Hire and Rental News - February 2016

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INDUSTRY in FOCUS
Q: What are you responsible for?
As Area Manager I am responsible for
our customers and the market for what
we refer to as the Compact Equipment
product segment. This encompasses
our range of Mini Skid Steer Loaders,
as well as our more consumer-oriented
stump grinders, brush chippers, vacuum
excavation units and locators. The
market I look after ranges from owner-
operated contracting companies through
to hire and rental businesses of all sizes.
In all cases the end users are typically
looking to reduce manual labour via
mechanical advantage and increase
their productivity, while the business
owners seek to expand their business
opportunities and diversify revenue
streams. In both cases it’s vital the
equipment offers the utmost in quality,
productivity, and return on investment.
Q: What’s one of the biggest issues/
things you deal with daily?
Understanding current business
practices, the ways different people like
to perform their chosen work and the
current market climate for each of the
industries I deal with. I manage this by
meeting with people on the job or off-site
to discuss their current business path and
have them outline where they want to
be – be it via expansion, diversification, or
simply greater efficiency via mechanical
advantage for example.
Q: How would you advise your
customers to improve their options/
efficiency/production/equipment
productivity?
Taking time to look at alternative
methods and additional revenue streams
are two ways I see a lot of our customers
achieving their business objectives.
In many cases it’s as simple as
introducing a mechanical device like a
mini skid steer loader or wood chipper
that can significantly enhance their
businesses’ productivity on a daily basis.
For example, a small wood chipper can
eliminate a couple of two hour trips to
the transfer station each day, which for a
landscaper can easily result in four more
hours of productivity in a working day. A
mini skid steer loader is such a diverse
product; its broad range of attachments
make it a great choice for rental operators
who require consistent utilisation to get
the ROI they need.
Q: What are you passionate about?
I have always been a mechanically
minded person with an eye for detail
and a passion to help people with
the right equipment solution for their
business. Working for Vermeer gives
me the opportunity within my position
to do exactly that; there’s a company
philosophy of partnering with our
customers to assist them to achieve their
business objectives. For me, the passion
is working for a quality company offering
quality products I can stand behind (or
beside, literally).
Q: What’s hot right now?
Tracked mini skid steer loaders. These
mini loaders are just so versatile and as
you’d expect, we sell a lot of units into
hire and rental businesses. They have
the capability and durability to stand up
to daily use by the likes of landscapers,
plumbers, fencers, concreters, rural
property owners and of course your
weekend DIYers. They really suit the
latter due to the ease of use and safety
features. The weekend-warrior can be
operating productively in a very short
time. The wide range of attachments and
ease of transport by a normal ute or four-
wheel-drive makes the mini loader an
incredibly versatile package.
Q: About Vermeer
Vermeer has gone to lengths to
understand the unique needs of hire
and rental businesses, both what their
customers are seeking in a rental
machine and what the rental business
operator needs to get return on their
investment. We have a range of products
that are easy to use, easy to maintain and
loaded with operator-centric features.
Contact: 1800 776 660 or visit website:
ON the GROUND
With Nathan Bonselaar, Area Manager for Vermeer Compact Equipment in New South Wales
The final of the Toyota Forklift Challenge
at Perth’s Market City in October last
year saw 10 of the market’s best forklift
operators represent their companies and
compete for prizes while helping to raise
awareness of workplace safety.
The 10 finalists navigated a course
designed to simulate a range of
activities typical of a forklift driver’s
normal working day. The contestants
were awarded points for demonstrating
safe forklift driving techniques while
negotiating the course, rather than just
how quickly they could complete it.
The final was won by Kirstie Downie
fromWA Crates – the first female
entrant in the Toyota Forklift Challenge
which is now in its second year.
Toyota Forklift Challenge finalists
used the Toyota 8-Series 8FG18
counterbalance forklift during the
competition. Toyota Forklift Challenge
entrants registered by completing a
questionnaire regarding safe forklift
driving habits, with the top 10
respondents competing in the final.
Contact: 1800 425 438 or visit website:
Toyota Forklift Challenge raises operator safety awareness
Toyota Forklift Challenge finalists used the Toyota
8-Series 8FG18 counterbalance forklift during the
competition
HIRE AND RENTAL NEWS • FEBRUARY 2016 14