30.03.2017

HWS Rental UK

Dutch rental company HWS has confirmed the opening of a UK operation with Tim White an ex-colleague of HWS owners Dick Schalekamp, Allard May and Coert Nodelijk.

The four - who worked together at Riwal between 2009 and 2012- will all be partners in the new UK venture - HWS Rental UK, which will offer a range of aerial work platforms for rental to regional rental companies. HWS Rental UK will initially focus on the long term rental and sales of niche aerial lifts, with an emphasis on large, heavy duty scissor lifts - both narrow aisle and Rough Terrain - and hybrid Boom lifts.

The company will also collaborate with Collé Rental & Sales, the European master distributor for heavy duty scissor lift manufacturer AB (previously HAB). HWS Rental UK has been appointed preferred UK supplier for AB Lift and has already purchased 12 units with working heights up to 32 metres. The three HWS owners also own Nifty lift distributor EuroSupply and thus have ready access to Niftylift hybrid boom lifts.

The company has already brought a few machines into the UK for specific contracts, and says that over the next six months it will bring more machines into the country to build on work that it has already started with some UK partners. Full training on the new machines will also be provided.
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Tim White

White said: “I worked with these guys for many years so when I was approached to establish the UK arm of HWS it was impossible to say no. Our previous collaboration was not only successful but enjoyable and interesting too. The fact we have also been appointed the preferred UK supplier for AB Lift, further strengthens our position and means we are uniquely placed to make an immediate impact.”

“We want to help strengthen what these companies can offer customers on both a rental and sales basis, with a particular attention to the ever growing demand for specialist machines in large internet shopping distribution centres and the requirement to provide eco-friendlier solutions.”

Schalekamp, May and Nodelijk acquired HWS at the end of 2015 and added Eurosupply in May last year. See new owners for HWS. Since then they have been looking for new opportunities and were keen to develop a UK re-rent business, in the same way they started Riwal UK in 2009. See Riwal confirms UK details Schalekamp stepped down as chief executive of Riwal in January 2012 and left the company at the end of the year.
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The Three HWS owners at the Eurosupply acquisition (L-R) Allard Maij, the van de Poels of Eurosupply, Dick Schalekamp and Coert Nodelijk

Vertikal Comment

This is an interesting although not totally unexpected move on the part of the three musketeers at HWS. They have direct experience at opening a UK wholesale rental operation from when they did it at Riwal. That operation eventually morphed into a full blown rental business and perhaps they have them same idea this time?

Although the fact that they plan to focus on large and specialist equipment might mean that they have something closer to competing with Gordon McGruer’s Kardon Kontracts in mind? Tim White has been working on this project for a little while, and perhaps the timing of the announcement may have something to do with the IPAF Summit being held in London next week? Especially given that all four protagonists are on the delegate list.

Tomorrow is also a big social occasion for the Netherland’s access industry, with the retirement party for Dirk Konings at Riwal, to which they are likely to have been invited, and the question over what the three are up to could be a talking point.

Above all this move makes sense for Collé in that he is keen to sell the AB Lift and some other products in the UK, having dipped his toe in the water at last year’s Vertikal Days. Interesting times.