With WILL MAZUREK, Atlas Copco

Q. WHAT TRENDS

Are

YOU SEEING IN THE MARKET, AND WHAT SOLUTIONS DO YOU OFFER TO ADDRESS THOSE TRENDS?

The buying cycle and planning has shifted with the supply chain changes. More and more dealers began to plan further and further ahead, placing orders earlier for future fleet. At the same time, there is still fleet required for opportunities now. Given Atlas Copco’s global production (i.e., Rock Hill, South Carolina and Antwerp, Belgium), we can leverage these facilities to better meet the dealer needs. Even as leadtimes come down in categories across the market, this additional flexibility allows Atlas Copco to partner with dealers for creative solutions, or even offer a new value.

Q. WHAT CHALLENGES ARE YOU HEARING FROM RENTAL COMPANY CUSTOMERS, AND HOW CAN YOUR COMPANY HELP SOLVE THOSE CHALLENGES?

The supply and demand in the medium air compressor range is critical. One way that Atlas Copco and its partners can better address these market needs is through the introduction of Electric Compressors, specifically the E-Air H450 VSD. These ruggedized, portable, and variable speed compressors bring an efficiency, operational savings, and innovation to the range. With no emissions on site and the low noise, these units can be utilized in otherwise polluted areas (ie mines, tunnels). How this directly applies to solving the rental company challenge of supply/demand in the medium category is that these units are often more readily available than the diesel – with less parts, less maintenance interventions, and no engine. Between on-site power and grid availability, these units are versatile in location and can allow companies to complete their operations now.

Q. WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE RENTAL INDUSTRY OVER THE NEXT YEAR?

The longer-term planning needed between manufacturers and dealer partners has grown further and further into the future throughout the pandemic environment. The market is still in the scenario of planning and forecasting well into the future, given long lead-times. However, some lead-times are becoming more manageable, and it seems that the market is starting to reach the point where futureorders and lead-times can be better balanced based off the current work. The situation has not returned to how it was in 2018 for example and will be interesting to continue to follow this re-balancing of the current forecasting/buying cycle. Although lead-times are still a major challenge, we expect to see improvements in the supply chain in overall capacity for the upcoming months.

Q. IS THERE ANYTHING NEW COMING FROM YOUR COMPANY THAT YOU CAN SPEAK ON?

Atlas Copco is in the business of innovating. Our range of Variable Speed Drive Electric Compressors offers a value and efficiency to our partners, while also taking into consideration our sciencebased targets for emissions. Our vision is to offer the most sustainable product, for the toughest applications. Through these efforts, Atlas Copco will continue to explore and develop extended life, reuse, and conscience equipment solutions that empower our partners to be successful. An additional example is the newly launched B-Air Compressor. A milestone in the industry as the first fully autonomous portable compressor, power by batteries. This will support the evolution of our Scope 3 (CO2 emissions savings at point of use) target achievement.

Q. FUN QUESTION? (WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SUPERHERO AND WHY? WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING IN THE RENTAL INDUSTRY? WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO OUTSIDE OF WORK?)

My favorite parts of being in the rental industry are the puzzle or challenge that we solve for our customers each day, and the opportunity to always discover a new application of our products.