Uptick for re-rent

Special Equipment, the Netherland’s based re-rent division of Mateco, has updated its revenue forecasts for 2020, thanks to a steady pick up in utilisation since June.

It now forecasts moderate year-on-year growth, while it is also looking to increase its capital expenditure on niche equipment to meet expected growth, arising out of cutbacks that many regular rental companies are making.

Guillaume Getas, head of special equipment, said, “Lockdowns in countries and closure of job sites had a knock down effect on machine utilization. In addition, the sudden closure of European borders made the repositioning of our equipment into geographic areas with more sustained demand, such as the Nordics, the Baltics and the Eastern region really challenging.

“To quantify the impact, and as a comparison, our rental activity in April went down overnight to the level of a tough winter month. As European rental players postpone capex in niche equipment they will tend to rely on their re-rent partners.”