Indian equipment rental association formed

Six rental companies in India met on 5 September in Bombay to create the first Indian Rental Association. The six were Gemini Equipment and Rentals, Quipo, Gemmco, TIL, Gremach and Jindal Earthmovers.

Rajiv Sethi, managing director and founder of Gemini, and the chairperson of the association, told IRN; "Rental is not really publicised in the country. We want to become accepted as an industry, and to have a common set of rules and benefits both for customers and rental companies. We will have a heavy emphasis on safety issues and the environment."

The six inaugural members include a number of independent renters such as Quipo, Gremach and Gemini and Caterpillar dealers Gemmco and TIL.

Rental in the country is still at a very early stage of development, but there is evidence that they are starting to expand. Gemini, for example, has been renting Hek mast climbing work platforms for 15 years, but in the last year an a half has invested in light construction equipment including concreting tools, pumps, road building machines, earthmoving units and aerials platforms.