Friday Roundup: United expands in Australia | New Cat loaders | Altrad oil and gas

Once again, if we had to choose a theme for the week, it would be rental companies expanding their footprints all around the world. Here are the highlights of what happened in the industry, Aug. 22-28, 2024.

United Rentals continued its growth in Australia with the acquisition of Shore Hire, according to a news report by The Hire & Rental Association of Australia.

Recently acquired by United Rentals, Shore Hire, based in Sydney, Australia, was founded in 2010 and operates eight locations in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

Shore Hire, based in Sydney, New South Wales, was founded in 2010 and operates eight locations in NSW, Queensland and Victoria, offering shoring and propping equipment, traffic control systems, surveying lasers and pipe testing equipment.

Hire & Rental News said the sale process was expected to be completed in mid-September.

Altrad, a global provider of industrial services, has announced a voluntary cash offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Beerenberg AS, a takeover bid valued at more than $97 million.

Beerenberg, headquartered in Bergen, Norway, is a supplier to the oil and gas, maintenance and modification services sector, and has been in business for 47 years. The acquisition will see Beerenberg’s 2,350 employees join Altrad Group once the deal is finalized at the end of 2024.

“We have admired Beerenberg from a distance for many years and have been impressed by the achievements of the management team and their talented people,” Altrad Group’s Co-CEO, Ran Oren said. “Our objective is to add to this success by adding investment, skilled people, innovative products,

Beerenberg, headquartered in Bergen, Norway, is a supplier to the oil and gas, maintenance and modification services sector, and is being acquired by Altrad.

and a broader range of services to support their clients’ ambitions.”

In the US, Caterpillar dealer Wheeler Machinery Co. has acquired Utah-based rental company Diamond Equipment & Tool Rental. No financial details of the transaction have been disclosed.

Salt Lake City-based Wheeler said the strategic move “significantly expands” its Rental Store division and offers an”enlarged footprint and enhanced product offering.”

The move means the company now has a network of 18 locations across Utah from Wasatch Front and Ogden to Lindon in the west of the state.

On the East Coast, H&E Rentals (H&E) has opened a new branch in Frederick, its third location in the state of Maryland.

Among the equipment it specializes in are aerial lifts, earthmoving equipment, telescopic forklifts, compaction equipment and generators from the likes of Atlas Copco, Skyjack, Bomag and Case.

Branch manager David Roles said, “The location of our new Frederick branch gives H&E expanded coverage northwest of the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., metropolitan areas. We serve all of Western Maryland, along the Pennsylvania and Virginia state lines, as well as the northeast corner of West Virginia.”

In equipment news, Caterpillar has introduced eight new machines, expanding its line of next generation skid steer loader (SSL) and compact track loader (CTL) models.

According to the world’s biggest construction OEM by sales, the new skid steer loaders mark the introduction of the next generation design to this line. The new loaders are named: 250, 260, 270, and 270 XE.

The new compact track loaders – 275, 275 XE, 285 and 285 XE – are also said to mark the expansion of the next generation design for the CTL line, joining the 255 and 265 announced in late 2023.

The largest CTLs ever produced by Caterpillar, the new Cat 285 and 285 XE compete in a new class size with greater lift height and lift and tilt breakout forces.