United Kingdom - Access rental companies should face the current economic crisis with "open minds and open eyes" and dare to take strategic decisions, be it changing their sales structure or leveraging on size, said United Rentals CEO Michael Kneeland at the IPAF Summit on April 2 in Dublin.

The CEO of the world's largest construction equipment rental company was addressing more than 200 delegates who had come to learn more about "Dynamic powered access solutions in difficult times."

"Price is something we shouldn't play with," said Kneeland, highlighting recent United Rentals research that showed customers putting price as their fifth priority. "Your best customer will pay a higher price, because you are giving them something they value. Go out and create value. Be good stewards of the industry."

Commenting on the role of IPAF in the powered access industry, Kneeland said: "That's what excites me about this federation - the collection of people, the collection of ideas."

United Rentals' application for IPAF membership was approved at the IPAF Council meeting earlier that day, bringing the federation's membership to 673.