NES completes access fleet update

US aerial equipment rental company NES Rentals announced that it completed its $500 million, four-year fleet modernisation initiative earlier this year. The Deerfield, Illinois company's effort is part of "...its strategic realignment to focus on the aerial equipment rental business."

The modernisation effort, which the company said it had completed earlier than scheduled, added 16000 pieces of new aerial equipment. Those were more than 5000 scissor lifts, 3000 boom lifts, 1500 rough-terrain telescopic forklifts and 800 industrial forklifts. The company also implemented a maintenance and inspection program that requires all rental equipment to comply with applicable OEM standards. The initiative, which began in June 2004, grew NES's rental fleet to more than 30000 units with a replacement value in excess of $1 billion.

"The safety of our customers and employees is our number one priority. Purchasing and maintaining the best aerial equipment fleet in the industry is a part of assuring their safety," stated Andrew Studdert, NES Rentals' chairman and chief executive officer. "Our research shows that safety and reliability are our customers' chief concerns when renting aerial equipment. Our modernisation initiative has ensured that each piece of NES equipment meets our customers' high standards."