Awards 2025
The deadline for entries into the 2025 European Rental Awards is the 28 February 2025.
For further details email lewis.tyler@khl.com
ERA and IRN sincerely thank all those who enter.
Shortlisted companies receive two free tickets to the awards dinner.
Judging Criteria 2025
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For a large rental company that has demonstrated an excellent and improving performance in one or more areas of its business in 2024 and early 2025. This could include improvements to customer service, staff recruitment and retention, efforts towards decarbonisation, enhancements to employee training, notable fleet investment, financial performance, or new and successful initiatives.
For a small or medium sized rental company that has demonstrated an excellent and improving performance in one or more areas of its business in 2024 and early 2025. This could include improvements to customer service, staff
recruitment and retention, efforts towards decarbonisation, enhancements to employee training, notable fleet investment, financial performance, or new and successful initiatives.
This award will go to a new product introduced into Europe during the final months of 2023, during 2024, or early 2025 and will recognise a fantastic product that has benefitted rental businesses, either by offering operational benefits (such as improved ease of use or lower cost of maintenance) or new revenue streams (for a new product concept or new application).
Judges also take into account sustainability issues, looking at the product over its entire lifecycle, including manufacturing, operating costs, fuel economy, engine emissions and recycling. The award is open to any supplier that is selling its products in Europe.
The award will be assessed by the members of the Sustainability Committee and is open to rental companies.
This award will recognize an outstanding contribution to Europe’s rental industry in 2024 (or in recent times). The award may recognise a significant performance in any one of a number of areas, including safety, sales, operations, fleet management, senior management, etc.
This award will recognise an outstanding contribution to Europe’s rental industry over a career.
Judges will look for innovative initiatives that effectively minimize the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) in the rental industry. Examples include reducing maintenance costs, saving time for end users, extending equipment lifespan, or improving energy efficiency. Applications should demonstrate measurable impact, implementation details, and how the initiative contributes to minimising the TCO.
The award will assess an occupational health and safety initiative or programme implemented by a rental company in late 2023 and/or 2024. It will consider issues including work place accidents/incidents, mental health projects or training in relation to the safe use of its equipment by its staff and customers. Judges will be looking for detail on the outcomes of initiatives, with data where available.
2025 Judges
The award judges this year are:
Jon Overman (HSS Hire Shops CEO)
Murray Pollok (IRN managing editor)
Monika Rubensson (Rentalföretagen CEO, Swedish rental association Rentalföretagen)
Frank Seidler (HKL managing director)
Non-voting chair: Michel Petitjean (ERA secretary general
Winners of the European Rental Awards 2024
Large Rental Company of the Year (revenues more than €15 million)
The judges said: “2023 was another year of important milestones for GAM, with acquisitions in Mexico and Spain, an extension of its material handling distribution business, and investment in its Reviver remanufacturing plant.”
Shortlisted
Kiloutou (France)
Machrent (Portugal)
Small Rental Company of the Year (revenues less than €15 million)
The judges said; “Blackwood could serve as a model for an independent rental business, investing in a modern fleet, using technology to enhance safety, proactive on training, and innovative in its use of social media to deepen its connection to customers and the local community.”
Shortlisted
Dromad Hire (Republic of Ireland)
Velafl (Iceland)
Rental Product of the Year
The judges said: “Carbon emission reduction was a focus for many products in the awards this year, and the judges really liked Ecosun’s approach in developing a product that can be easily adapted to existing rental products, such as site huts.”
Shortlisted
Komatsu - PC33E-6 mini excavator
Niftylift – HeightRider 15 Hydrogen-Electric (HR15 H2E)
Trime – Solar Hybrid power generators
Wacker Neuson – APU3050e reversible vibratory plate
ERA/IRN Rental Person of the Year
ERA Technical Committee Award – Compliance with ERA guidance
The ERA’s Technical Committee said; “It is clear that JCB is focused on the needs of the rental sector and that was very evident from its active engagement with ERA’s guidance.”
Shortlisted
Volvo CE
ERA Sustainability Committee Award – Best emission reduction case study involving rental products
The ERA’s Sustainability Committee said; “It was difficult to choose between three innovative companies. Zeppelin Rental deserves praise for its user-friendly app and commitment to the sharing of machines on site.” Congratulations to Zeppelin Rental.
Shortlisted
Sunbelt Rentals UK & Ireland
