Past Awards
2009 - 2023
2023 Winners & Shortlist
Large Rental Company of the Year (revenues more than €15 million)
WINNER: Renta Group (Finland)
SHORTLIST
- Boels Group
- Kiloutou
- Nixon Hire
Small Rental Company of the Year (revenues less than €15 million)
WINNER: Key-Tec (Belgium)
SHORTLIST
- Bergerat Rent
- Dromad Hire
- Kallioinen
Rental Product of the Year
WINNER: Hilti – Nuron range
SHORTLIST
- Hinowa – Lightlift 40.18 Performance IIIS
- Niftylift – HeightRider 17 All-Electric (HR17E)
- Trime – X-Solar lighting tower
- Wacker Neuson – Battery One
ERA/IRN Rental Person of the Year
WINNER: Guy Cremer, Boels Rental
A Sustainability Committee Award Best initiative in people
JOINT WINNERS
Boels Group (The Netherlands)
Zeppelin Rental (Germany)
Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER: Max Rossi, CGT Edilizia
2022 Winners & Shortlist
Large Rental Company of the Year (revenues more than €15 million)
WINNER: Zeppelin Rental
SHORTLIST
L. Lynch Plant Hire
Morillo Energy Rent
Small Rental Company of the Year
(revenues less than €15 million)
WINNER: ToolQuick
SHORTLIST
Flexcavo
Key-Tec
- Valser
ERA/IRN Rental Persons of the Year
WINNER: Lars and Erik Sørby, Digiquip
Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER: Carlos Biosca Martin, Valser
Rental Product of the Year
WINNER: Manitou’s ULM telehandler
SHORTLIST
Containex – Containex Plus Line
Himoinsa – EHR Battery Power Generator
Hinowa – TeleCrawler22
MHM Group – Street-Lite
Volvo CE – Compact electric range
Best Digital innovation Award
WINNER: GSV Materieludlejning
SHORTLIST
Digiquip
Flexcavo
Kurts Toolbox
Zeppelin Rental
ERA Sustainability Committee Award for the Best Carbon Reduction Initiative
SHORTLIST
Avesco Rent
Kiloutou
L. Lynch Plant Hire
Zeppelin Rental
ERA Technical Committee Award
WINNER: Briggs & Stratton
SHORTLIST
- Perkins
Loxam, GSV, ToolQuick, Zeppelin Rental and Manitou were among those celebrating wins at the 2022 European Rental Awards in Riga on 15 June during the European Rental Association’s annual convention.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Spanish rental veteran Carlos Biosca Martin – a long-time leader of rental company Valser – while the Person of the Year award went to brothers Lars and Erik Sørby, founders of both Digiquip and rental company Sørby Utleie.
Zeppelin Rental was Large Rental Company of the Year, while Spanish tool rental specialist ToolQuick took the Small Rental Company award.
Loxam was recognised by the ERA’s Sustainability Committee for its carbon reduction initiatives, while Denmark’s GSV won the highly-contested digital innovation award.
The Product of the Year was Manitou’s new ULM compact telehandler, and the other manufacturer to win on the night was Briggs & Stratton, which received the ERA Technical Committee Award for its training materials for rental companies.
The awards are organised jointly by International Rental News and the European Rental Association, and the host was Dutch journalist and broadcaster Maarten Bouwhuis.
2022 Judging Panel
- Pierre Boels, ERA President
- Kari Aulasmaa, CEO, Renta Group
- Soeren Brogaard, CEO, Trackunit
- Murray Pollok, Managing Editor, IRN
- Armin Rappen, CEO, Mateco Holding
- The non-voting Chair was Michel Petitjean, Secretary General, ERA
- The sponsors of the awards were:
Gold Sponsors
Caterpillar, Perkins and Continest
Cocktail Reception Sponsor
Hexagon Heavy Construction
Silver Sponsor
Infor, JLG, Spartan Digital Operations and Trackunit
2021 Winners & Shortlist
Large Rental Company of the Year (revenues more than €15 million)
WINNER: Sunbelt Rentals (UK)
SHORTLIST
Ardent Hire Solutions (UK)
LoxamHune (Spain)
WeRent (Italy)
Small Rental Company of the Year
(revenues less than €15 million)
WINNER: Vertex (Russia)
SHORTLIST
Elavation Platforms (UK)
PSM Plant (UK)
Noleggio Lorini (Italy)
Rental Person of the Year
WINNER: Luis Angel Salas Manrique, CEO of LoxamHune
The judges said; “His leadership has also seen the company take concrete actions on sustainability: it became the first rental business in Spain to be certified ‘climate neutral’ using climate offsetting measures approved by the UN and the Spanish government. And, not least, despite operating in a market under heavy pressure, his company performed well and was profitable.”
Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER: Graham Arundell, former CEO of Hire association Europe
The judges said; “Graham’s impact since he joined HAE in 2007 has been remarkable. He strengthened the association, added services and launched a dedicated events association. He also remained committed to an open and international approach, embracing the Global Rental Alliance and supporting the ERA’s activities. We wish him well for the future.”
Rental Product of the Year
WINNER: JCB – 525-60E Electric Loadall
SHORTLIST
GenQuip Groundhog – Unisex solar hybrid toilet
Niftylift – HR15NE electric boom
Nixon Hire – Solar Pod
Trime – X-Solar Hybrid LED lighting tower
Best Digital innovation Award
WINNER: Ardent Hire Solutions – Ardent digital platform
SHORTLIST
Mollo Noleggio – Rental document digitalisation
Spartan Solutions – PROPHES predictive analytics
Sunbelt Rentals – Sunfest virtual festival
Trackunit – Trackunit Kin for non-powered assets
Zeppelin Rental – customer eProcurement interface
Sustainability Committee Award: Best Safety Innovation
WINNER: Ardent Hire
SHORTLIST
Kiloutou
Wacker Neuson
ERA Technical Committee Award
WINNER: Genie
SHORTLIST
JCB
Manitou
Note: this award is not based on submitted entries, but on committee choices.
Rental companies from the UK and Russia picked up the rental company accolades at the 2021 European Rental Awards dinner in Amsterdam on 29 September, while manufacturers JCB and Genie were also honoured.
At the first in-person rental awards ceremony since Madrid in 2019 – with more than 300 present – Sunbelt Rentals UK was named large rental company of the year while Vertex from Russia was small/medium rental company of the year; the first Russian company to win a European rental award.
Graham Arundell, the former CEO of Hire Association Europe, was presented with the lifetime achievement award, while Luis Angel Salas Manrique, CEO of LoxamHune, was the ERA/IRN Person of the Year.
Ardent Hire Solutions won two awards, for Best Digital Innovation and also the ERA Sustainability Committee’s Safety Innovation Award.
The Product of the year award was won by JCB for its electric Loadall telehandler, while Genie won the ERA Technical Committee Award for the work it has done to help rental companies through digitalisation.
The awards, jointly organised by International Rental News (IRN) and the European Rental Association (ERA), were held at the Postillion Hotel in Amsterdam on 29 September, with a live audience of 300 people.
Pierre Boels, ERA President, said; “It has been a great pleasure to be here with all of you in one room and feel the good atmosphere and your commitment to ERA. Thank you for this!
“I believe that we have succeeded tonight in showcasing some of the best and most professional and innovative companies and products in Europe and in giving recognition to leading figures of our industry.
“It is highly rewarding to realise how many dynamic and innovative companies we have in our industry.”
The full list of shortlisted companies and winners, together with judges’ citations, is as follows:
2021 Judging Panel
Pierre Boels, ERA President & CEO, Boels Rental
Peter Douglas, CEO, IPAF
Bernd Holz, Vice President Light Equipment, Ammann Group
Murray Pollok, Managing Editor, International Rental News
Dan Vorsholt, CEO, GSV Materieludlejning
Non-voting chair of judges: Michel Petitjean
Gold Sponsors
Camso, Caterpillar and Perkins
Cocktail Reception Sponsor
Hexagon Heavy Construction
Silver Sponsor
JLG, Ritchie Bros, Spartan Solutions, Trackunit and Volvo Construction Equipment
2020 Winners & Shortlist
Large Rental Company of the Year (revenues more than €15 million)
WINNER: Mollo Noleggio (Italy)
SHORTLIST
Loxam (France)
Renta (Finland)
Mauro Mollo, CEO of Mollo Noleggio, said, “For our company, this award is of great value. But knowing our personalities and ambition, we will work for this recognition to be a starting point and not a finishing line.”
Small Rental Company of the Year
(revenues less than €15 million)
WINNER: Vatupassi (Finland)
SHORTLIST
- Cross Rental Services (Ireland/UK)
- Drial Wynajem (Poland)
Milla Tarnanen, CEO of Vatupassi, said, “This win makes me so happy and unbelievably proud of the whole Vatupassi team. It shows that we are doing the right things and we are on the right path.”
Rental Product of the Year
WINNER: Wacker Neuson (Dual View dumpers)
SHORTLIST
Atlas Copco (E-Air VSD electric compressor)
Caterpillar (301.7 CR mini excavator)
Consair (CAMU D2 dust extractor)
Endress (Energy Storage & SmartEnergyBox)
JCB (19C-1E electric mini excavator)
Best Digital Innovation of the Year
WINNER: Spartan Solutions (PHALANX digital operations platform)
SHORTLIST
- CheckMobile (AI-based damage detection software)
- Intrador (Used equipment valuation tool and App)
- Riwal (My Riwal App, VR training, augmented reality App)
Best Sustainable Rental Project of the Year
JOINT WINNER: Volvo Construction Equipment (Sweden)
JOINT WINNER: GSV Materieludlejning A/S (Denmark)
SHORTLIST
- Hoogwerkt (The Netherlands)
ERA Technical Committee Award
WINNER: Manitou (France)
SHORTLIST
Haulotte (France)
- Skyjack (Canada)
2020 Judging Panel
Vincent Albasini, CEO, Avesco Rent
Pierre Boels, President, European Rental Association & CEO, Boels Rental
Jaap Fluit, General Manager, Bredenoord
Karel Huijser, General Manager & Vice President, EMEA, JLG Industries
Murray Pollok, Managing Editor, International Rental News
Non-voting chair: Michel Petitjean, Secretary General, European Rental Association
The judges chose all the shortlists and winners, except for the Sustainability and Technical awards, which were judged by ERA Committees.
2019 Winners & Shortlist
Large Rental Company of the Year (revenues more than €15 million)
WINNER: Bredenoord
SHORTLIST
A-Plant
Mollo Noleggio
Small Rental Company of the Year
(revenues less than €15 million)
WINNER: Germans Homs
SHORTLIST
Arlift
Dromad Hire
Rental Product of the Year
WINNER: Haulotte (HA20 LE)
SHORTLIST
AJC Trailers – H2O Solar Pod (HIGHLY COMMENDED)
Caterpillar – 301.8 mini excavator
Hilti – TE 2000-AVR demolition hammer
JCB – 19C 1E mini-excavator
Manitou – 100VJR aerial platform
Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER: Pierre Saubot, Haulotte
Rental Person of the Year
WINNER: Dan Vorsholt, CEO, GSV Materieludlejning
The Sustainability Award
WINNER: Loxam
SHORTLIST
Atut Rental (HIGHLY COMMENDED)
A-Plant
Orenprokat
The ERA Technical Committee Award
WINNER: Volvo Construction Equipment
The ERA’s Technical Committee said: “Volvo has demonstrated a continuous commitment to the satisfaction of the needs and requirements of the European rental industry. We are very pleased to recognise their involvement giving them the ERA Technical Committee Award.”
2019 Judging Panel
Pierre Boels, ERA President & CEO, Boels Rental
Alexander Greschner, Chief Sales Officer, Wacker Neuson
Olivier Colleau, CEO, Kiloutou
Tapio Kolunsarka, CEO, Ramirent
Murray Pollok, Managing Editor, IRN
Non-voting chair: Michel Petitjean, Secretary General, ERA
2018 Winners & Shortlist
Large Rental Company of the Year
WINNER: NABOEN AS (Norway)
SHORTLIST
A-Plant (UK)
Cramo (Finland)
Small/Medium Sized Rental Company of the Year
WINNER: BYGGMASKINER-GRUPPEN (Sweden)
SHORTLIST
- Fast Rent (Switzerland)
- Georent (Georgia)
Rental Product of the Year
WINNER: JCB’s 110W HYDRADIG
SHORTLIST
Arcotherm (Road Tow Heater) (UK)
Generac (Tower Light Cube+ Next) (Italy)
Hinowa (Lightlift 33.17) (Italy)
Skyjack (SJ85 AJ) (Canada)
Wacker Neuson (AP1850e) (Germany)
Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER: Colin Wood (former CEO, CPA)
Rental Person of the Year
WINNER: XAVIER DU BOŸS (Chairman, Kiloutou)
ERA Technical Committee Award
WINNER: Atlas Copco
ERA Sustainability Committee Award
JOINT WINNERS: A-Plant & Cramo
2018 Judging Panel
Pierre Boels (CEO, Boels Rental & President, ERA)
Michel Denis (CEO, Manitou)
Gérard Déprez (CEO, Loxam)
Pierre-Nicola Fovini (President, CGT Edilizia)
Murray Pollok (Managing Editor, International Rental News).
Non-voting chair: Michel Petitjean, Secretary General, ERA
2017 Winners & Shortlist
Large Rental Company of the Year (turnover more than €15 million)
WINNER: Zeppelin Rental
SHORTLIST
Kiloutou
Small & Mid-Sized Rental Company of the Year (turnover less than €15 million)
WINNER: Gomez Oviedo
SHORTLIST
Huurland
Maltech
Mol Lifting
Rental Product of the Year
WINNER: Genie (Z-60FE boom)
SHORTLIST
Atlas Copco (8 Series compressor)
Kaeser (M50E compressor)
Mtools-Makinex (Hose 2 Go)
Ramirent (Ramiflex module)
Trime (X-Eco lighting tower)
ERA/IRN Rental Person of the Year
WINNER: Gérard Déprez, Loxam
Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER: Ray Caulfield, Trime Spa
Special Recognition Award
WINNER: JCB
Digital Innovation Award (New)
WINNER: Zeppelin Rental
SHORTLIST
Germans Homs
HSS
Ramirent
Employer Innovation Award (New)
WINNER: Kiloutou
SHORTLIST
A-Plant
HSS
Rental Safety Award
WINNER: A-Plant
SHORTLIST
Groundforce
Mtools-Makinex (hand truck)
2017 Judging Panel
Mark Anderson (Commercial Director, GAP Group, UK)
Pierre Boels (ERA President and CEO of Boels Rental, Netherlands)
Gerhard Gasser (Global Rental Business manager, Hilti)
Murray Pollok (Managing Editor, IRN)
Juan José Torres (President, ASEAMAC & Managing Director, TST Torres Servicios Tecnicos SL)
Non-voting chair of judges: Michel Petitjean, Secretary General, ERA
2016 Winners & Shortlist
Large Rental Company of the Year (Revenues more than €15 million)
WINNER: Riwal
SHORTLIST
A-Plant (UK)
Loxam (France)
Riwal (Netherlands)
Small & Mid-Sized Rental Company of the Year (Revenues less than €15 million)
WINNER: Crestchic Ltd
SHORTLIST
Crestchic Ltd (UK)
Drial Poland (Poland)
Echo Barrier (UK)
Rental Product of the Year
WINNER: EL & Site Oy for the MBerg LED light
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Wacker Neuson for the WL20e wheeled loader
SHORTLIST
EL & Site – MBerg LED-light
Genie – Z-33/18
HH-Intellitech – GlasLift 550 Terrain
Holland Lift – HL-330 E14
Kaeser – M82
Wacker Neuson – WL20e
Sustainable Business Innovation in Rental
WINNER: Kiloutou
SHORTLIST
HSS Hire (UK)
Hewden (UK)
Kiloutou (France)
Loxam (France)
ERA/IRN Rental Person of the Year
WINNER: Sat Dhaiwal, CEO, A-Plant
Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER: Chris Wehrman, CEO, American Rental Association
2016 Judging Panel
Mark Anderson (Commercial Director, GAP Group, UK)
Pierre Boels (ERA President and CEO of Boels Rental, Netherlands)
Gerhard Gasser (Global Rental Business manager, Hilti)
Murray Pollok (Managing Editor, IRN)
Juan José Torres (President, ASEAMAC & Managing Director, TST Torres Servicios Tecnicos SL)
Non-voting chair of judges: Michel Petitjean, Secretary General, ERA
2015 Winners & Shortlist
Large Rental Company of the Year (Revenues more than €15 million)
WINNER: A-Plant (UK)
SHORTLIST
GAP Hire (UK)
HSS Hire (UK)
Small/Mid-sized rental Company of the year (Revenues under €15m)
WINNER: Atut Rental (Poland)
SHORTLIST
Germans Homs (Spain)
Industrial Access (Romania)
O.MEC (Italy)
Sustainable Rental Product of the Year
WINNER: Wacker Neuson (electric powered rammer)
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Firefly (hybrid generator)
SHORTLIST
Holland Lift (hybrid scissor lift)
MHM Plant/Powerbank (hybrid generator)
Morris Site Machinery (solar lighting tower)
Rental Person of the Year
Wolfgang Hahnenberg and Peter Schrader, Zeppelin Rental
Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER: Pierre-Yves Lecat
2016 Judging Panel
Xavier du Boÿs (CEO, Kiloutou, France)
Marzia Giusto (CEO, Nacanco & President, Assonolo, Italy)
Nicolas Guigon (Rental & Used Equipment Manager – EAME, Caterpillar)
Vesa Koivula (ERA President & CEO, Cramo, Finland)
Murray Pollok (Managing Editor, International Rental News (IRN))
2014 Winners & Shortlist
Rental Marketing Campaign of the Year
WINNER: Hewden (UK)
SHORTLIST
4-punto-1 (Italy)
Hewden (UK)
Nationwide Platforms (UK)
Rental Safety Campaign of the Year
WINNER: Ramirent (Finland)
SHORTLIST
AFI (UK)
Lavendon Group (Europe)
Ramirent (Finland)
Rental Product of the Year
WINNER: Power Towers (Pecolift access platform)
HIGHLY COMMENDED: SDMO (Rental Compact generators)
SHORTLIST:
Firefly (Cygnus hybrid generator)
- Niftylift (HR28 hybrid access platform)
- Power Towers (Pecolift access platform)
- SDMO (Rental Compact generators)
- Tower Light (VTLED lighting tower)
Rental Company of the Year (Turnover under €15 million)
WINNER: Hotmobil (Germany)
SHORTLIST:
- Crestchic (UK)
- Dromad Hire (Republic of Ireland)
- GGR Group (UK)
- Hotmobil (Germany)
- Industrial Access (Romania)
Rental Company of the Year (Turnover above €15 million)
WINNER: Loxam (France)
SHORTLIST
AFI (UK)
GAP Group (UK)
Loxam (France)
ERA/IRN Rental Person of he Year
WINNER: Gill Riley, founder and managing director of GGR Group
2013 Winners & Shortlist
Large Rental Company of the Year (revenues more than €15 million)
WINNER: BOELS RENTAL (Netherlands)
SHORTLIST
Riwal (Netherlands)
VP plc (UK)
Small Rental Company of the Year
(revenues less than €15 million)
WINNER: DROMAD HIRE (Republic of Ireland)
SHORTLIST
GGR (UK)
Industrial Access (Romania)
Italnolo (Italy)
Storent (Latvia)
Rental Product of the Year
WINNER: OFF GRID ENERGY – Grid to Go Generator (UK)
SHORTLIST
• El Bjorn – TF 50 Fan Dryer (Sweden)
• Haulotte – HT23 RTJ boom (France)
• Himoinsa – Power Cube Generator (Spain)
• Husqvarna – K760 Oil Guard (Sweden)
Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER: DAN KAPLAN, Daniel Kaplan Associates
Rental Person of the Year
WINNER: Neil Stothard, Group Managing Director, VP plc
2013 Judging Panel
Gérard Déprez (president, European Rental Association)
Jürgen Küspert (managing director of BBI)
Jean-Marie Osdoit (president/CEO, Volvo Construction Equipment France)
Kevin Parkes (CEO, Hewden)
Murray Pollok (Editor, International Rental News)
- The non-voting chairman of the judges was Michel Petitjean, ERA Secretary General
2012 Winners & Shortlist
Large Rental Company of the Year (revenues more than €15 million)
WINNER: Kiloutou (France)
SHORTLIST
AFI-Uplift (UK)
GAP Group (UK)
Nixon Hire (UK)
Small Rental Company of the Year
(revenues less than €15 million)
WINNER: Naboen Utleie (Norway)
SHORTLIST
Johnny Servis (Czech Republic)
NRC (Russia)
Rentforce (Russia)
Rental Product of the Year
WINNER: Hilti (TE 3000-AVR breaker)
SHORTLIST
- Caterpillar (300.9D mini-excavator)
- Hinowa (IIIS system for aerial platforms)
- JLG Industries (1500SJ aerial platform)
- TowerLight (VB9 LED Battery Ibird lighting tower)
Rental Person of the Year
WINNER: Vesa Koivula, CEO, Cramo
Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER: Erkki Norvio, former CEO Ramirent and current board member
2011 Winners & Shortlist
Large Rental Company of the Year (revenues more than €15 million)
WINNER: HSS Hire (UK)
SHORTLIST
GAM (Spain)
GAP Group (UK)
Small Rental Company of the Year
(revenues less than €15 million)
WINNER: Industrial Access (Romania)
SHORTLIST
Dromad Hire (Ireland)
Rentforce (Netherlands/Russia)
Rental IT Award
WINNER: A-Plant
SHORTLIST
HSS Hire
Kiloutou
Speedy Hire
Rental Marketing Award
WINNER: Ramirent
SHORTLIST
HSS Hire
Rental Safety Award
WINNER: GAP Group
SHORTLIST
Hewden
HSS Hire
Rental Product of the Year
WINNER: Teletower Access Solutions (Teletower)
SHORTLIST
HH-Intellitech (GlasLift 500-4)
JCB (3CX/4CX ECO backhoe loader)
MEC Aerial Platforms (Titan Boom 40-S)
Z-Safety Services (Z-Matic)
Manufacturer of the Year
WINNER: Volvo CE
SHORTLIST
El-Bjorn
Rental Person of the Year
WINNER: Pierre Boels jr (Boels Verhuur)
Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER: Gunnar Glifberg (formerly Cramo)
2010 Winners & Shortlist
Rental Company of the Year (10 depots or more)
WINNER: Ramirent
SHORTLIST
GAP Group
HSS
Rental Company of the Year (under 10 depots)
WINNER: Bredenoord
HIGHLY COMMENDED: JVS Crane Rental
SHORTLIST
Atut Rental
StroyRent
Rental Product of the Year
WINNER: TowerLight/DF Ecology
SHORTLIST
HH-Intellitech
JLG Industries
Mecaplus
Rental Person of the Year
WINNER: Chris Davies, Chief Executive, HSS
Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER: Franco de Michelis, Assodimi
2009 Winners & Shortlist
Rental Company of the Year (10 depots or more)
WINNER: Aggreko
SHORTLIST
A-Plant
Malthus
Rental Company of the Year (under 10 depots)
WINNER: Cofiloc
SHORTLIST
Dest Bul (Destination Bulgaria)
Hoyde Service
Rental Product of the Year
WINNER: Haulotte Group (H28TJ+)
SHORTLIST
Dustcontrol (AirCube aircleaner)
Hitachi (ZX14-3)
Niftylift (Height Rider 21 Bi-Energy)
ERA/IRN Rental Person of the Year
WINNER: Mendes Migotto (Gruppo Venpa3)
SHORTLIST
Erkki Norvio (Ramirent)
Pierre Boels (Boels Verhuur)
Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER: George Burnett, founder and former CEO of Ashtead Group