Nest and JLG continue low level access partnership

JLG Industries has confirmed that following Mills’ recent majority acquisition of Nest Rental, the company will continue to be an exclusive distributor for JLG low level access equipment throughout Brazil.

Nest Rentals provides unique Totem Express Kiosk (pictured) and app for rental of its JLG low level access products.

Nest Locação e Revenda de Máquinas (Nest Rentals) was founded by Paulo Esteves, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the lift and access business in Brazil, in 2018, with the help of JLG, to meet the growing regional demand for working at height between 4m - 8m. Mills Estrutura e Serviços de Engenharia (Mills) acquired a 51% stake in the company in April. 

“After working with electric scissor and boom lifts, Paulo knew he had discovered an untapped market with low level access MEWPs,” said Mike Brown, vice president of sales and market development for JLG Latin America. “He chose to partner exclusively with JLG to offer simple, safe and affordable low-level access lifts in Brazil. In the last two years, our two companies have been able to successfully introduce these smaller aerial work platforms in Brazil.”

“More than 90% of demand for working at height is under 6m,” said Esteves. “We are trying to create a paradigm shift in the region by changing the mindset of companies who haven’t considered low-level access equipment as a safer alternative to ladders, scaffolding and other unsafe solutions.”

Esteves added, “customers are still rooted in traditional methods. What they don’t yet realise is low level access equipment has the ability to lower labor costs while increasing productivity and avoiding costly accidents.”

Digital rental solution 

To complement the new concept of low level access in Brazil, Nest Rental has created Nest Express Totem, an app-based service. It allows customers to rent machines where they work, using the app, computer or Totem Express kiosk, to register, pay by credit card and receive a code that allows access to the machine. Lifts can even be rented by the hour, which works well in spaces such as airports, hotels and convention centeres, says the company. For a small fee, Nest Rental will pick up and deliver the equipment directly to the customer.

“‘On-demand’ renting of access lifts via a kiosk hasn’t been seen before in the industry, until now,” explains Esteves. “It allows customers to rent a machine almost as easily as buying a soda from a vending machine. The support of JLG was essential to making Nest Express Totem a reality.” Nest Rental currently offers several JLG low level access lifts including LiftPod and EcoLift products and the new 1030P push-around lift.

Esteves concluded, “JLG has been an excellent partner as Nest Rentals has worked to educate customers in Brazil about the benefits of low-level access lifts. The company has supported me with marketing, as well as has provided machines for demos. I’m happy to partner with a brand as strong as JLG.”

JLG senior marketing manager, Luca Riga, added, “We were thrilled when Paulo approached us with this idea a couple of years ago, and today, we’re so proud of the results we’ve accomplished together to bring his idea to life. We applaud this kind of spirit and encourage others to continue to push the boundaries of the rental market. We will continue to look for ways that JLG can support industry visionaries.”

Brown added, “And today, Nest Express Totem is a true game-changer for the entire access industry. We look forward to continuing to work together to grow the market for low level access equipment solutions in Brazil.”