distributors of :
Phone: 705-431-8585
Fax: 705-431-2772
For more information please contact us or visit our web site at www.claessenpumps.com
in the
“One thing that we constantly focus on is the quality of our products. In the rental industry, Hilti is far and above everyone else in roto and demo hammers. Contractors ask for them by name. So that is what they are going to get. We maintain a large fleet of the Hilti hammers; we just keep adding to it. And our philosophy is that the high utilization products get turned over regularly. We replace those at specific intervals so that the customer isn’t dealing with problems. For items that don’t wear out quickly, we will hold on to the older stock and just keep growing our fleet and use the older stock as back-up equipment to avoid missing any rental.”
Dynamic Equipment Rentals continues to advertise in local newspapers and yellow pages ads, but the company is also thinking outside its sandbox, sourcing new suppliers and finding new customers. “We are hitting some trade shows. We have had display booths at the last two B.C. Landscaping and Construction Expos, and that is where we promote our unique product lines like Power Barrow, Canycom and the Weber MT compaction line. We’ve had a fantastic response,” he says, adding that “we also suggest to all employees that they attend the regional Canadian Rental Association (CRA) rental shows to keep current with new products and maintain supplier relations.”
“We also get involved in local charities and community events that are not always high profile but are important to the community. An example of our community involvement is our participation for the past three years with the B.C. Lions football team supplying the fans to cool the players’ benches at B.C. Place.”
The company’s new website was released this year and has been a valuable sales tool. “We didn’t realize how big of a sales tool it was until we started getting some phone calls from across the country. And for our new product sales, that is where it has really helped. It is not a huge expense and we feel people in Metro Vancouver are very computer savvy. It is a much greener alternative. Rather than printing off our price lists, we post our price list right online. We don’t want to hide anything. We feel we price competitively. We offer great service with very competitive pricing and that’s what we’re known for.”
Rising costs
“Lately we feel there has to be a rise in rental rates. There is
inflation everywhere. Rental rates have not increased proportionally in this region with expenses.” With fuel prices rising so much, increased delivery expenses are out of pocket. “Delivery to site is 30 per cent of our contractor work. We have four delivery trucks and we are trying to keep delivery costs down,” he says, adding that equipment also needs to be fuelled. “We haven’t passed the increase along to the customer probably as much as we should have. We are just remaining competitive in the market.”
When asked about the economic outlook for the region he says, “Personally I think things are levelling off. We’ve discussed this at length about what our future plans are and we are moving forward cautiously, but cautiously optimistic. It’s not cooling but it is definitely not growing like it was, and it is also not dropping off. There is a mixed report of what the economic outlook is, so at this point we are going to be very cautious, but we are not going to stop being entrepreneurial. We have to be very careful. We don’t have the advantage of having 200 stores spread out over a variety of economic markets so if our local economy softens we are directly affected. We have to work within our means so we budget carefully and never get overextended. Always plan and prepare for the worst and it never happens.”
Plaskett adds, “We do get involved with enough sectors of business where one or more of those sectors is usually busy. We may see some ups and downs but we always survive. We plan for it and adjust as necessary and react quickly.”
He continues, “Our outlook is just growth. We want to add more and more inventory. We’re not necessarily looking for huge expansion, but we are always looking for smart expansion. As opportunities for growth or new ventures come up we look at them, we are doing everything logically and calculated. The general rental operation is our core business, which we maintain first and foremost, we are not going to do anything to jeopardize that. But we will always look ahead.” ■
*Rich Porayko is a professional writer and photographer with Construction Creative, a marketing and communications company located in Coquitlam, B.C.
Dynamic is a dealer for track and crawler equipment manufacturer Canycom.
Dynamic Equipment Rentals started
mid-1970s as Lonsdale Rentals operated by the Baillie family. It is has been under the ownership of David and Tess Stewart since 2003.
CANADIAN RENTAL ASSOCIATION
President’s message
By “Bobcat Brad” Williams, CRA president
Hello everyone. Another summer has flown by. Rental stores across Canada have been busy getting gear out, collecting money, and preparing for the fall and winter. Fall is generally time for CRAlocal meetings. All of these meetings have something to offer to everyone. Some locals bring in speakers to educate us on important topics that relate to our industry. Others bring in suppliers to show the latest and greatest. Some work on plans for the local shows. And the majority of the meetings have a combination of all of the above. Local meetings are also the place to meet new people in the rental Industry. What better way to find out more about an ally or a competitor? Or learn about new business start-ups and what their perception of the market is?
It is a tremendous opportunity to listen to what the established individuals in the rental industry have to say about their past experience. If you are looking for ideas on how to improve your business, this is the venue. Bring a member of your staff, or bring two if you can. You will be surprised what they will garner out of the meeting. I encourage you to involve your staff by attending the meetings and volunteering their time. There are more employees than owners. Generally estimating, there is one owner to every 15 employees. Based on this relationship of owners to employees it makes sense we should involve our staff more than we do. I challenge you to treat one of your employees to the next local meeting. Your staff member will recognize your effort to further his or her education in the rental business. These meetings are tremendously important. Our business, our economy, our employees and our customers are changing rapidly. Those who embrace this change and get involved will be the ones who are likely to have the greatest success.
The Dorothy Wellnitz Scholarship is a CRAprogram for Canadian members and it has awarded its second scholarship. Congratulations to Louise Serpa, Bel-Ayre Rentals, Winnipeg, Man. Louise is the daughter of Carlos Serpa. She was awarded $1,000 from the Dorothy Wellnitz Scholarship. In addition, she received a $2,000
Brad Williams is the president for the Canadian Rental Association (CRA) and part owner of equipment dealer, Bobcat of Saskatoon & Kubota of Saskatoon (Divisions of FGI Supply Ltd.) in Saskatoon, Sask.
CANADIAN RENTAL ASSOCIATION
scholarship from the American Rental Association (ARA) Foundation. This is proof that applying for this fund is worth the effort. If you are looking at making a worthwhile donation, this is a good one. Furthering rental industry related education is to the benefit of us all. The ARAFoundation is administering the Dorothy Wellnitz Scholarship. Contact the ARAto make your donation.
Looking at insurance? Check out the performance of the CRA-endorsed PSIP Insurance program designed for the Canadian rental industry. Hayhurst Elias Dudek Inc. (HED) is the insurance company that is offering this program. Barry Ghiglione (CRApast president) was instrumental is getting this off the ground three years ago. The loss pool (reserve) now has over $1 million dollars, putting the program in a very good position to sustain itself in the future. This year, Members that are signed on will see the benefits of this program start to kick in.
I encourage you to keep in touch with your CRAdirector and I welcome your input. The CRAboard of directors and I appreciate and value your membership.
Le message du président
Par
“Bobcat
Brad” Williams, président de la CRA
Bonjour à tous! Encore un été qui semble avoir filé sous nos yeux! Les centres de location à travers le Canada se préparent à l’arrivée de l’automne et l’hiver. L'automne est généralement le temps des rencontres et réunions pour les régions de la CRA. Les réunions des locaux de la CRAont toutes quelque chose à offrir aux membres de l’association. Certains locaux nous proposent des invités spéciaux qui nous éduquent sur des sujets importants reliés à notre industrie. D’autres font appel aux fournisseurs à venir nous faire part des plus récentes et plus grandes nouveautés de leurs gammes de produits. Certains travaillent sur des projets pour les salons d’expositions de la CRA. Et, bien entendu, la majorité des réunions des locaux de la CRAoffrent justement un mélange de tous les sujets mentionés
cidessus. Les réunions locales sont également une belle opportunité pour tous de rencontrer de nouvelles personnes dans l'industrie de location. Où trouver meilleur endroit pour en savoir plus sur un allié ou un compétiteur? Les nouvelles entreprises qui démarrent peuvent nous en dire long sur leur perception du marché. Écoutez ce que les compagnies qui sont déjà établies ont à dire sur leurs expériences du passée. Si vous cherchez des idées pour améliorer votre entreprise, c'est l’endroit idéal. Emmenez un membre de votre personnel à la prochaine réunion, ou même deux si vous le pouvez. Vous serez surpris du bien qu’ils obtiendront de la rencontre. Je vous encourage à faire participer votre personnel aux réunions ainsi que les encourager à investir leur temps dans le bénévolat. Il y a plus de salariés que de propriétaires. On estime qu’il y a environ 15 employés pour chaque propriétaire de centre de location. Naturellement, il est logique que nous impliquions notre personnel plus que soi-même! Je vous mets au défi d’emmener un de vos employés à votre prochaine réunion locale. Votre employé sera reconnaissant
Continued on page 13
ONTHE WEB
News Highlights
•INDUSTRY PIONEER WILLIAM "BILL" GRASSE DIES
•HAULOTTE GROUP AQUIRES BIL-JAX
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•WESTERNONE EQUITY INCOME FUND ANNOUNCES RE-BRANDING OF BC EQUIPMENT RENTAL PLATFORM
•SOLUTIONS JOINS CONSTELLATION SOFTWARE
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ASSOCIATIONS
President's Report
The Canadian Rental Association brings news to the industry from across the country.
By CRA
EQUIPMENT
Ready For Tier 4
With the continued focus of governments to meet the public demand for tougher environmental standards... By Pat Bolen
INNOVATION
The Winners’ Circle
Show Report: Aroundup of draw winners and award recipients. By Chris Skalkos
PARTY
A Good Year For Tent Manufacturers
Tent Market: It was a good year for companies in the tent manufacturing and rental businesses...
By Pat Bolen
PROFILES
Carrying On The Family Legacy
Brothers lead family owned rental business through accelerated growth
By Chris Skalkos
Committed To Event Success
Karen Bolliger, Tiffany Party Rentals, Barrie, Ontario
By Chris Skalkos
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•ENLIGHTEN SOFTWARE FOR ENFINITY SYSTEM ON WINDOWS.
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EVENTS
Acomplete listing of upcoming trade shows and meetings important to the rental service industry.
•CRA BRITISH COLUMBIA REGIONAL TRADE SHOW
•WORLD OF CONCRETE
•CRA ATLANTIC REGIONAL TRADE SHOW
•CRA PRAIRIE REGIONAL TRADE SHOW
•ARA THE RENTAL SHOW
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Open for business
By Pat Bolan*
Operators of rental businesses face special challenges when it comes to the hours they keep. From being open early in the morning to give construction contractors an early start, to being on call after hours for service and emergency equipment rentals, one could
argue that rental operators do not keep regular store hours at all.
Canadian Rental Service spoke to representatives of several companies across Canada to find out what their business hours are and how they came about choosing them.
Paul Dorion, regional vice-president for Hertz Equipment Rental in Edmonton, Alta., says the company keeps standard business hours; however, some branches are open earlier at 5:30 a.m and some do not close until 6 p.m., depending on the mix of customers they service.
Dorion says industrial branches traditionally open earlier and branches that deal with small contractors and homeowners are open on Saturday. “Fort McMurray is open 24/7 and all of our branches have 24-hour emergency service.”
Dorion says of being open 24 hours, “There isn’t much increase in costs if you schedule the shifts in advance, if not, it's all overtime, but if it is an emergency the customer is aware...with industrial customers the reason they deal with you is because they know they can sleep at night assured that you are only a phone call away no matter what time, Christmas Day included!”
“We have always had our customers’ needs in mind when setting hours. Now with the price of real estate it makes sense to put on a second or third shift at your facility to get the most use out of it.”
The busiest time of the day, says Dorion, is first thing in the morning with Monday and Friday mornings the busiest day in every season.
Renters get 24 hours of possession, with eight hours of use. Dorion says the mix of contractors to homeowners depends on the branch, ranging from zero per cent for homeowners at an industrial branch to 15 per cent at a general rental branch.
With locations throughout southern Ontario, Stephenson's Rental Services Inc. is one of the leading construction equipment rental providers in the area and also specializes in heating and scaffolding rental equipment. Willie Swisher is chief executive officer for Stephenson's and says their hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday to Friday and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays to meet the needs of professional contractors.
While the busiest hours of the day vary by location, Swisher says the average is 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and Monday is the busiest day as contractors gear up.
He says the ratio of contractors to
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
homeowners during the week is 90 per cent contractors. On the weekend the ratio is even between the two and Swisher says Stephenson’s offers an emergency response after-hours service to suit its large clients.
In Montreal, Quebec, Jean-Marc Turcotte, president of Turbo Rentals, says his hours are “7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and on Saturday it’s 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.”
“If you are committed to those hours, your customers get to know your hours and they make it in those hours.”
While Turbo is not open on Sundays, Turcotte says from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, the staff give the customers the price of one day until Monday. “So we always fix it up that they are happy.”
Turcotte says it is busiest first thing in the morning when the store opens. “They are waiting in their cars for us to open, and then a little bit at the end of the day...but [during the summer], it’s regular all day long.”
Monday and Friday afternoons are also the busiest days of the week in Quebec, says Turcotte.
Returns are due back at 9 a.m. on Monday, or a 24-hour rental, says
Turcotte, whatever time the equipment is rented.
Unlike some other companies, Turcotte says year-round his business is 70 per cent homeowners and on weekends it increases to 90 per cent homeowners. Turcotte says none of his locations are open 24 hours.
On the west coast in Victoria, Old Country Rentals includes everything from construction and industrial to home and garden rentals at two locations on Vancouver Island. Victoria branch general manager Wayne Chow says both stores are open Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“It covers the scope of our clientele,” he says.
While it used to open at 7:30 a.m., Chow says Old Country found that with contractors having to travel further, they needed more time and it decided to adjust its hours to accommodate them.
While the contractors want to start early, Chow says any time of the day can be busy, especially over lunch.
Monday is busiest with equipment going out and Friday afternoon the rentals coming back in, says Chow.
CANADIAN RENTAL ASSOCIATION
Le message du président
Continued from page 10
de vos efforts pour raffermir son apprentissage dans l’industrie de location. Ces rencontres sont extrêmement importantes. Notre métier, notre économie, nos employés et nos clients sont en train de changer rapidement. Ceux qui embrassent ce changement et s'impliquent seront ceux qui seront enclin à avoir le plus grand succès.
La bourse d’étude Dorothy Wellnitz
est un programme de la CRA. Cette année, le programme a attribué sa seconde bourse. Félicitations à Louise Serpa de Bel-Ayre Location, à Winnipeg, au Manitoba. Louise est la fille de Carlos Serpa. Elle est récipiendaire de la bourse d’étude Dorothy Wellnitz, d’une valeur de 1000$. Aussi, elle a reçu de la fondation ARA2000$ en bourse d'études. Voici la preuve que faire demande pour la bourse d’étude Dorothy Wellnitz en vaut l’effort. Si vous recherchez à faire un don utile, voici une très bonne et juste cause. Améliorer l’éducation et la
About 85 per cent of the company’s customers are construction contractors, but on the weekend 70 per cent of its business is done with homeowners.
Old Country offers a 24-hour afterhours call out on a pager for both service and rental. “What we try to say is we’ll take your page and we’ll answer you in 15 minutes.”
While Chow says some customers have asked why the company is not open 24 hours, he says it is not realistic. “You wouldn’t be able to staff it...it’s better to run some good hours,” he says, and adds that he has not heard of anyone in the vicinity staying open 24 hours.
From east to west patterns are emerging that are predictable when it comes to business hours, but the unpredictable nature of this business makes them tentative at best. As more than one rental operator has expressed, rental stores can put a closed sign on the storefront, but when customers need them they are always open for business. ■
*Pat Bolan is a freelance writer based in Exeter, Ont.
formation de nos jeunes dans l’industrie de la location est dans l'intérêt de nous tous. La fondation ARAadministre la bourse d’études Dorothy Wellnitz. Contactez-les pour faire votre don. Vous recherchez de l’information sur l’assurance? Découvrez les performances du programme PSIP, conçu pour l’industrie canadienne de la location et approuvé par la CRA. Hayhurst Elias Dudek Inc (HED) est la compagnie d'assurance qui offre ce programme. Barry Ghiglione (président sortant de la CRA) a joué un rôle important à démarrer ce programme d’assurance il y a trois ans. La réserve pour l’assurance a augmenté de plus d’un million de dollars, mettant le programme en très bonne position pour se maintenir dans l'avenir. Cette année, les membres impliqués dans le programme PSIPverront les avantages entrer en action.
Je vous encourage à demeurer en contact avec votre directeur de la CRA. J’apprécie vos contributions. Le conseil administratif de la CRAet moi-même apprécions et sommes très reconnaissant pour votre adhésion à l’ARAet la CRA. ■
FOR THE RENTAL MARKET
Four firing rates
Campo Equipment has introduced the MOFH280-400 280,000 to 400,000 BTU indirect multi-oil fired portable heater that has been engineered with several breakthrough features.
The company says it designed the heater with the input it received from rental yards and end users who cited concerns with fuel consumption, safety, durability, and maintenance with heater units currently on the market. This resulted in certain features being incorporated in the MOFH280-400 that are unique for heaters in this class.
They include:
Multi-oil fired – which gives the
EcoBlaze MOFH280-400 four firing rates compared to other space heaters on the market that typically have only one firing rate.This means that rental companies do not have to stock four different sized heaters because the MOFH280-400 is like having four heaters in one unit.
First indirect-fired space heater in its class – only bigger heaters on the market have this feature, nothing in the 300,000 to 400,000 BTU range, that incorporates recirculating ducts, which translates into huge fuel savings and drier air because it can also reheat the air in the building instead of heating cold outside air, which consumes more fuel.
The MOFH280-400 has an easy access cleanout panel which makes the heat exchangers easy to service and clean. Campo Equipment says no other indirect-fired portable heater on the market has this.Where other heat exchangers require practically dismantling the whole machine in a two-hour, two-person exercise the MOFH280-400 cleanout does not require dismantling and takes only 15 minutes by one person using a flexible brush and
The K750 features our exclusive engine technology, DualCharge, which provides an extremely powerful engine producing 5 hp with low emissions and impressive fuel economy. In short, it is a cleaner and more efficient engine. The K750 is also fitted with a large, effective muffler, and a newly developed vibrationdampening system, making for a quiet and easy-to-use machine.
HUSQVARNACONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS
flexible vacuum.
The MOFH280-400also has a blowout port on the heat exchanger to help protect the heat exchanger from implosions.An insulated box increases the efficiency of the heater and also allows for safe skin temperatures while a 24-volt system for thermostat operation avoids shocks and having power drawn from the burner.
The unique features on this heater make it an ideal unit for both rental companies and their customers. Contact Campo Equipment Co. Ltd.: 1-866-323-0042, www.campoequipment.com
Longer path for exhaust gases
Cantherm Distributors has introduced the Arcotherm line of indirect-fired portable heaters to the rental industry. The EC series is available in four models ranging from 113,000 BTU to 400,000 BTU, and offers a major advance in technology.
Anew “4-loop” heat-exchanger provides a longer path for exhaust gases to release their heat before exiting through the chimney. Hot gas passages between the firebox and exchanger are exposed to lower temperatures, pumping up the heater and gaining an additional 10 per cent in heating power compared to “3-loop” systems of the same size. Apre-heated oil filter is standard equipment, and EC400 comes with a two-stage fan.
The Arcotherm Jumbo series is the heater of choice for construction and industrial applications. With three models ranging from 400,000 to 900,000 BTU, Jumbo is available in both oil or gas burners, and can be changed quickly to adapt to different fuel sources.
Available options for both series are: canvas and PVC ducting, splitters to run multiple lines of ducting, thermostats,
FOR THE RENTAL MARKET
fuel tanks, and tune-up kits. Arcotherm heaters are professional quality heaters designed to keep working regardless of the weather.
Cantherm agents to the rental industry include RDSI in Ontario, 1-877291-2343, www.rdsi.ca and A.E. Sales in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec, 1-877-819-2791
The new ICE Frost Fighter IHS series delivers superior performance over other comparable heaters in the market.
With four inches of static, high temperature rise, and an industrial style blower, it can handle 200 feet of ductwork and pressurize large buildings quickly. Available in propane/natural gas or oil fired. The heater has 2 x 16 inch outlets and 2 x 16 inch inlets, which can be used to recirculate the heated air and increase the discharge temperature. Both units are certified to rigorous C.S.A. and E.T.L. standards, and many of the parts are interchangeable with the current Frost Fighter portable heaters. Standard units are skid-mounted with forklift pockets. For greater versatility in remote areas, the IHS is available on a trailer with two environmental spillage containment fuel tanks with an 80-hour run time.
The HK 300 is the mid-size heater of the Heat King family by Crown
Construction Equipment. Quiet, compact and efficient yet powerful enough to thaw up to 5,600 square feet, cure up to 11,200 square feet or provide temporary heat or dry space heating for jobsites.
By using shorter hoses, more fluid and higher efficiency pumps with increased flow the HK 300 provides more consistent temperature to the field for better control while thawing and curing applications take place. The HK 300 has user-friendly controls, making operation tasks simple. This unit will help generate more winter revenue for rental companies!
Features include: Thaws up to 5,600 square feet; cures up to 11,200 square
FOR THE RENTAL MARKET
feet; temporary heat up to 12,000 sq ft; computer controlled system; digital temperature monitoring; large access doors; large glycol reservoir; doubleloop technology; enclosed electric hose reel; CSA/ULcertified.
Contact Crown Construction Equipment: 1-204-885-5800, www.crownequip.com
All types of ducting
NTI Global has begun to service the ducting needs of rental companies throughout Canada.
The company services the rental industry with virtually all types of ducting, used in a wide range of industry applications such as duct for
portable heaters, air conditioners, dehumidification and ventilation units.
NTI Global has more than 25 years of manufacturing experience, producing high quality flexible ducting for many HVAC applications and stocking different sizes to offer just-in-time shipments and fast turnaround time, vital to any rental operation.
The company says it can produce virtually any type of ducting with modern equipment and it also welcomes custom finished ends to ensure a perfect match with your units. Contact NTI Global: 1-800-947-7767, www.ntiglobal.com
Low-cost heat delivery
National Hose and Equipment has introduced the NR-W Dual Pitch heater ducting hose, a low-cost solution for heat delivery to temporary or permanent shelter systems. The Engineered Performance Ducting industrial grade flexible product is manufactured with neoprene reinforced fabric and its designs include extra wire support near the air-inlet end for improved air performance.
The heater end is protected with additional heavy-duty, heat-resistant fabric liner and only flame-resistant materials are used.
Contact National Hose and Equipment: 1-416-298-0494
Keeps on drying
Dri-Eaz Products has introduced the DriTec Pro 150, a desiccant dehumidifier that combines powerful drying in a compact size for tackling dense
FOR THE RENTAL MARKET
materials and for tackling specialty jobs. Incorporating robust desiccant technology this unit helps create an ideal drying environment for many situations.
The DriTec Pro 150 includes a range of user-friendly features including an easyto-carry ergonomic design, easy filter access, and a two-speed fan. Unlike many portable desiccants, the DriTec Pro is compact, lightweight, and useful in a wide range of conditions. It draws just 8.7 amps, perfect for many restoration jobs, especially when compared to the heavy, energy-hungry
desiccant units on the market, many of which draw more than 20 amps.
The DriTec Pro desiccant provides highly efficient water removal, even at low temperatures, and, it can keep on drying the air to nearly zero humidity, drawing moisture out of dense, toughto-dry materials like hardwood floors.
The extremely dry air provided by DriTec desiccants is also ideal for drying inside hollow walls, cabinets, and other hard-to-reach places.
ABC Industries offers ducting from twoinch to 60-inch diameters, in custom lengths and colours. The company says they are available in layflat and wirereinforced structures in a variety of weights and constructed for heating or cooling, negative or positive air flow, dehumidifying or specialized air flow applications. For cold climate applications the company’s 15WK has a temperature range of -60 to 280 F (-51 to 138 C) and the Silver Silicone ducting
has a temperature range of -65 to 500 F (-54 to 260 C).
L.B. White’s latest addition to its distinctive line of portable construction heaters, the Premier 170-DF, is unique in its ability to operate using propane and natural gas. This dual fuel unit is perfect for construction environments where there is the need to switch from propane to natural gas. With this heater it is as easy as turning the fuel selector valve to the desired fuel position.
FOR THE RENTAL MARKET
The Premier 170-DF features dependable direct spark ignition, remote thermostatic control, extendable wheel-barrel handles, easy rolling wheels, and a corrosion resistant TriShield finish. With 170,000 BTUs, and the option of using ducting, the Premier 170-DF is perfect for delivering highly efficient and flexible heat distribution to meet several construction heating needs.
In addition, the Premier 170-DF is equipped with an array of safety features including a totally enclosed flame, built-in temperature management, airflow safety devices, fully enclosed electronics, and virtually clean air output. All Premier heaters are CSAU.S. and Canadian certified for construction use.
L.B. White Company, Inc., 800-345-7200
Impressive heat performance
The new and innovative CH5000 Cross Heater from Wacker Neuson Corporation is a portable and flexible hydronic heater that can be used in thawing, frost prevention, curing, and air heating applications. The CH5000 provides impressive heat performance, eliminating the need for booster pumps.
The company says the heater increases productivity by providing complete climate control, in any environment, all with one unit. The CH5000 provides safe, clean, indirectfired air heat, and since the unit remains outside of the structure no combustion byproducts or open flame are introduced to the jobsite interior. It also has the ability to quickly and economically thaw frozen ground at a rate of one foot per day and the unit includes 5,000 linear feet of heat transfer hose capable of thawing up to 10,000 square feet of ground. Thawing time can be reduced by 50 per cent by simply adding additional hoses and decreasing hose spacing.
When using the new hydronic heater, up to 15,000 square feet of ground can be heated to help prevent frost or preheat the ground in preparation for curing. By adding additional hose, contractors can increase ground coverage up to 45,000 square feet.
The unit’s heat transfer hose can be placed over 10,000 square feet of concrete slabs on grade, elevated slabs, poured walls or columns to help speed the curing process. Up to 30,000 square feet of concrete can be cured with additional heat transfer hose.
An on-board remote manifold and enhanced gear pump allows the CH5000 Cross Heater to quickly and easily convert to providing air heat. Contractors simply connect heat exchangers to the heat transfer hose and the CH5000 can provide up to 735,000 cubic feet of dry, uniform air heat.
Equipped with an adjustable thermostat controller, the CH5000 is ideal for the temperature sensitive process of concrete curing, air heating and drying. The unit’s 550,000-BTU-perhour hydronic heater and gear pump provide maximum flow and pressure, creating a much greater heat transfer flow by decreasing the time it takes the fluid to cycle through the system.
The CH5000 offers enhanced flexibility to contractors with its ability to run on natural gas, propane or diesel. Utilizing a 250-gallon (946-litre) diesel fuel tank, the unit provides up to 105 hours of continuous use for worry-free operation.
The CH5000 is available with an onboard, self-contained genset. The 2,800rpm generator produces 12 kW with its liquid-cooled, diesel engine. Other features of the CH5000 include a fuel-line heater for trouble-free starts, optional lifting bar for crane placement, larger onboard hose reel with electric hose rewind and durable heat transfer hose. Contact Wacker Neuson Corporation: 1-262-257-4131, www.groundheaters.com or www.wackerneuson.com
Enclosed flame ductable heater
Sure Flame has introduced the model SE400, a 400,000 BTU/hour enclosed flame ductable heater. This unit has the rugged construction and reliability people have come to expect from the Sure Flame line of construction heaters.
FOR THE RENTAL MARKET
It is ductable and weatherproof, which makes it an excellent choice for both construction and tent heating applications. The heater operates on either natural gas or propane; simply turn a lever to switch fuel sources. Flip a switch and you can convert it to a ventilator, bringing in fresh air without heat. The controlled combustion system and high-efficiency burner design produce a fraction of the allowable emission levels, setting a new standard for the industry. This product offers the economic advantages of a more efficient direct-fired heater without an open flame. Its compact construction, integral wheels and lifting hook maximize
portability, while its stackable design reduces off-season storage costs. This heater is engineered to stand up to the demands of the construction industry and will be a valuable addition to any rental fleet.
De Cloet Ltd., is a 100 per cent Canadian-owned company that has pioneered an innovative approach to heating and drying. The DeCloet 800 Heater/Dryers uses the basic principles of traditional forced air heating with no gimmicks or electronics. The De Cloet Heater/Dryer provides 800,000 BTUs of clean hot and dry air at over 11,000 CFM. The unit can be used both indoors and outdoors, and air can be ducted 100 feet or more into a building or into existing ductwork. The heater can help to maximize fuel savings by recycling up to 100 per cent of the air in a building.
ASingle DeCloet 800 Heater can
FOR THE RENTAL MARKET
maintain heat in a 1,000,000-cubic-foot building. It can replace 6 x 1 Million BTU Direct Fired Heaters at a savings of 5.2 million BTUs every hour.
The De Cloet 800 Heater/Dryer boasts heavy duty stainless steel construction to ensure clean dry air. It offers year-round application in drying and curing cement, drywall and paint. It is used to dry tanks, trailers, trucks and ship holds as well as for heat treat for mould and bacteria in containers, barns, warehouses and food processing plants. Contact De Cloet Ltd.: 1-519-842-7361, www.decloet.com
Generates heat in straight lines
September is the start of the busy fall season, and just the right time to start planning your heater needs for this winter! Uniquip Canada, the authorized distributors of Flagro and Master products, now offers Val6 infrared heaters to the rental market.
New from Japan, Val6 infrared radiant heaters are simply the most fuel-
efficient space heater on the market. This infrared radiant heater generates heat in straight lines, unaffected by air flow, creating a comfortable and dustfree environment. No energy is lost to heating air, just heating the areas needed. Designed to start up and shut off in seconds, and stackable to save storage and transport space, the Val6 heaters are ideal for many contractor applications, such as heating large
warehouses, drying surfaces and warming jobsites. Two models are currently available, the 111,000 BTU/ hour SIKBE5Land the 51,800 BTU/hour SIDAYSTAR.
The company says its heater products range from small propane tank-top units to 1,500,000 BTU/hour forced air jobsite heaters. Rental companies can expand the heaters’ coverage by combining them with air movers and pedestal or barrel fans. Tiger torches, thermocouples and other essential accessories can help build a complete heater program for a rental fleet. Contact Uniquip Canada: 1-888-332-4012, www.uniquip.ca
Avariety of fuel choices
Construction Equipment Solutions (CES) has been supplying the Canadian rental industry with temporary winter construction heat for nearly two decades. CES offers heating equipment from 10,000 BTUs up to and including 1.5 million BTUs. These products are offered in a variety of fuel choices such
FOR THE RENTAL MARKET
as natural gas, propane, fuel oil and electric.
As well as offering direct fired heaters CES has also pioneered the indirect fired heater business. These indirect fired units allow any operator on the jobsite to be supplied with clean breathable heated air. All products of combustion are discharged outside before reaching the workers. Indirect fired heaters are becoming the norm on most construction sites because workers are not exposed to the byproducts of combustion heaters.
CES is responsible for the sales of the DeCloet heater line in eastern Canada.
The DeCloet heater has revolutionized the way large projects are heated and reduce fuel costs dramatically. The company alsooffers afull line of infrared heaters to suit unique requirements. CEShandles such well know heater brands as ENERCO, MR HEATER, DESA, AIRMASTER, SPACE RAY, BISMAR, and MOSEBACH electric heaters and offers a full supply of parts and accessories to support the rental companies with an extensive heater inventory.
Contact Construction Equipment Solutions (CES): 1-905-420-2243, www.ces-sales.com ■
COMPACTION
Defining IC
Intelligent Compaction (IC) technology simplifies the achievement of proper compaction. IC utilizes vibratory drums equipped with a measurement and control system. This automatically controls compaction by monitoring and responding to measurements during the compaction of soil or asphalt. Acomputer to record and document roller passes and stiffness readings, plus a global positioning system such as GPS
IC utilizes vibratory drums equipped with a measurement and control system to automatically control compaction by monitoring and responding to measurements during the
are required. Intelligent Compaction adjusts amplitude and frequency automatically in response to the stiffness feedback from the vibrating drum – without operator intervention. An IC system can collect and analyze data and then make a decision to modify compaction at the rate of 1,700 to 2,400 times per minute.
Evaluating compaction
To confirm that proper compaction has been achieved, the standard method of testing was for density or the absence of air. New terms are now being used when evaluating compaction. Sometimes used interchangeably with stiffness, a different criterion for compaction is modulus: the measure of elasticity or resistance.
Unique factors affect modulus, not just the absence of air. Soil and asphalt characteristics can change in a matter of feet. The changes to modulus during compaction are highly non-linear or inconsistent because variables cannot be exactly predicted.
Compaction has traditionally been calculated by comparing measurements of random samples against target density values. Astandard piece of equipment used to test density in the field is a nuclear gauge. Intelligent Compaction is a more comprehensive field test for modulus that takes into account variables other than just density. Continuous readings also increase accuracy, resulting in more consistent compaction.
Different compaction formulas
Different manufacturers engage various technologies and compaction formulas. The effects of compactor speed, vibration direction, amplitudes and frequency are determined in dissimilar fashions. Precision and repeatability of these compaction values should be verified against standard tests. But, like apples and oranges, the results cannot be compared across the board.
Bomag’s compaction management system (BCM) measures
COMPACTION
Intelligent Compaction adjusts amplitude and frequency automatically in response to the stiffness feedback from the vibrating drum – without operator intervention.
stiffness based the relationship between the surface contact force and the deflection of the roller drum.
Compaction Meter Value (CMV) was pioneered by Geodynamik and is used by Dynapac, Caterpillar and HAMM. This technology monitors stiffness by measuring G-force at the drum’s predictable frequencies.
Compaction Control Value (CCV) is the index used by Sakai. As the stiffness under a vibrating drum increases, the
centrifugal force is deflected or returned and becomes more random as the surface is compacted. CCV calculates this relationship in non-linear equations based on levels of compaction. Sakai has been perfecting CCV technology since the late 1980s.
“It's not always a good thing to be the first one on the block to market a new technology,” says Dave Brown, vicepresident of sales and marketing for Sakai America. “Sakai always prefers to do the homework first to ensure that added technology actually benefits customers. Intelligent Compaction is no exception.”
Accuracy on the job
An example of how this new technology can aid contractors. Contractors performing asphalt jobs for highways and road work where they are laying tons of asphalt over both aggregate base and rubbilized concrete are required to adhere to regulations that dictate a required density for aggregate courses used in pavement construction. In this situation the ability to measure density correctly is critical. Machines such as Sakai SV510D compactors use Compaction Control Value that is correlated closely with
nuclear gauge density readings of the sub-base. This technology allows an entire paving operation to operate more efficiently, keeping densities more uniform and minimizing inspections. Intelligent Compaction is being proven to be an important improvement to an existing method of work. In the U.S., the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Transportation Research Board (TRB) all have initiatives to promote IC technology with the same objectives: to automate the compaction process, eliminate over- or undercompaction, and reduce risk by obtaining continuous real-time assessment of job quality during construction work.
Intelligent Compaction is literally ground-breaking technology. Top down, quality can be specified and designed into roads. Bottom up, contractors can exercise quality control in ways never thought possible. Risk factors can be eliminated before they occur. Although buying into IC initially requires making changes and purchasing equipment, Intelligent Compaction delivers a positive return on all investments. ■
Article courtesy of Sakai America.
Right blade turns loaders into mini dozers
By David White*
When landscape contractors encounter soft, muddy underfoot conditions, sloped terrain, sensitive surfaces such as turf, or tight spaces on the job site, turning a
Multi Terrain Loader (MTL) into a mini dozer may be the solution. By exerting very low ground pressure, MTLs can give operators access to areas where a larger machine would not be a practical
choice for moving dirt, gravel, snow and other materials or levelling the work site in finish grading applications.
Two types of blades are available. Rental operators can recommend that their customers test them on the job site to help determine the best fit for their needs.
Angle blades
With a bolt-on curved moldboard and a common back interface structure, angle blades can be hydraulically angled 30 degrees right or left of centre. Adjustable, removable skid shoes add stability and provide depth control when operating on hard surfaces such as asphalt or concrete. Angle blades can be set at three different height positions to accommodate specific dozing requirements or tire arrangements.
For aggressive earthmoving applications, operators can lock the blade. For lighter tasks, the T-handled pins can be removed to enable a lighter blade tip. Landscape contractors often supplement their revenue by providing snow removal services in the winter and snow kit supplements can further expand an angle blade’s capabilities. Such kits feature bolt-on guard assemblies to increase the moldboard height by seven inches and to expand the angle blade contour and capacity. High visibility vertical edge markers indicate blade width and moldboard orientation to machine operators. The edge markers are intended to remain flexible to temperatures above minus 40 degrees F. Also available are nonmetallic, reversible blade edges that are designed to squeegee material without marring concrete or asphalt surfaces such as parking lots, sidewalks and driveways.
Rental operators should suggest a blade with tilt and angle features. The materials should be reinforced to offer long life, even under harsh working conditions. The operator should have good visibility from the cab with the tool attached and clear views to the cutting edge. Aquality blade should have reversible cutting edges to extend the components’ wear life, while durable,
TOOLTIPS
The adjustability of a six-way blade is ideal for landscaping work that requires precise cuts and final grading.
wrapped hoses will help ensure leak-free operation. Two or more of the machines in the fleet should be able to operate the work tool for added versatility and flexibility. Universal couplings should be a consideration if this kind of flexibility is desired.
Dozer blades
Dozer blades incorporate a rugged track-type tractor variable power angle tilt blade with simultaneous tilt and angle capability for superior control and manoeuvrability. The centre section of its bolt-on cutting edge is reversible to extend wear life. Angled end bits, modelled after track-type tractor blades, allow flush cutting against a vertical surface when the blade is fully tilted. Adjustable, removable skid shoes enhance stability and control depth when operating on a surface such as asphalt or concrete.
Bolt-on edge segments further protect the cutting edge, lengthening the usable life of the tool. The edge is a structural component of the work tool and its blade becomes weakened if it is unprotected.
When recommending a blade, ask the customer about the application in which it will be used most often. Landscaping work typically requires more precise cuts and final grading, so the adjustability of a six-way blade is ideal for this type of application. Angle blades are better suited for rough grading, snow removal and general earthmoving tasks.
Contractors that use blades mostly for grading often seek the widest blade configuration possible to extend beyond the tracks; however, this may not always be the most efficient, or the most advantageous for a particular customer. This presents an opportunity for the rental operator to suggest the right tool for the job. ■
*David White is the marketing co-ordinator for Battlefield Equipment Rentals in Stoney Creek, Ont. Battlefield Equipment operates Cat Rental stores and is a Caterpillar dealer for Compact Equipment in Ontario, Manitoba and Newfoundland.
RENTAL RUMBLES
Kubota in the Courage circle
Kubota Canada has made its annual donation to KIDS HELP PHONE (KHP), with a cheque presentation for $10,000. This amount maintains Kubota within KHP’s “Courage Circle” level of donors. The Courage Circle contains companies that are within the top 10 per cent of donor contributions.
Since starting in 2000, Kubota’s donations have totalled more than $70,000. Kubota Canada says the company “believes in contributing to societal and environmental betterment.”
KIDS HELPPHONE is a national toll-free phone and web counselling and referral service that young people can contact to talk to qualified counselors about any type of distress or troubling situation they are experiencing.
***
Finning buys Fort Saskatchewan Rentals
Finning (Canada) has acquired the assets of the privately owned equipment rental company Fort Saskatchewan Rentals, Inc. The two Fort Saskatchewan Rentals Inc. stores will be reopened under the name of The Cat Rental Store. Owned by Finning (Canada) in British Columbia and Alberta, The Cat Rental Stores offer local contractors and homeowners convenient access to the compact line of Caterpillar and other brand-name equipment and specialized hand tools.
“I think very highly of Finning,” says former owner Dave Dickson. “I’ve spent 17 years growing this business and I think Finning will move it forward.”
The Cat Rental Store president and general manager Harry Hoyer noted the many opportunities that accompany the change. “By offering the Caterpillar brand, along with other light equipment and hand tools to local commercial and residential contractors and homeowners, we provide a full-service rental equipment offering that is second to none.”
This acquisition brings the total number of The Cat Rental Stores in Western Canada to 37.
WesternOne Equity rebrands in B.C.
WesternOne Equity Income Fund ("WesternOne Equity") unveiled its new brand initiative and visual identity with the launch of WesternOne Rentals and Sales, creating a streamlined and unified presence in the B.C. equipment rental marketplace. This rebranding initiative will combine the strengths of three well-established B.C.-based business units that were previously
RENTAL RUMBLES
acquired by WesternOne Equity. They include: Production Equipment, a specialist aerial high reach and material handling equipment rental company located in the Lower Mainland; Old Country Rentals, a successful equipment rentals business with two locations in Victoria, B.C., and a leading player in the Victoria and Southern Vancouver Island equipment rental industry for more than 30 years; C&N Rentals, a successful equipment rental business with two locations in Comox and Courtney, and a growing presence in the Central and Northern Vancouver Island equipment rental industry.
The launch of the new branding is effective immediately for WesternOne's equipment rental platform companies located in British Columbia. All future business activity will refer to the company as WesternOne Rentals and Sales.
"We believe that the British Columbia equipment rental market offers tremendous growth opportunities, especially for equipment rental companies that are dedicated to providing total service to their customers,” says Darren Latoski, chief executive officer. “As a direct response to the needs of our top customers who operate out of several locations across B.C., we have streamlined our internal operations and re-branded under one banner to allow our customers to benefit from our equipment fleet across five provincial retail locations; our industry expertise in several equipment rental segments; and increased access to our equipment sales and repair and service departments.”
The company says the re-branding and the corresponding launch of an aggressive marketing campaign reflect the next stage of positioning the company for growth in 2008 and beyond. ***
Husqvarna opens warehouse
Husqvarna Construction Products has opened a new warehouse facility in Mississauga, Ont. There are currently four Husqvarna warehouses located throughout Canada with the new location serving as the main facility. This enables Husqvarna Construction Products to better serve Canada's rental industry by increasing inventory and decreasing the amount of time products take to ship to customers.
Serpa gets ARAscholarship
Louise Serpa of Bel-Ayre Rentals in Winnipeg, Man., was among the 20 students awarded a portion of $34,000 in scholarships from the American Rental Association (ARA).
The scholarships range from $1,000 to $3,000 each, for recipients who are attending technical/vocational schools, community colleges, undergraduate colleges and graduate schools.
The recipients were selected by the association’s scholarship committee. All association scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, leadership, rental industry involvement, written essays on rental-related questions and references. Applicants must be owners, managers or employees of equipment rental stores or their family members.
Louise is the daughter of Carlos Serpa the owner of Bel-Ayre Rentals and past president of the Canadian Rental Association (CRA). ■
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS
E-mail: ecosman@annexweb.com
THE FUNNY PAGE
I’m an Idiot!
By Steve Milcik*
Iknow, I know…this isn’t an earthshattering column. But for once, this isn’t about me…
Let me take you back to a simpler time, one filled with images of impending summer vacations, pretty girls wearing the bare minimum, reduced workloads and weekends filled with Sangria-swilling good times. That would be July 2008, a glorious era that was bright, hopeful and beckoning towards a better tomorrow. All was well in my world, and happiness, for once, reigned supreme.
Until the day that the devil came to collect.
It was mid-week, and as I sat dozing contentedly at my desk, I heard the sounds of crystal bells in the distance, tinkling merrily. I smiled and sank deeper into my reverie. The tinkling quickly ascended into a loud, crashing clanging and with great effort, I pried open a single eye in hopes of determining what the commotion was that was interrupting my afternoon snooze. On the screen of my laptop, a flashing icon caught my eye, and with great trepidation, I reached over and performed the double-click that would turn my sunny daydream into a thunderously stormy nightmare.
“You’ve got mail.”
I noticed my hand begin to tremble as I navigated through the maze of commands that would bring me to the communication I had just received from the underworld. As the missive appeared on my screen, my heart sank and a cold chill wafted across my soul. The words in front of me were written in blood-red, and seemed to literally drip off the screen. Astench of brimstone assailed me as I read, with sinking heart, the debt-collection notice from Hell.
“My Dearest Steve, I am an idiot. Actually, I am the ultimate evil in the world of publishing, and as such, I have decided to let you know that the deadline for your next column is closer than you thought. Much, much closer. In fact, you have 27 minutes to complete it and deliver it to me. Failure to do so will result in me filling your spot in the magazine with an article about you, written by the Queen of All Things Rental, Mandy Maeren. She has some (evil chuckle)
wonderful things to say about you, and an interesting photo involving you, a goat and a hot-tub filled with pudding. I await your article with baited breath.”
Love, Chris “The Great Satan” Skalkos”
As I read his final words, I realized that the idyllic summer peace I had been living was all a lie, a fabrication of safety designed to keep me blissfully unaware of the machinations of the Dread Underlord. My shoulders drooped in defeat, and I racked my brain desperately for inspiration. I had no ideas for a story, nothing that would be relevant to the Rental Community. Sure, I could continue the saga of my barbecue, but I felt that might be pushing it, even for me. No rental industry trade shows were looming to write about, and none of the 173 rental stores I had tried to contact for an interview had returned my calls. The clock was ticking, and I was at a standstill.
Then, in a glorious rush, it came to me.
I would use this space wisely, though with some risk to myself. I would create a hard-hitting, deep-probing journalistic exposé on the foul creature that had brought so much pain and misery upon all our heads, and held our souls for ransom. Yes, I would boldly step forward to strip away the artifice and lies, and bring forth the truth for all
to see. My words would shake the foundations of his empire, forcing him to step from the shadows and face the enraged masses that he had used, abused and bored to tears with his meandering and pedantic writing for so long.
This was the day of Skalkos’ comeuppance.
It all begins here. He is a…EDITOR’S NOTE: We deeply regret that we cannot publish the rest of Mr. Milcik’s article, for it was written using very coarse language strong enough to strip a hardwood floor. Instead, we are pleased to fill the balance of this page with editorial content suitable for the rental industry. Mr. Milcik may, or may not, return to this column next month. ■
*Steve Milcik writes from Montreal, Que., and when he isn’t begging for change to pay the Ferryman, he sells rental software for Orion. Feel free to fill his inbox with spam at smilcik@orion-soft.com.
Steve’s Recipe for Rental Magazine Filler Combine:
