This past month, I had the chance to travel on behalf of Rental to the Atlas Copco facility in Rock Hill, S.C., for the company’s sustainability product launch.
Trips like these are a breath of fresh air for me—and not just because the temperature in South Carolina that day was double the temperature I had left behind in snowy Cleveland—it’s more about the chance to get out of my (home) office, meet key players in the industry and learn more about the problems facing the rental industry and the unique solutions those in it have come up with.
While the theme of this particular trip was sustainability as it related to power generation equipment and pump systems, one of the presenter’s words struck me as applicable to a wider range of topics: “It’s not about whether it’s coming, but rather when you jump on the train and which horses you bet on.”
While the “it” in this case refers to sustainability initiatives and alternative power sources, it seems to me that change is imminent on several fronts in the rental industry, whether that means finding and retaining good labor, incorporating new technology and yes, integrating sustainability initiatives—mandated by regulations or not.
Fittingly, these themes come up more than once in this issue. In our cover story, you can find more on the latest power generation trends and what rental companies can do to get on board with them.
In our business management department, you can learn about what your rental company can do to attract the next generation of workers. Two of our other stories focus on the new technology available to assist companies in meeting their environmental goals.
To round out the issue, our columnist Dick Detmer details how rental companies can attract more customers by maintaining a professional staff and showroom, and I spoke with Tom Butts, owner of Nor-Cal Equipment in Sacramento, Calif., about how he got into the business, his favorite part of the job, what he likes to do for fun and more. (By the way, if you are interested in having your company profiled, let us know—we would love to include you in an upcoming issue.)
So, which “horses” are you betting on? Pardon the pun, but you’ve got the “power” to decide. Please feel free to share your thoughts via email at [email protected] or reach out via LinkedIn at sarah-webb-1ba8b2109/. Until next time!
