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Serving the Canadian rental industry for 37 years.
Phil Morand has worked hard to create a slick image for Windsor area’s Riverside Rentals.
It is not just about the BTU. Understand the different kinds of heat to give your customers the right solution.
38
Heater showcase Top heating solutions for the cold Canadian winter.
www.canadianrentalservice.com
Safe, but sorry
There is nothing to fear as long as we stay afraid.
The national and international news media have been reporting a lot recently on an interesting phenomenon: a steady, widespread drop in crime rates across just about every country and region in the developed world. The drop is seen in just about every type of crime, including crimes of violence and theft, and has been trending this way ever since the ’90s. It is partly explained by demographics; young men always commit the most crimes in a society, and there are fewer and fewer of them as a percentage of the population throughout the regions examined. However, many commentators, including The Economist, say the trend cannot be explained entirely by this effect. Other factors discussed include stiffer prison sentences (though this does not apply to some areas, including Canada), more generous welfare, better policing and security systems, easier access to abortion (controversy!), better child and youth services and even the notion that video games might be keeping potentially troublesome youth off the street. Whatever the cause, we are apparently living in an era of blissful security not seen since the ’60s.
With its typical perversity, the universe has chosen this moment to bring concerns about security to the forefront in the Canadian rental industry. This week, CRA president Jeff Campbell’s shop, St. Thomas Rent-All, was broken into and several pieces of light equipment stolen (see page 9). If you have ever seen Campbell’s
ON THE WEB:
G.C. Duke takes Bob-Cat west
Schiller Grounds Care has announced that G.C. Duke Equipment of Burlington, Ont., has been appointed the exclusive distributor for Bob-Cat commercial mowers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
Here they grow again
First Choice Equipment Rentals and Waste Management has acquired all of the garbage bin rental assets of Calgary-based Battlefield Supply. “The acquisition will expand our already growing Calgary operation, and give us access to a more industrial customer base that we haven’t previously served,” said Adam Snook, First Choice operating partner.
by Patrick Flannery
shop, you will agree that you could hardly imagine a saferseeming location, nestled in a leafy residential neighbourhood of a sleepy little town just west of London, Ont. Our back page columnist, Mark Borkowski (page 46), is alerting us to the many forms fraud can take in the business world, which brings to mind the recent scam where several equipment dealers were bilked out of thousands of dollars of equipment with fake bank drafts. On a more general level, my sense is that people are not sharing the newspapers’ glowing appraisal of our safety.
So what occasions this strange disjunction between statistics and experience? Some commentators have suggested that fewer crimes are reported to the police, and are therefore not showing up in the official statistics, but their evidence for this supposition is weak and usually anecdotal. Why would you be any less likely to report a theft to police nowadays, when you still need the report number to make an insurance claim? And haven’t police become more reactive, not less, to violent crimes?
My theory is that we are living in a time of unprecedented awareness of security risks, and unprecedented sensitivity to those risks. As lifestyles have improved, leading to a heightened sense of well-being throughout the Western world (another statistical fact with which many will disagree), we have become a society with an uncomfortable awareness of how much we have to lose. Risks and danger are intolerable to us. Safety organizations use slogans like “The Road to Zero,” implying that workplaces can and should be made completely free of any risk of injury. Mothers strap helmets on kids to take them for wagon rides. Video cameras glare at us from every business and street corner. Every night, we cower in front of a parade of crime and atrocity brought to us in real time by news organizations around the world. Is it any wonder that we don’t feel safe, even when our paranoia has made us safer than ever?
Perhaps the comforting take-away from all this is that basic precautions and sensible investments in security do work in aggregate, even if not always in individual situations. So take care, but try not to worry. CRS
First CHoiCe eMPire exPanDs
First Choice Equipment Rentals and Waste Management has acquired the assets of Eckville, Alta.-based Silverback Equipment Rentals and all of the garbage bin rental assets of Calgary-based Battlefield Supply. The acquisition is First Choice’s third corporate buy in this calendar year.
The Silverback shop has been relocated to the larger market of Rocky Mountain House, Alta., to serve the growing oilfield, industrial, and commercial construction markets. First Choice has hired former Silverback owner Trevor Schafer to run its Rocky Mountain House location as the branch manager. “Trevor brings a lot of contacts and the ‘do whatever it takes’ attitude that sets First Choice apart from our competition. He’s a great addition to our growing company,” said Adam Snook, managing partner of First Choice. “As we get established in the market we will continue to add other services like portable toilets, rolloff garbage bins, and portable fencing. We will become the total equipment supplier in Rocky like we have in our other locations. We are very excited about the potential that this busy area presents.” The new shop can be found at 5222 44th St., Rocky Mountain House.
“The acquisition [of Battlefield Supply] will expand our already growing Calgary operation, and give us access to a more industrial customer base that we haven’t previously served. This fits in perfectly with our expansion plans in a very busy market.” Snook went on. “The manager of our Calgary shop Mark Thibeault has already fast-tracked our growth, and this is another step in becoming a single-source provider to our customers. We look forward to integrating the Battlefield customers into our business, and expanding our product offerings to the end user as well.”
Husqvarna sweePs uP six reD Dots
This year, Husqvarna Group received six prestigious Red Dot design awards for the high design quality of its Husqvarna and Gardena products. Three out of the six awards were in the Best of the Best category. The red dot design award is one of the most prestigious international design awards, founded in 1955 by Design Zentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen in Germany. This year, the jury assessed 4,662 products in 19 different categories. Each product is rated on criteria such as innovation, functionality, selfexplanatory nature, quality and environmental compatibility. ”We are deeply honored receiving as many as six awards this year. Winning three Red Dot Best of the Best awards is really an achievement, showing that our focus on humanized technology is appreciated on a global scale. Design makes a difference,” said Towe Ressman, vice-president of global design at Husqvarna Group. “We also appreciate that the jury awarded our efforts to protect the environment with our recently launched batterypowered Husqvarna range that not only has no direct emissions but are lightweight and silent as well.”
Winning Red Dot Best of the Best awards were the Husqvarna 550 XP Chainsaw for exemplary ergonomics and perfect balance; Gardena rectangular sprinklers for providing and effortless and reliable modular water supply; and the Gardena wall-mounted hose boxes for being compact and user-friendly. Red Dots for product design went to the Husqvarna 136 Li HD50 Battery Hedge Trimmer, the Husqvarna 536 Li R Battery Trimmer and the Husqvarna T536 Li XP Battery Top handle Chainsaw.
Tim’s Rent-All of Bowmanville, Ont., hosted a celebration of its 40th anniversary in business on July 17. Paul Everitt of Rentquip posted this report on Facebook: “The day started at 11 a.m. with supplier displays and demonstrations. Lunch was a barbeque with Hank and Susan [Vanheuvelen’s] homemade sausage, hamburgers and hot dogs. They had slushy and snow cones, popcorn and candy floss. Dinner was amazing barbeque roast beef. Many customers, suppliers, rental operators, [Canadian Rental Association] board members and friends attended this great day. Thank you Susan and Hank for inviting all of us to your special day!”
INDUSTRY NEWS
Cooper Takes on an InvesTor
SeaFort Capital has announced a majority investment in G. Cooper Equipment Rentals Limited. The transaction closed June 30, 2013. Established in 1972, Cooper Equipment is a full-service construction equipment rental company servicing contractors in the Greater Toronto Area. Cooper Equipment specializes in compact equipment rentals and offers a broad range of construction equipment and supplies, backed by unparalleled service and support. The company operates four Ontario locations in Rexdale, Scarborough, downtown Toronto and York Region and has over 50 dedicated employees. The senior management team, including CEO Darryl Cooper and president Doug Dougherty, will have a significant ongoing investment and will continue to lead the company. Rob Normandeau, president of SeaFort, said, “Cooper Equipment has an outstanding team of hard-working employees, each of whom is dedicated to delivering excellent customer service. We see tremendous opportunity for growth and are proud to partner with Darryl, Doug and their team to support the development of the company.”
Dougherty said, “SeaFort will provide us with the capital and support necessary to continue our growth. That allows us to offer exciting opportunities to our employees and additional services and support to our valued customers.”
Cooper added, “Cooper Equipment was founded by my father Gordon in 1972. We are extremely passionate about the business, our customers and our employees. I know SeaFort shares our values and we are excited to partner with Rob and his team.”
JCB names Ceo suCCessor
JCB has announced a successor to CEO Alan Blake who is to retire at the end of the year. Blake, 63, joined JCB in 1989 and became CEO in 2010 after holding a number of senior positions in the company and after leading the biggest production expansion in JCB’s history. Since his appointment as CEO, Blake has presided over the company’s return to sales and production growth against a backdrop of continued economic uncertainty around the world. Blake will remain as a senior advisor and board member of the company.
His successor will be Graeme Macdonald, 45, who became chief executive officer designate from June 1. MacDonald has held a variety of senior roles during his 16 years at JCB and was latterly the company’s chief operating officer. He was previously managing director of the company’s Backhoe Loader business unit and also held the position of president of JCB, based at JCB’s North American headquarters in Savannah, Georgia.
In other JCB news, the JCB Global Dealer Conference held in the UK recognized several
hosepower opens mIssIsauga BranCh
HosePower Canada, with its Canadian head office in Ajax, Ont., and two full service stocking warehouse locations in Edmonton, Alta., and Laval, Que., will soon be expanding into Mississauga, Ont. As well, Mark Forget, president of HosePower Canada is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Loretta Devlin to the position of branch manager of the new Mississauga warehouse. HosePower Canada, the Canadian arm of North America’s Complete Hose Service Company, is an ISO 9001:2008 registered company and the Master Distributor for Flextral hose, fittings, and assemblies. “We are very excited to have Loretta join the HosePower Canada Team and contribute to our aggressive growth path,” said Forget. “Extensive industry knowledge and a strong commitment to customer first are just two of the many assets Loretta brings with her to HosePower.”
North American dealerships for outstanding performance with their annual Dealer of Excellence Awards, including JCB of Alberta. In addition, JCB presented two dealerships with superlative awards recognizing their exceptional achievements during 2012. JCB determines the recipients of its North American Dealer of Excellence awards based on the following criteria: market share, retail performance vs. goal, parts SOE, parts sales improvement, sales and service training and dealer development and re-branding. JCB of Alberta (Edmonton, Red Deer, Fort McMurray, Calgary) was one of the dealerships so honoured.
Van Clarkson, vice-president of sales for JCB North America, says these awards demonstrate how vital the company’s dealers are to its overall success. “The Dealer of Excellence Award is a way for JCB to celebrate dealers who embody all of the elements that make up a successful business,” Clarkson says. “JCB would not be able to successfully grow without the continued hard work of our dealer network and this a way for us to recognize their achievements.”
new head of sales and markeTIng for koBelCo
Kobelco Construction Machinery USA has announced the appointment of Ron Hargrave as vice-president of marketing and sales. As a returning Kobelco employee and experienced construction equipment professional, Hargrave brings back to Kobelco more than 38 years of experience in the industry. In his new role, Hargrave will spearhead the re-emergence of the Kobelco brand across North America, overseeing the sales operations of the company, while building and developing a strong dealer network to represent Kobelco’s full line of crawler excavators in the 3,000 to 180,000 lb. classes. “Kobelco is an innovative organization devoted to manufacturing quality equipment for today’s competitive marketplace,” states Hargrave. “I’m passionate about the brand and thankful for the opportunity to rejoin this world-class organization. We are extremely committed to quickly gaining market share and providing customers with a second-to-none level of service.” Over 14 years of Hargrave’s industry experience comes directly from his prior employment at Kobelco. He originally joined the company in a dealer development role, before advancing to senior management where he served as an excavator sales manager, then general sales manager for the state of Texas. He was later promoted to vice-president of operations for Kobelco America’s Houston operation, then to director of sales for New Holland-Kobelco North America, following the company’s joint venture with Case New Holland and Kobe Steel in 2003. He drove the successful integration of the Kobelco brand under the CNH umbrella. He also served on the board for KobelcoCNH in Carol Stream, Illinois. Following his years at Kobelco, Hargrave accepted a position as general sales manager of LiuGong products with the January Group, where he helped establish a dealer network for the products, while helping the China based company develop their product line for the North American marketplace. When LiuGong North America established an independent operation out of Katy, Texas, Hargrave was hired as president of North American operations to continue developing the company’s footprint in the United States and Canada. As Kobelco’s relaunch in North America gains momentum, Hargrave’s comprehensive experience, leadership and passion for the industry will be vital to the company’s long-term success.
“Without question, Ron will be an extremely valuable asset to our executive team,” states Katsuhiko Morita, president and CEO of Kobelco Construction Machinery USA. “His excellent credentials and proven track record in the sales and marketing of Japanese brands in North America will be instrumental in our efforts to successfully reintroduce Kobelco excavators.”
PresiDent’s sHoP roBBeD
St. Thomas Rent-All, owned by Canadian Rental Association national president, Jeff Campbell, was broken into in the pre-dawn hours of July 29 and several items were stolen. Campbell urged residents in southern Ontario to spread the word about the theft in hopes of assisting police to catch the thieves responsible. At press time, police had an individual in custody in connection with the theft, but had recovered no equipment.
The following items were taken in the robbery :
• Shindiaiwa weed trimmers
• Echo weed trimmers
• Echo leaf blowers
• Shindiawa chainsaws
• Stihl chainsaws
• Wacker gas pump
• Stihl cut quick Campbell urges anyone seeing these items for sale with a St. Thomas Rent-All sticker or what looks like to be an area where the sticker has been removed to take a photo of the item and, if possible, the individual and vehicles involved. He asks anyone in this situation to refrain from challenging the individual or otherwise getting involved as it may compromise the investigation. People approached with suspicious equipment should call 911 or the St Thomas Police at 1-519-631-1364.
Campbell’s store is in a quiet residential neighbourhood – hardly a high-crime area.
INDUSTRY NEWS
sms renTs opens new sTore In ToronTo
In order to meet the growing demand for jobready rental equipment in the Toronto area, Marcel Langlois, president of SMS Rents recently announced the opening of the latest store at 115 Manville Road, Toronto. With a growing number of requests from contractors across the GTA, SMS Rents felt that the time was right to launch the newest store.
“We had been looking for the ideal location that would allow us to better serve the downtown Toronto core and the surrounding areas,” said Langlois. “Its functionality, accessibility and close proximity to major roadways and highways provides SMS Rents with the service capability we look for in our locations. It was felt that this location met all of those requirements and fit in well with the company’s plans for growth and expansion.”
The new SMS Rents store, just a couple of blocks away from the 401 and the Don Valley Parkway, sits on two acres of land and has seven
service bays. According to Robert Taylor, the regional manager for SMS Rents, “This large, centrally located yard with the ability to house a very large and diverse rental fleet would further the firm’s growth in Toronto and surrounding areas.”
Similar to all stores in the SMS Rents network, the Toronto store will be home to an extensive line of job-ready equipment ready to serve customer needs in building construction, infrastructure development, demolition, landscaping and industrial maintenance. In keeping with the company’s philosophy of having the right tools in the right place to meet the local market demands, the selection will continually evolve.
“To help us identify the needs of this particular store, SMS Rents has had a number of sales representatives on the road meeting new customers in the area. The feedback that we are getting,” says Taylor, “has been very positive and our present customers are quite pleased at the additional GTA coverage.”
Cra sCholarshIp wInners announCed
The Canadian Rental Association’s Dorothy Wellnitz scholarship is being awarded to Dylan Graham Taylor, who receives $1,500. Taylor works for Ace Leasing in Miramichi, N.B. He is also receiving a $1,000 ARA Foundation scholarship. The Dorothy Wellnitz scholarship is awarded to a Canadian student showing leadership and interest in the rental industry. It aims to improve the level of business and technical expertise in the sector.
The CRA’s Doug Mitchell scholarship is being awarded to Karen Van Staveren, who also receives $1,500. Van Stavern is employed by Stayner Rental in Stayner, Ont. This scholarship is awarded in memory of Doug Mitchell, past president of the CRA and an active volunteer in the CRA, CRA Saskatchewan and ARA. He was an owner of The Rent-It Store in Saskatoon, Sask., until his death in July 2010. The scholarship is specifically for a student affiliated with a Canadian associate member business, due to Mitchell’s instrumental role in organizing the yearly CRA Prairie Trade Show.
Gettin G the wo R d out
Riverside Rentals knows how to grab business.
For a guy who is as likely to be elbow-deep in a machine as waistdeep fielding customers at the counter, Phil Morand sure knows how to drive a brand message. His hard work on Riverside Rental’s image and his ability to make the most of opportunities has helped the Tecumseh, Ont., rental store to weather the severe ups and downs of the local economy over the years.
by Colleen Cross & Patri C k Flannery
the store’s logo, a charming and quirky worker who looks a bit like super Mario, is everywhere you look at riverside rentals.
The 27-year-old business is anchored by family. Morand’s wife Joanne works in the shop two or three days a week, taking care of the bills, while daughter Alex, a 20-yearold university student works part time at the counter. Their younger daughter Ashley is 17.
Morand got his start sweeping the shop floor at his uncle’s company in Windsor, originally HT Reaume Construction, now Reaume Homes.
After two years of electronics at St. Clair College, he realized “I was making more money sitting on a bulldozer than they were making after three years in the field.
“So I went to work as a repair guy for Riverside Rentals for the previous owner,
Bernard Sokoloski, for about a year.”
His construction experience led to a five-year stint of electrical work for Lynx Petrochemical all across Southern Ontario, and in 1985 an opportunity presented itself when his old boss at Riverside told him he was getting out of the rental business.
But he did not have it in mind for himself. He told his father, Eugene Charles, known as Gene, about the sale, saying, “You’ve been looking for a hobby or thinking about retiring. He doesn’t do any volume or dollars. . . . Why don’t you buy it for a hobby? There’s two staff there.”
He came home from working on the Bruce the next weekend to find himself running
Riverside Rentals on weekends then turning it back over to his father during the week, with help from two other brothers.
That was April 1, 1986: “a good April Fool’s joke,” says Morand. “It ran along just fine and we’ve just slowly progressed into more and bigger.”
Sadly, Gene got sick about seven years after they bought the business and when they lost him in December 1995, he says, they had two options: sell the shop or close it.
They went for the third option: run it – with a few changes.
Morand admits the new venture didn’t always go smoothly.
“Obviously your risk level changes. Your clientele changes. You learn by getting lumps on your head. Mistakes that you’ve made you try not to make twice. They hurt.” As an example, they had to get out of snow removal contracting around 2005 because without a second person to run the shop during the day, the night and day workload was unmanageable.
Around that time, the shop’s location was becoming a concern.
“I was getting feedback from my good customers that their drivers didn’t even want to pull into my parking lot because it was on the main street Tecumseh,” says Morand. “They had to pull through a parking lot to get to our building. They couldn’t get big trucks
and tractors in. We were loading and unloading on Tecumseh Road for the big stuff. It wasn’t safe for my guys.”
When the economy took a downturn in 2008, the Windsor-Tecumseh area was particularly hard hit, with its heavily automotive sector. After surviving that first difficult year –and motivated to make a move – the Morands bought a repossessed property that was split into two parts: Riverside Rentals took on the 24,000-squarefoot building while another 18,000 square feet behind it went to another purchaser Morand had lined up.
Always good at spotting, and seizing,
an opportunity, Morand sought a market for the equipment that originally came with the business.
“There were a lot of industrial tools that were not being utilized and there was a lot of potential from the big construction areas. So it was sitting around doing nothing so I went and found a market for it.”
He and Gene started with small contractors and transitioned with them as they grew.
“We need to supply what our customer’s asking for or they will go somewhere else. It’s just not – it’s not something you want to lose a customer
Morand does not spend any more time behind the counter than he has to. Working with machinery is his passion.
Breakthrough in Technology.
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IMPROVEMENTS MADE IN FUNCTION AND DESIGN
■ Newly designed "series flow pattern" provides more flow for better heat transfer.
■ Easy-to-use and newly designed Control box located at rear passenger side.
• All controls in one place –for easier operator interface.
• OFF-ON switch allows for untrained operator use.
• Set temperature at HTF-returns for more accurate cold weather concrete curing.
• Fuel gauge and low water alert are added to the control box for trouble shooting.
■ Flow is increased through larger sized and shorter piping, resulting in faster thawing and used with available unit heaters –more warm air delivery.
■ New Power/In-Power/Out and free-wheeling feature for reel operation with dynamic brake.
repairs are a big part of riverside’s business, filling in the gaps when the rentals slow down. With around 24,000 square feet of shop space, Morand has lots of room to move equipment in and out.
over because you’re not willing to put a machine in your fleet that you can possibly make money at and you take a look at it. The cost. Is it affordable? And you try it for a year. If it’s not, you get rid of the machine. It’s as simple as
its stable of skid steers to seven and added compaction equipment such as 66-inch pad foot rollers and miniexcavators up to the five-ton model. He says small equipment is doing well in the commercial market because it
“I think the worst thing a business can do is not try something new.”
that. I think the worst thing a business can do is not try something new.”
Morand estimates Riverside’s market at roughly 40 -45 per cent residential, 40-45 per cent contractor and 10-15 per cent industrial.
In addition to carrying mainstay Stihl products that Morand says bring in all-important foot traffic, over the years the store has grown
saves on labour costs.
“Nobody uses a shovel any more,” he says. “They want a mini-excavator. . . Instead of having the mini-excavator that digs to 10 feet and buying another one that goes to 15, we’ve bought one that goes down to seven and collapses to go through a gate so the guy can get it in his backyard and dig out his flower beds. Or the contractor can get
it through a three foot door because he can’t find an apprentice with a jackhammer and a shovel to dig the plumbing trenches.”
To maintain cash flow in the fluctuating economy, Morand says, they’ve taken on lots of work. Among 10 part- and full-time employees, Riverside employs a licensed mechanic, an industrial mechanic and a small engine mechanic, and has been taking on more and more repair work. They actively seek out work.
“Come September we’ll go out and we’ll promote bringing your equipment in for repair,” he explains. “So I don’t have to lay anybody off, so I don’t have to retrain anybody. Because retraining is very expensive. . . . As an employer, it’s your job to make sure that you can sustain their paycheque.”
Morand advertises through radio, local newspapers and magazines, and relies on a couple of savvy business associates for direction. “I’m not an advertising guru,” he says.
He is currently considering doing
promotional work, supplying light towers in exchange for logos and signage, for example, for a couple of charity events.
“You have to be selective because everybody’s got a charity,” he says. “So you have to pick a group of people you feel are good exposure for your industry and stay with them. You can’t kind of one-shot it because that doesn’t prove to work anywhere. Repetition is essential.”
The potential exposure is worth the effort, he says, but it comes at a cost. “Even though your equipment doesn’t have a dollar value on it, it has a cost to run. It has a cost to service and deliver and pick up. So you have to realize that that becomes part of your advertising budget. And you have to spend so much on advertising if you want to go forward.”
Riverside Rentals has expanded more than tenfold since the Morand family took over, which Morand attributes to enjoying the work.
He also offers practical day-to-day advice: “The biggest thing that I’ve tried to teach my guys . . . is if you wouldn’t be happy using that tool, why would you put it on the shelf with the regular ready-to-rent. If it looks like a piece of junk, it’s going to get treated like a piece of junk. It has to be clean. It has to be as presentable as you can get it when that customer gets it.”
Morand is always looking for opportunities to expand while retaining Riverside’s image and advantages as a small
independent. “I want to see us get a better foothold in a couple of other industries in our area,” he says. One strategy he is considering is hiring a salesperson.
Windsor is a town in search of a new way of life following the near-collapse of the Big Three automakers five years ago. Large engine and assembly plants that were the lifeblood of the city for the last 50 years have been shuttered, taking much of their support industry with them. Riverside has had to be flexible and adaptable to survive.
“I think one of the things we’re lacking right now . . . and I hear it from my customers more than anything else –‘well, how come you never come on site like a salesman?’ So we may have to look at more time for somebody making contact with our customers and making new customers because right now our new customers are all word of mouth. I don’t know if it’s advantageous or not.”
In Morand’s words, when your customer’s saying, “I wouldn’t mind if somebody stopped by,” it seems a good problem to have. CRS
For more profiles, visit www.canadianrentalservice.com or follow us on twitter @therentalMart
Whether it’s flameless technology for potentially hazardous environments, the high heat rise of indirect-fired air heaters for extreme winter conditions, the concentrated heat of our radiant h eaters, or hydronic surface heaters for thawing and curing applications, Wacker Neuson offers a number of heat solutions for any size job during cold weather operations, providing the ideal work environment and maximizing your uptime. Extend your winter revenue and improve your bottom line with equipment from Wacker Neuson.
1-800-201-3346 www.wackerneuson.com
tu R nin G ne G ative S into po S itive S
by Je FF CaMP bell
Ilearned a thing or two from the recent break-in at my store here in St. Thomas, Ont. Check with your alarm company to see if the police are the first contact when the system is tripped. Mine had been changed without my knowledge to contact the alarm company. Sometimes this is a good idea when your jurisdiction charges for false alarms, as most do. But St. Thomas does not charge, and if the police had been notified that few minutes earlier, they might have arrived in time to catch the thieves. As it happened, we had a neighbour report our break-in at 4 a.m. because he was up with his baby and noticed a suspicious truck outside my store.
A lot of people are reluctant to talk about a break-in, but I have the opposite philosophy. In my opinion, it never hurts to advertise what happened and how quick the police response was. I changed our radio ad for the next week thanking the police, our neighbours, the entire community and rental centres throughout Ontario for the leads received. Two days after the break-in, police had an individual in custody, but no equipment yet. My hope is that if would-be thieves see they will get a determined and unified response from the rental community, it will deter at least a few of these crimes.
I look at this whole experience as an opportunity to show that we are not easy pickings. Believe it or not, an incident like this also serves as a different kind of marketing that catches people attention in ways normal messages do not. Putting our story out there has started everyone in the community talking about us. What a way to turn a negative into a positive.
Don’t forget that as a CRA member, you can register up to 1,000 items with the National Equipment Register service. The serial numbers are entered into a database that police across the continent can access when they recover stolen goods. This greatly increases the chances that you will see some of your missing equipment again, if you have an event like mine.
Jeff Campbell is co-owner of st. thomas rent-all in st. thomas, ont., and has been a member of the Canadian rental association for 34 years.
Our thoughts at the CRA are going out to Mari-Lea Johnston and Karen Marques at Signature Events Rental Centre and all their staff and families following the tragic death of one of their workers last month and the injuring of three others. The crew was erecting a tent in Watford, Ont., when one of the poles struck a hydro line. Jeremy Bowley was killed and three other workers hospitalized. He was just 21. There is no indication that this was anything other than a tragic accident, but all the questions are coming out in the media about safety and training in our industry. Again, we can use this as an opportunity to turn a very big negative into some small kind of positive by reminding our employees (again) about safety around hydro lines. It is just something that cannot be emphasized enough.
The Rental Show room block at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld closes for booking Oct. 1. After that, it is first-come, first served, so book right away with Travel Planners. You can always find out about the latest events and meetings on the Canadian Rental Association website at www.crarental.org. CRS
by Patri C k Flannery
Tpa C kin G heat
It’s about more than just the
BTU.
emporary construction heat is an important source of winter revenue for most rental stores. But your investment in heat can be wasted if customers can’t get the right heat solution for their job sites. Knowing how construction heaters work, and the differences between their designs, can help you choose the right products for your inventory and direct your customers to the correct solution for their situations. Gary Webb, national sales manager for L.B. White and 12-year veteran in heating sales and rentals, assisted Canadian Rental Service to develop this primer on rental heat.
DIRECT-FIRED HEAT
Direct-fired heaters use a simple design that allows outside or environment air to enter the heater, pass over the combustion flame and exit the other side as intensely heated air. The simplicity makes it very simple and easy to operate. The lack of a heat exchanger and other components makes it very cost-efficient as well. Further, because 100 per cent of the fuel used in the combustion process is converted into heated air, these units are highly fuel-efficient. The negative is there are byproducts produced during the combustion process (such as carbon dioxide, soot and carbon monoxide) that enter the environment. As a result, direct-fired heaters can only be used in well-ventilated conditions. The provision of fresh air not only aides in the transfer of contaminates out of the envi-
ronment, but also replaces oxygen consumed in the combustion process.
I NDIRECT-FIRED HEAT
Using a much more complicated design, indirect fired heaters use a heat exchanger which allows air to pass through the heater while never being exposed to the combustion flame. The combustion chamber is fully enclosed within the heater and is vented through a chimney stack to the outside releasing all contaminants and moisture while only clean dry air is exhausted into the environment. While the benefits are obvious, this type of system is less fuel efficient (as heated air is being vented alongside the contaminants), and typically has a higher original equipment cost.
Many heaters are available with the ability to run off more than one kind of fuel. this gives users the option to transition to a second fuel type when one runs out, or to save money once a jobsite is plumbed.
4,000
POSED FLAME
There have been concerns in the past surrounding the safety of direct-fired heaters and their potential to cause fires due to their exposed flames. Older designs produced a jet of flame that shot out well past the heater’s enclosure. Modern day technology used by some manufacturers allows for the flame to be well contained deep inside the barrel of the heater. Further, although the indirect-fired heater uses a completely enclosed combustion chamber, there are some direct-fired models that use an enclosed combustion chamber (such as Sure Flame and L.B. White). Although the systems are still direct-fired (because the heated air output passes over the combustion flame) and deliver most of the fuel efficiency benefits of direct-fired systems, the actual flame is not visible or touchable from the outside, providing maximum safety.
84,000
The number of Btu/h may vary from the chart due to building configurations, materials, and weather variables.
Handy btU charts like this can help you calculate the btUs necessary to get a certain temperature rise in a given space. but btUs are only part of the answer to applying the right heat solution.
UCTABILITy
The use of ductwork is commonplace on construction sites and allows the heated air to be directed away from the heater unit and into the desired part of the working environment. Because indirect-fired heaters are typically placed outside of the building or environment, ductwork is essential. Direct fired heaters are typically placed inside the environment and therefore do not require ducting. In most cases, ducting simply cannot be used on direct-fired systems because of the risk of exposing duct material to the combustion flame. As well, the use of ducting
TECH TIPS
may also create back pressure on the unit forcing reduced air flow and ultimately shutting down the combustion process for safety reasons. Direct-fired units with enclosed combustion chambers are approved for use with ducting, but there are strict length restrictions in order to prevent unwanted back pressure.
FRESH AIR SUPPLy
Simply defined, combustion creates a reaction when the three components of fuel, air and ignition are combined. Because all three components are required, a heater will not operate without adequate fresh air. An indirect-fired system typically operates outside of the building and therefore has a more-thanadequate fresh air supply. That same fresh air is what is being exhausted into the environment in heated form. Because direct-fired systems are typically used inside the environment, they must have fresh air supplied to the unit. This not only allows the combustion process to occur properly, but because the exhausted
air is contaminated, it also provides air exchange to provide breathable air to the workers. The rule of thumb for fresh air provision when using direct-fired heaters is one square inch of air exchange per 1,000 BTU of heat output. For example, a 150,000 BTU heater requires 150 square inches of fresh air exchange. For this reason, cost and fuel-efficient directfired heaters are commonly preferred in the early stages of construction when there is adequate fresh air supply, but as the building becomes more and more enclosed and fresh air is limited the transition to indirect-fired occurs. In situations where the building is fully enclosed or occupied, direct-fired heaters are not an option and indirect-fired heaters must be used.
BTU
What is a BTU and how many do I need? BTU stands for British Thermal Unit and is a standard and traditional unit of measure in the heating industry. It is the equivalent of 1,055 joules and is more
simply defined as the amount of energy required to heat (or cool) one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Although the science behind the measurement is much more complicated than that, it is more simply used in our industry to determine how much heat is required to elevate the temperature within an unheated environment to a comfortable working level. A simple rule of thumb is one to three BTU per cubic foot of air per hour depending on the amount of insulation, air circulation and other conditions of the environment. There are manufacturers that will market their products’ ability to heat a certain amount of square feet, when in reality the calculation should be made on cubic feet. The ceiling height of an environment will be a large contributing factor to determining how many BTU are needed, as it is the total environment space that is needing heat, not just the floor. There are a number of calculators available that can assist with calculating the required amount of BTU.
FUEL SUPPLy
There are many types of fuel that can be used to satisfy combustion, but in the construction industry it is narrowed down to three primary fuels: liquid propane gas (LP), natural gas (NG), and oil (which may consist of kerosene, diesel, stove or fuel oil). LP typically burns cleaner and has no or very low odour, but can present storage and transportation issues as there are many laws, rules and regulations surrounding its use. Although these may not be as complicated as many rental operators believe them to be, you should check with your local gas association for requirements. Natural gas is becoming more and more available across the country and many contractors will make the decision to switch from LP to NG once the environment has been plumbed and certified. This is done primarily as a fuel cost savings to the contractor. For this reason, many manufacturers now make dual fuel heaters that allow for a very simple transition from one gas to the other.
by Mark b orkoWski
Ca S h inje Ction
Private equity firms are looking to buy or invest.
Back on the news page, you may have noticed an item announcing SeaFort Capital’s investment in Cooper Equipment Rentals, a venerable Toronto rental house. It seems like not a week goes by without an announcement of this kind in the rental industry – and those are only the ones we hear about. Clearly, there is something about the rental business that attracts these kinds of investors. Let’s take a closer look at the private equity sector and see if we can find some ways that a rental store like yours could attract this kind of powerful financial help.
Private Equity Groups have not been hardhit by the credit crunch or the stock market decline. They have capital to invest and are looking for business acquisitions. One of the major market shifts for the acquisition of privately held companies has been the growth in the number of PEGs over the last decade. These organizations number in the thousands in both the United States and Canada. Private equity firms generally manage money for insurance funds, pension funds, charitable trusts and sophisticated investment groups. They have money to invest. Despite the downturn in the Canadian economy, the buy-
out and investment market for constructionrelated businesses is very active.
PEGs have become key players in business acquisitions. They offer flexibility as a liquidity source, giving entrepreneurs the ability to take some cash off the table, re-capitalize their company or simply sell and move on. Private equity refers to buyout groups that seek to acquire ongoing, profitable businesses that demonstrate growth potential.
The private equity market had traditionally been restricted to acquiring larger companies. But increased competition for those larger operations, the greater growth potential of
even small companies involved in Canada’s construction industry are a hot target for investors right now. a private equity firm might offer a chance to get value out of your business – or take your business to the next level.
smaller firms, and an easier path to exiting the investment of smaller firms in the future have played a role in attracting PEGs to smaller companies. PEGs are typically organized as limited partnerships controlled and managed by the private equity firm that acts as the general partner. The fund invests in privately held companies to generate above-market financial returns for investors.
The strategy and focus of these groups vary widely in investment philosophies and transaction structure preferences. Some prefer complete ownership, while others are happy with a majority or minority interest in acquired companies. Some limit themselves geographically while others have a global strategy. PEGs also tend to have certain things in common. They typically target companies with relatively stable product life cycles and a strategy to overcome competition. They avoid leading-edge technology (this is what venture capitalists want) and have a preference for superior profit margins, a unique business model with a sustainable and defensible market niche and position.
Other traits that appeal to PEGs are strong growth opportunities, a compelling track record, low customer concentrations, and a deep management team. Most prefer a qualified management team that will continue to run the day-to-day operations while the group’s principals closely support them on the board of director level.
Private equity buyouts take many forms, including:
OUTRIGHT SALE
This is common when the owner wants to sell his ownership interest and retire. Either existing management will be elevated to run the company or management will be brought in. A transition period may be required to train replacement management and provide for a smooth transition of key relationships.
E MPLOyEE B UyOUT
PEGs can partner with key employees in the acquisition of a company in which they play a key role. Key employees receive a generous equity stake in the conservatively capitalized company while retaining daily operating control.
FAMILy S UCCESSION
This type of transaction often involves backing certain members of family management in acquiring ownership from the senior generation. By working with a PEG in a family succession transaction, active family members secure operating control and significant equity ownership, while gaining a financial partner for growth.
R ECAPITALI zATION
This is an option for an owner who wants to sell a portion of the company for liquidity while retaining equity ownership to participate in the company’s future upside potential. This structure allows the owner to achieve personal liquidity, retain significant operational input and responsibility and gain a financial partner to help capitalize on strategic expansion opportunities.
F EATURE STORY
G ROWTH CAPITAL
Growing a business often strains cash flow and requires significant access to additional working capital. A growth capital investment permits management to focus on running the business without constantly having to be concerned with cash flow matters.
PEGs have become a major force in the acquisition arena. They can also be thought of as strategic acquirers in certain instances, when they own portfolio companies in your industry or a related area that addresses the same customer base. These buyers may be in a position to pay more than an industry or strategic buyer that does not have this financial backing.
The equipment rental industry is particularly attractive to PEGs right now because investors, particularly American investors, want exposure to the Canadian housing construction market. Real estate is a well-understood asset in financial circles, and PEGs are confident that they can predict where and when a certain area will take off, bringing its construction contractors and associated suppliers with it. The PEG’s goal is usually only to invest for two to five years and then get out, pocketing the returns made in that time. Equipment rental offers them a great opportunity for this because, in many respects, a rental store’s growth potential is only restricted by the amount of equipment it is able to afford. With a PEG’s deep pockets behind it, a rental store can aggressively pursue a very rapid growth strategy and even snap up competitors to widen its
market. The key requirement for the rental store is to have an active, efficient sales force that can quickly inform key customers about the expanded inventory on offer.
Private equity firms are not often household names. They tend to be in the background of the business world rather than having their names out front on a sign. For that reason, it can be hard to make contact with them directly. Your best bet is to contact an experienced investment professional and get him to set up some meetings.
about the author
Mark Borkowski is president of Toronto based Mercantile Mergers & Acquisitions Corp. He writes the M&A Matters column for Canadian rental service. Mercantile specializes in the sale of mid market companies sold to strategic buyers or private equity firms. He can be contacted in confidence at mark@mercantilema.com or (416) 368-8466 ext. 232 or www.mercantilemergersacquisitions.com
CoM in G events
Sept. 28 CRA Ontario Social Meeting Niagara Falls, Ont. 8 www.crarental.org
2014
Jan. 10 - 11
B.C. Regional Trade Show Langley, B.C. 8 www.crarental.org
Feb. 9 - 12
The Rental Show Orlando, Fla. 8 www.therentalshow.com
Feb. 28 - March 1
CRA Atlantic Regional Trade Show Moncton, N.B. 8 www.crarental.org
March 14 - 15
CRA Prairie Regional Trade Show Saskatoon, Sask 8 www.crarental.org
March 18 - 19
Canadian Rental Mart Toronto, Ont. 8 www.canadianrentalmart.com
March 25 - 26 Quebexpo St. Hyacinthe, Que. 8 www.crarental.org
understanding bankruptcy
by Deryk Coward
PIf your customer goes broke, get in line.
ractising in the area of collections, I often come across debtors who are insolvent and/or have declared bankruptcy. Even if your company is financially strong, this issue is important to you because, generally speaking, these types of debtors fail to pay your invoices.
Bankruptcy and insolvency are governed by federal legislation, so the law is uniform across the country. The actual statute that governs how companies and individuals can go bankrupt is called the “Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.” There are many companies that specialize in dealing with situations involving bankruptcy and insolvency. Bankruptcy trustees work with companies and individuals in order to comply with the provisions of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. Lawyers specialize in this area of the law, as the federal legislation can be quite complex, particularly in cases involving corporate debtors.
A company or individual can be insolvent without going bankrupt. This happens a lot. The typical situation usually involves very proud people who cannot pay their bills but decide they do not wish to go bankrupt. When dealing with this type of debtor, sometimes it is best to simply work with them and accept small payments over a long period of time. If the debtor is someone of such moral character that they decides not to avail themselves of the protection of the bankruptcy laws, then there is a good chance they will eventually live up to paying your debt. Whether you take that route in any particular situation is obviously driven by the particular facts of the case, and every case is going to be different.
Applying a heavy-handed approach to an insolvent debtor may do you a disservice in the end. If your lawsuit against the person is the very thing that causes the individual to declare bankruptcy, then you will likely not collect very much on your debt. When a company or individual declares bankruptcy, any lawsuit against it is immediately halted. You are not allowed to continue your lawsuit against that bankrupt entity. The bankruptcy
process begins, and the bankrupt entity must co-operate with the trustee in bankruptcy in order to obtain a “discharge.” A discharge means that the bankrupt person or corporation has fulfilled its obligations to the bankruptcy trustee and that the debts are wiped out.
The overall purpose of bankruptcy legislation is to provide companies and individuals with an opportunity for a fresh start in situations where they are clearly insolvent and unable to meet their financial obligations. One of the obligations of the bankruptcy trustee is to verify the assets and income of the bankrupt. Although bankrupt individuals will eventually have all their debts wiped out, they are not allowed to keep their money. Whatever money they have (there are some exemptions, such as personal effects) must be distributed to their creditors equally, in proportion to the amount of each creditor’s claim. For example, if a bankrupt person has $1,000 in the bank and owes three creditors $10,000, $20,000 and $30,000, respectively, then the first creditor will receive $200, the second $400 and the third $600 (each receiving two per cent of the total indebtedness).
From your perspective as a creditor, it is very important that you take the time to properly fill out and execute the proof of claim form that will be sent to you by a bankruptcy trustee. The bankruptcy trustee is obliged to pay out only those creditors who have proven the legitimacy of the debt by properly filing a proof of claim. There are specific time limits that must be observed, and those time limits will be clearly written in the bankruptcy paperwork you receive from the bankruptcy trustee. All of this underscores the importance of knowing as much as possible about your customers. Do they own property? Where do they bank? Do they have an employer or someone they are doing contract work for? Have they declared bankruptcy before? If it is a company, is the individual behind the company (or anyone else) prepared to sign a personal guarantee for the debts of the company?
Your work, your word – even you. So much of what you do relies on being dependable. Shouldn’t your equipment be held to the same standard? Subaru offers a full line of generators and pumps, all powered by Subaru’s technology-leading overhead cam engines – so there are no questions, no worries, just dependable equipment.
Be Dependable, Buy Dependable. Man Up. Insist on Subaru.
Learn more by visiting subarupower.com or calling 800.277.6246
a worker wearing the RFID tagged apparel. If the worker enters the sensing antenna detection zone, the system can trigger an alarm that can be used to initiate a shutdown sequence and mitigate a potential workermachine interaction.
RFID technology was originally designed and built with the construction and waste industry in mind, but its application has moved into other industries such as oil and gas, mining, ports, steel manufacturing and many more. Any industry that operates equipment and has ground workers on site will benefit greatly from this technology. Most RFID technology is not industry-specific. It is designed for any company that cares for the safety of its people and wants to make a positive change.
The benefits for the end user are a reliable safety system that can detect people rather than objects. This means no false alarms; RFID clothing does not “cry wolf.” Any safety consultant will tell you this is an important consideration in any safety program. Systems and devices that generate frequent false alarms will quickly be ignored or disabled by workers or even management.
The larger pieces of equipment on most job sites are rugged and can handle a few knocks and bumps. Random objects on a job site can be replaced if struck by a machine, but not a human life. Company owners who rent machines equipped with RFID apparel will protect not only their ground workers but also contractors and visitors to the work site. All they need do is require all on-site personnel wear RFID-equipped safety vests and hard hats.
Ground workers who wear RFIDequipped safety vests and hard hats allow themselves to be detected, and allow operators to be alerted that there is a worker behind them – even if that worker is in the blind spot of the equipment. Equipment operators benefit from the elimination of false positive alarms that are common with active, vehicle-based obstacle detection systems. When the vehicle display alerts the operator of the presence of an RFID tag, they can be sure there is a ground worker behind their vehicle and not just a random object.
Our system, the Scan-Link Armour System, also has the capability to record data such as the date and time
of detection, the specific apparel type and the tag ID that was detected. The data can be retrieved wirelessly using a laptop and the Scan-Link Rapid Pair software program. This data recording feature will help company owners and health and safety personnel gather valuable data that has not been available before. The number of potential near misses and possible fatalities that have been avoided can now be tracked and patterns where individuals are being regularly detected in danger zones can be recognized. Using such information will help owners and health and safety personnel identify the need to either retrain the worker or take another look at the job site layout.
Safety is part of every business today and has become both a culture and revenue-generating business opportunity. The concern for job site safety is ever growing and will not be going away. The use of RFID technology for personnel detection is an evolution in job-site safety which will soon be expected or mandated on worksites. Offering rental customers a safety system to protect ground workers takes
that extra step away from the customer and provides an added-value service. Preparing a rental fleet for this technology is as simple as installing a wire harness and a pre-fabricated bracket onto the equipment. The RFID antenna and display units are quick connecting so you can move the hardware to any piece of equipment as needed. The apparel is a consumable and an opportunity for another sales revenue stream.
about the author
Jonathan Fava is a founding partner in Scan-Link. Based in Ancaster, Ont., Scan-Link manufactures and distributes the Armour Safety System and backup safety products for mobile equipment. Scan-Link can provide custom, turnkey solutions for rental fleets
Dry
ice blasting
Dby Mike M Cg raW
The process is called sublimation. For dry ice blasting this means no mess, which puts dry ice blasting in a league all it’s own when it comes to cleaning equipment indoors, or in any area where a buildup of cleaning waste is undesirable.
Other forms of blasting, such as sandblasting, generally rely on the hardness and angularity of the cleaning media combined with air pressure that works to pulverize and remove the contaminate. Sand blasting is a very fast method of removing paint, and prepping metals for re-painting as it creates a profile in metal for better paint adhesion, but is a very ineffective as a cleaner as it creates secondary waste and damages almost all substrates. Power washing is much better for cleaning than sand blasting in many situations, but delivers its own set of problems. When water as a waste byproduct is problematic, when water is a scarce resource or when the high pressures required to clean some contaminates may damage the substrate, one may have to rule our power washing as an option. When we look at dry ice blasting and the four basic principles by which it operates, we can see what set it apart from the others:
1. Thermal differentials between the contaminate and the substrate
2. Explosive sublimation
3. Hardness of media
4. Air pressure
F R ozen C lean
can clean without abrasion.
ry ice is pure, liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) that is super-compressed until it becomes a solid. It does not turn back into a liquid when it warms, but rather skips this step and turns into a gas.
The temperature of dry ice is -80C. The extreme cold causes the contaminate to shrink and detach itself from the substrate. The explosive sublimation process of the solid CO2 converting to a gas (800 times its volume in one millisecond), coupled with the high pressure airstream, works to blast the contaminate from the surface. The hardness of media plays a lesser role in the process as the dry ice is relatively soft (only about as hard as a fingernail). This however, is what makes it such a great method of cleaning - it is fast, sterile and won’t damage most surfaces.
Dry ice blasting used CO2 captured as
a byproduct from such other industrial processes as ammonia, fertilizer, natural gas production and large scale fermentation processes. That means dry ice blasting adds absolutely no greenhouse gas to the atmosphere that was not already there. As well, unlike water, sand, and soda blasting, it creates no secondary waste stream. It is non-abrasive, non-conductive, non-toxic, non-flammabl, and non-waste-generating. It is safe for use in sterile environments such as food and pharmaceutical facilities. It is also safe for use on live electrical components. When used on machinery, the equipment can be running and can even be hot (in fact, it is better if it is hot).
Machinery rarely needs disassembly before cleaning with dry ice blasting. Now that we understand most of what separates dry ice blasting from all other forms of abrasive blasting methods, we have to talk about what can put this advanced technology out of reach of most plant managers, maintenance superintendents and homeowners: the price.
To purchase a dry ice blasting machine you are looking at a $30,000$40,000 buy-in. EcoJet strongly endorses ColdJet products for the way they are able back their product line. ColdJet have been in the game a long time and are trendsetters in this industry. The standard equipment package includes a blasting machine an after cooler, a few lengths
ecoJet restored the famous toronto statue, rising, using dry ice blasting. the technique is perfect for applications where the substrate must not be damaged and water is undesirable.
of blast hose and a few nozzles. This does not include an air supply, but for rental operations providing compressors, this is probably not a problem. For air supply you will generally need a compressor that can supply 120 PSI at 160 CFM.
As $2,500 per day when a compressor, a supervising technician and all the required ice are thrown in.
Operating dry ice blasting equipment is pretty simple. Once you understand the basic principles of how dry ice reacts with moisture and the atmosphere, you will have a much easier time troubleshooting problems in the field.
Basic operation lesson one is, water and dry ice are arch-enemies. Operators need to be warned against filling up the hopper then going for lunch. When they get back, their hopper full of nice fluffy ice pellets will have turned into a frozen block of hairpulling frustration.
Dry ice blasting is widely used to clean the following kinds of equipment:
Power generation:
Turbines
Compressors and generators
AC/DC motors
Circuit breakers
Switch gear Transformers
Rotors and stators
Insulators
Field frames
Substation isolators and bushings
Rubber and plastic:
Moulds of all kinds
Tilt-back and lift presses
Food and beverage processing:
Slicers and dividers
Pack-off tables
Labelers and gluers
Ovens and conveyors
Mixes and baggers
Ishida weighers
Bottling lines
Contract cleaning:
Fire and smoke restoration
Mould remediation
Odour elimination
Water damage
Lead paint abatement
Adhesive and tar removal
Corrosive contaminants removal
Plant shutdowns
Foundry and forging:
Removing resins and release agents
Permanent aluminum moulds
Semi-solid castings and forging dies
Core boxes and vents
Refractory coatings
Shell Core moulds
Die cast tooling
Conveyors
Medical:
Medical stints and implants
Thermoplastic injection moulds
Titanium, stainless and PEEK products
Surgical tools and instruments
Thermoset injection moulds
Deflashing and deburring
Liquid injection silcone moulds
Catheter tips
Manifolds
about the author
Mike McGraw is a partner in EcoJet
Dry Ice Blasting. EcoJet is based in the Greater Toronto Area with nationwide service. McGraw can be reached at 1-888-641-6777 ext. 212 or mike@ecojetinc.com.
QUALITy AND DEPENDABILITy
8www.ces-sales.com
CES (Construction Equipment Solutions) continues to provide quality heating products as well as service parts and technical assistance to the Canadian rental industry. CES carries a complete line of heating products for all your heating applications and fuel choices, including propane, natural gas, electric, and oil fired units. As well, it supplies units that are direct-fired, indirect-fired and infra-red as well as convection. The Val 6 heaters are designed with the highest of quality and dependability in mind. The Val 6 radiant heat is able to heat an object without heating the air and loosing efficiency at the same time. The Val 6 heaters are not affected by wind or cold ambient temperatures the same way forced air heaters are. Not only are the Val 6 heaters ecofriendly, releasing only one to two parts per million of carbon
h eate R
monoxide, but they are able to convert almost 100 per cent of their fuel to energy. This makes the Val 6 a very efficient form of heating.
CES also offers the full line of Marley Engineered heating products. The TBX series mobile warmer comes in two sizes. The mobile warmers have a thermostat with a positive off and fanonly positions with a range from 40 to 100 F. Ten-inch wheels allow for easy rolling over obstacles on a jobsite to the spot where heat is required. Marley offers a complete line of electrics from 1,300 Watts up to 100,000 BTU.
SAVES WEAR AND TEAR
8www.serioustoaster.com
The Serious Toaster ground thawing system is fast, thawing ground 1.6 inches per hour. It is easy to set up as two men can move it. The Toaster can be used in series or in such custom configurations as circles, squares or tees. There is no need to clear ice and snow
before using the system. The safe design with no open flame means you can place Serious Toasters anywhere. Users can save money by exposing utilities and save wear and tear by not using equipment in frost conditions. Serious Toasters are stackable so multiple units store and transport easily. Because they have minimal moving parts, there is little maintenance required.
U NIFORM HEAT DELIVERy
8www.thawzall.com
Thawzall’s THC250 uses patented HeatZone technology that delivers heat more uniformly with five separate zones at 600 feet each. It thaws more quickly, cures more evenly and saves a minimum 24 gallons of fuel per day over its competitors. The THC250 includes a rugged boiler with a top draft flow for cleaner burns and more efficient fuel usage. No annual de-sooting is required.
The heater is designed to be easy to use with a newly designed control box located on the rear passenger side. The new power-in/power-out and freewheeling feature for reel operation with dynamic brake make this a strong hydronic heater offering.
P ORTABLE AND FLE x IBLE
8www.flagro.ca
Flagro Industries is pleased to introduce the new FVO75TRFC series indirect-fired heater trailer for 2013. This oil-fired heater trailer includes a 180-gallon fuel tank, providing a continuous run time of 30 hours before re-fuelling is necessary. The fully welded steel fuel tank includes 100 per cent full fuel containment. The trailer includes a 4-inch C-channel bumper for fuel tank protection, dual 3,500 lb axles and is U.S. Department of Transportation-approved. The powerful reverseinclined blower and Riello burners provide 130 F
temperature rise at 7,000 CFM. The return air duct inlet allows for recirculation of warm inside air and/ or pressurization of the building as desired. Both one- and three-phase power supply options are standard equipment. The proven Flagro heat exchanger design using 304 Series stainless steel construction ensures the FV-750 will stand up to the most brutal winters North America offers. Optional Hitex ducting and thermostat kits are also available. R EADy FOR ANy
THING
8www.dewalt.com
Whether your customer uses it in the garage or on the jobsite the DeWalt DXH135HD 135,000 BTU forced air kerosene heater is up for the task. With jobsite-ready dual powder-coated steel roll-cage-style handles, front barrel supports with an added storage bin and solid rubber flat-free tires and a shell made from thick steel, it is up for any challenge. Equipped with high-output fully enclosed motors and large glovefriendly controls, it is easy to use in any situation. The DXH135HD heats up to 4,200 square feet for up to 11 hours with its 14 gallon fuel tank and is controlled by a factoryinstalled thermostat.
heater has been factory tested for multiple fuel types. If customers use kerosene, diesel or even jet fuel this heater has all the versatility and safety features the job site requires.
SAFE AND RELIABLE
8www.sureflame.com
The new IX410 indirect industrial heater by Sure Flame is safe, tough and reliable. With four safety shutdown controls, a high limit switch, an exhaust limit switch, an air switch and a flame rod the IX410 is designed for safety.
This heater is designed to operate in the most extreme conditions. The robust exoskeleton, stainless steel heat exchanger, lifting hook and fork lift pockets makes it ready to withstand even the most trying environments. An adjustable handle and 16-inch puncture proof wheels add to the durability and make for easy maneuverability. The IX410 operates on natural gas or propane with the switch of a single lever with no orifice to change.
•
• 2 year warranty
This DeWalt heater is equipped with a high limit safety switch and a photo CAD cell to shut the unit off in unsafe conditions. Customers can use this heater with no worries and focus on the task at hand. This kerosene
It is also designed to allow for recirculation, increasing efficiency and reducing fuel consumption while still maintaining constant, clean dry heat. Requiring less than 12 amps to operate, the IX410 is non-polaritysensitive indoor or outdoor. Duct size not an issue as the IX410 comes able to accept two 12-inch or one 16-inch duct with an optional transitions allowing for a one 18-inch duct scenario.
8www.thawzall.com
The Thawzall HeatZone Model 1350, patent pending, is a diesel-powered portable heater capable of generating 1.35 million BTUs of dry, flameless heat for the petroleum industry in locations where flametype heaters are regulated. It delivers 275 Fahrenheit temperature with 7,500 CFM circulation. The Model 1350 uses standard components familiar to tech service personnel to achieve high use and reliability in the field. The Model H1350 uses components that meet Class 1, Division 2 standards. The generator, spark-proof alternator, explosion-proof relays, spark-arresting exhaust heat exchanger and spark-free control provide more safety in regulated environments. Thawzall 1350 models feature fast and easy access to all systems for rapid serviceability. The heaters achieve a higher conversion of fuel into BTUs than other flameless devices – up to 94 per cent. Warm-up is fast due to the innovative heat chamber design. The operator-friendly design uses only three controls: a diesel start key, a temperature set knob and an air flow set knob. All heat-producing elements operate below 400F. The Model 1350 includes an automatic over-speed diesel positive air shutoff.
L.B. White’s Premier unit heaters are one of the most popular styles of direct-fired heaters in their class. The Premier 170-DF features dependable direct-spark ignition, remote thermostatic control, effortless extendable wheel-barrel handles, easy rolling wheels, and a corrosionresistant Tri-Shield finish.
With 170,000 BTU/hours and the option of using ducting, the new Premier 170DF is perfect for delivering highly efficient and flexible heat distribution for any construction heating need. The product puts out 1,200 CFM, and can run in vent mode to help move air without heat.
This dual fuel product works on both liquid propane and natural gas and easily converts with the turn of a handle. It is proven as a rugged, long-lasting product with a sleek look.
The Premier 170-DF is also 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, making it a favorite of your insurance company. Also available are the Premier 80, 170 and 350 LP and NG models, as well a 350,000 BTU dual fuel model. All Premier heaters are CSA-certified.
8www.heat-king.ca
The Heat King Glycol Mobile heater is used for ground thawing applications during the winter months throughout Canada and the United States. It is used for concrete curing, shale gas fracturing and space heating. The Glycol Mobile uses 200,000 BTU heat exchangers for proper temperature control. Models are available in three sizes based on the coverage of ground space that will need to be thawed or cured. The HK 150 is the smallest of the Heat King family. This unit was designed with the residential contractor in mind. It is quiet, compact and fuel-efficient, yet powerful enough to thaw ground, cure concrete or provide temporary heat for up to two new home sites at the same time. The HK 300 is a midsize heater at 300,000 BTU. It is the most popular of the three Heat King models. It is designed for the residential and commercial contractor to thaw or cure large areas and still maintain fuel efficiency while being compact enough to easily transport after every project. The HK 500 is the most powerful and largest model heater of the Heat King family. It has the capacity to thaw up to 11,200 square feet, to cure concrete up to 22,400 square feet and to provide temporary space heating for up to 15,000 square feet. It is fuel efficient and quiet for large commercial applications. Heat King‘s unique double loop design provides increased reliability and more consistent heat for better control. The
two-loop system refers to the heater loop and the field loop. In the heater loop, glycol is pumped from the reservoir through the two, 250,000BTU coil heaters where it is heated and then dumped back into the reservoir. In the field loop, glycol is pumped from the reservoir through the field hoses that are laid out to do the thawing or curing process and then back to the reservoir for re-heating. This will allow for less chance of boiler shock, which is when cooled glycol from the field hose re-enters the system and can cause damage or destroy the heater. The Heat King Family of Mobile Glycol Heaters can help the residential or commercial contractor to thaw the ground or cure concrete for any project.
H IGH-PERFORMING AND PORTABLE
8www.lmtemperature.com
One of the most efficient heaters in today’s market, this two million-BTU unit is one of the largest indirectfired heaters available in Canada. The IDF2000 heater contains a variable frequency motor to control air volume, temperature rise and start-up without in-rush.
This heater is able to run on single or threephase power without any modification. Its fully modulating, 88 per centefficient burner, allows for significant cost savings in fuel. The IDF2000 is easily transported and portable as it fits through a standard doorway.
Hilti. Outperform. Outlast.
8www.allmand.com
Allmand manufactures the Maxi-Heat portable heater for temporary worksite heat, concrete curing, equipment pre-heating, wellhead thawing, plant maintenance, pipeline construction, winter painting, industrial tank coating, and a host of other applications.
Indirect combustion through Maxi-Heat’s twin 505,000 BTU/hour dieselfired heaters ensures that only clean, breathable heated air enters the work area.
Each of the heater units has 16-inch diameter flanged outlets that allow up to 110 feet of flexible ducting to be connected to each unit, to ensure that combustion by-products from the heat exchangers are exhausted safely away from the heated area.
The Allmand Maxi-Heat now features a 250-gallon fuel capacity that provides over 30 hours of continuous operation without refueling. The Maxi-Heat’s heater units produce a total of 1,010,000 BTU/hour at sea level with a total output of 6,500 CFM of clean heated air.
Each of the two individual heater units may be operated independently on job sites where heating requirements are less demanding.
S
8www.campoequipment.com
Campo Equipment has introduced a new small electric heater for 2013. The Blaze 1.5E (1,500 Watts) is lightweight and portable, weighing only 13 lbs with overall dimensions of 10.88 by 8.33 by 12.27 inches. It produces 125 CFM maximum and 5,100 BTU. It comes with an adjustable ambient thermostat with a range of 32 to 150F. Campo Equipment has also upgraded all its gas indirect-fired units (Blaze 400G, 700G, 1000G and 2000G) with easy NG/LP switchover valves, two gas pressure gauges on all trains (inlet and manifold side) and panel-mount digital voltmeters.
Campo Equipment heater designs are geared towards the portable heater rental market, for instance, the NG/ LP easy switchover valve means a technician does not have to be scrambling with tedious orifice changes in extreme cold weather conditions. Seasoned rental houses know that the most common cause for problems with heaters on site are associated with improper setup, meaning incorrect gas supply or power supply. Campo’s gas pressure gauges and voltmeters eliminate the need for technicians to have to carry voltmeters or manometers on them to set up heaters.
ARCOTHERM PHOEN SERIES
ARCOTHERM FIRE SERIES
8 www.frost-fighter.com
The IHS700 GT is a 700,000 BTU indirectfired heater with four inches of static and one of the highest temperature rises in the industry. The generator has enough capacity to run two ICE Fighter 700s for larger jobs requiring more heat.
The 190-gallon tank will provide approximately 40 hours of continuous run time before it requires re-fuelling.
The trailer is dual-axle with a hand railed work platform and a storage area for ducting.
The oil burner has a Genysis controller with an LED display, providing easy troubleshooting information and a history log.
The heater has a stainless steel highefficiency heat exchanger and is fully insulated, providing more heat to the jobsite with greater fuel savings. There is quick-connect wiring on the burner, so the heater can be changed to a LP/ NG burner quickly.
Also available is a Safety Shield Package for hazardous conditions and pipeline work.
U PGRADED SERIES
8 www.canthermheaters.com
Cantherm is located in Winnipeg and specializes in indirect-fired heaters, ranging from 113,000 to 900,000 BTU. Available in four series, each is designed for specific markets from the small job site to big construction sites requiring larger BTU heaters. The Arcotherm Phoen Series is available in two versions: the 380 gas (380,000 BTU), which operates on natural gas or propane with a quick-change valve, and the 400 oil (two-stage 411,000 BTU high fire/260,000 BTU low fire) that operates on diesel or kerosene. With an onboard fuel tank of 56 gallons, run times are extended 19.5 hours on high fire and 30 hours on low fire. Standard equipment includes a heavy duty frame kit with a convenient single lifting point, pneumatic tires, a dedicated second blower for combustion air and an optional inlet adapter to recirculate heated air. Phoen offers 3,250 CFM and is ductable to a maximum of 100 feet. The Phoen 380 has been upgraded for 2013 with a completely re-designed gas train and is guaranteed to operate at -40 C. In addition a larger ignition transformer has been added to both oil and gas versions which will improve start-up ignition at lower temperatures.
DESIGN
8 www.sureflame.com
Sure Flame has announced enhancements to the IX1500, its 1,500,000 BTU-per-hour indirect fired heater. This highefficiency, small-footprint heater operates on either propane or natural gas.
Enhancements for 2013 include a 10 horsepower motor for approximately
50 per cent more CFM, a robust cast burner head and a new stainless steel combustion chamber for increased efficiency and reliability.
This unit comes in various power configurations to meet the user’s job site requirements. Conversion between fuels is done with a simple turn of a handle.
At only 32.5 inches wide, it will fit through most openings. The small footprint means less space is required for off-season storage.
Both the inlet and outlet are ductable. The IX1500 complements the current line of Sure Flame indirect and direct-fired heaters ranging from 100,000 to 2,250,000 BTU.
HEATERS SAFE FOR URBAN USE
8 www.dewalt.com
With growing concerns in large metropolitan areas about the changes in job site safety laws regarding the use of fuelor gas-powered heaters, the challenge to provide heat to these job sites has become very expensive and difficult. New from DeWalt this season is a line of construction site electric heaters.
These units can be operated without paying
your skilled labor to sit and watch the heater, and as a result, all your time and money can be spent getting the job done.
The thermostatically controlled DXH1000TS electric heater operates at either 10 or seven kilowatts depending on your power needs.
With dual-coil supports, an oversized ergonomic handle and very durable job-site construction, this heater will provide your customer’s job site with many years of reliable service. For more product listings please visit
Temperatures may run hot or cold, but our equipment never does.
At DOOSAN Portable Power, we expose our equipment to conditions in the extreme, including temperatures ranging from -30° to 140° F, in the name of extreme performance. Rigorous testing and Tier 4 technology ensure that our machines perform efficiently in the most demanding and complex settings across the world. Ingenuity, innovation and steadfast customer service make ours the
hottest name in portable power today. Put us to the test.
