A-Plant launches city centre 'Express' rental stores

A-Plant is to open a network of rental stores under the new brand Tool Hire Express to focus on the rental and sales of small equipment, consumables, personal protective equipment and other products.

The new stores, which will be at different locations to A-Plant’s existing 125 branches, will be located near city centres, offering contractors and trades a convenient source of equipment close to where they are working.

The first Tool Hire Express store was opened in May of this year in Manchester city centre and more stores are due to open in Mansfield, Sheffield, Plymouth and Central London in the coming weeks.

A-Plant said the initiative was a response to an increase in the number of its customers working in city centres, particularly in office construction and the repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) market.

A-Plant’s marketing and strategic accounts director, Asif Latief, said; “We are delighted to be opening up more Tool Hire Express stores across the country, and as part of our long term strategy we have identified a number of potential locations where customers will benefit from our services.

“Manchester Tool Hire Express is in a convenient location of the city centre making it easily accessibility and convenient for customers. It was our pilot store and is proving to be very successful. The opening of the stores is also good news for the local community as we are seeking to create local job opportunities including apprenticeships”.

A typical store will be about 3000-3500 ft2 in size and will have customer parking space for equipment pick-up.

Products in the stores will include heating and air conditioning, fixing, drills and breakers, cutters, grinders and saws. They will also stock specialist equipment for lifting and handling, materials handling, low level access, painting and decorating, gardening and landscaping, alloy towers, surface preparation, building, painting, decorating, carpet cleaners and more.