Vermeer invests US$1 million in new rental push

Vermeer said it is taking a new approach to the rental market by developing products specifically for rental and by making a US$1 million investment to support its rental programme.

The company, which makes a range of trenching and mini-skid steer products, said it saw real growth opportunities in the rental market and was placing more focus and resources on the sector.

"From enhanced manufacturing and design work, to increased staffing and marketing dollars, Vermeer is making a $1 million investment internally to support the rental market", said the company.

Vermeer said it had struggled in the past to make products that meet both the demands of contractors and the pricing required for rental companies. It said its new approach will "concentrate engineering resources to design equipment that will meet the specific needs, desires and price points of the rental customer."

The company said its lean manufacturing processes had produced "significant cost efficiencies" that allowed it to maintain or even lower prices on some of its key rental products, including the RTX100, RTX150 and RT200 pedestrian trenchers.

As part of the investment in rental Vermeer is allocating additional staff resources to the rental market to help dealers and to strengthen its ties to global accounts.

At the recent Rental Show in New Orleans, meanwhile, the company extended downwards its range of ride-on mini skid steers with the tracked S450TX, adding to the S650TX and S800TX tracked and S600 wheeled machines.

Powered by an 18.2 kW (24.8 hp) Kubota diesel engine (with a 19.9 kW (24.8 hp) Kohler EFI petrol engine available later this year), the S450TX is targeted at applications in landscaping and general contractors and at rental customers.

The skid has a 226.8 kg (500 lb) rated operating capacity and a 648.6 kg (1430 lb) tipping capacity. Vermeer says the Kubota engine is ideal for high torque applications, while the Kohler engine will offer lower fuel consumption and easier maintenance.