Equipment rental in 2024: The year in pictures

From product launches, acquisitions, senior management changes and major events, 2024 brought plenty of big news with it.

With that in mind, IRN has decided to take a look at some of the images that sum up the year in pictures.

January: Generac unveils new lighting towers and brand strategy

Right at the beginning of the year, IRN was invited to the European lighting tower headquarters of Generac in Pavia, Italy, where the company announced the launch of the GLT Series of lighting towers as part of a global brand strategy aimed at elevating brand awareness and enhancing product recognition.

The GLT Series of lighting towers from Generac.

February: ARA Show opens in New Orleans

The 2024 ARA Show returned to New Orleans with the theme ‘Shaping the Future of Rental,’ amid an atmosphere of both excitement and “cautious optimism.” Click here to see what we learned at the event. 

Thousands of rental professionals visited New Orleans, US, Feb 18-21, for the 67th edition of The ARA Show.

March: The Boels/Riwal deal

In March we received the news that Boels Rentals was to buy Netherlands-based aerial platform renter Riwal, adding annual revenues of around €314 million and 65 branches across 14 countries in Europe, the Middle East and South Asia. The deal established Boels in a number of new markets, including Spain, France the Middle East and India.

Pierre Boels, left, with Doron Livnat, of ProDelta, the majority owner of Riwal. (Photo: Boels)

April: Intermat opens in Paris

Construction trade show Intermat was officially opened in April by exhibition director Christophe Lecarpentier, French Building Federation president Alain Grizaud, National Public World Federation president Olivier Salleron, along with Philippe Cohet, president of DLR and Jean-Claude Fayat, president of EVOLIS. More than 127,000 visitors attended the 2024 show, with 21% of those from outside of France. 

Visitors to Intermat 2024 in Paris survey a range of new excavators.

May: European Rental Award winners celebrate

GAM Alquiler, Blackwood Plant Hire and Ecosun Innovations were among the winners of the 2024 European Rental Awards in Lisbon in May. The event, which took place alongside the ERA Convention, also recognised Brian Jones, chairman of the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA), with the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Olivier Colleau, CEO of Kiloutou, as the ERA/IRN Rental Person of the Year. 

The winners of the 2024 European Rental Awards, with delegates from Zeppelin Rental, Blackwood Plant Hire and GAM

June: Bomag announces new President

Road construction equipment manufacturer Bomag announced that Ralf Junker was to hand over his position as president of the Bomag Group to Dr Ingo Ettischer at the end of June. Ettischer had been managing director and chief operating officer at Bomag since July 2023.

Dr Ingo Ettischer (right) took over as president of the Bomag Group on 1 July 2024, succeeding Ralf Junker (left).

July: ‘World’s first’ large wheeled loader with hydrogen engine

At its plant in Bischofshofen, Austria, Liebherr unveiled what it said is the world’s first large wheeled loader with a hydrogen engine. As part of the development of the hydrogen wheeled loader, Liebherr Bischofshofen also opened its own hydrogen filling station.

The L 566 H from Liebherr is said to be the world’s first prototype large wheel loader with a hydrogen engine. Image: Liebherr

August: Sunbelt Rentals UK unveils flagship specialist facility plans

Sunbelt Rentals in the UK announced plans to open a new flagship facility for its film and TV business. Once opened, it will be the biggest in operation from the company and will provide everything from cameras and cranes, to site lighting and access equipment to London and the South East.

A rendering of the Sunbelt Rentals facility in West London, Victory Park North, Wembley. (Photo: Sunbelt Rentals UK)

September: XCMG expands hybrid line

Niftylift launched two models in September, including its first ever straight boom platform. The company said the all-electric HR22 SE follows requests from customers for a telescopic boom, while the second launch, an updated version of its HR12 4x4 boom lift, completes the upgrade of all Niftylift’s machines in this class.

The XGA20H expands XCMG’s articulating line.

October: Pedro Torres to leave Riwal

Pedro Torres, CEO of Riwal, announced in October that he is step down from his position on 1 January 2025. The announcement followed a transitional period since Boels Rental acquired Riwal (see picture for March this year). Torres, who has been with the company for 12 years, said leading Riwal had been a privilege and an honor.

Pedro Torres will leave Riwal in April next year.

November: Bill Whitehouse to step down as Kennards Hire CEO

Change was on the mind of many companies in November, it seems, with several big name appointments and changing of the guard announcements made. For example, Australia-based rental company Kennards Hire announced that its CEO Bill Whitehouse is to step down from the role next year. He will be replaced by Stuart Dean, currently chief operations officer.

Dean will become CEO of Kennards Hire in April 2025.

December: Hitachi gives early Bauma update

We finish our roundup of 2024 with a perhaps apt nod to 2025. Earlier this month Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) said it will showcase a broad range of machines at next year’s Bauma 2025 trade fair, which will be held a Messe München in Munich, 7-13 April. The company is planning to display more than 30 machines on its 4,000sqm stand.

ZX350LC-7 CTA on a worksite in Vienna, Austria (Photo: Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe))