15.02.2005

HSS invests in Spain

HSS, one of the leading hire shop companies in the UK, has purchased a 25 percent stake in Rentecnika Iberica its Spanish franchisee, and has stated that it intends to invest in the expansion of the company’s powered access rental fleet.

HSS in Spain operates from 14 locations, mainly in the Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia regions. Rentecnika Iberica was founded in 1994 and is owned by its founder and Managing Director Jose Marie Pujol who sold rental company, Guimera SA, to Atlas Copco nine months ago, in order to concentrate on the HSS franchise.

The intention stated at the time was to take HSS Spain up to 50 locations in the near to medium term.
See Vertikal.Net April 5th 2004 Atlas Copco acquires...

“The decision to invest in Spain indicates HSS’ willingness to share the risk and get directly involved in accelerating the growth of a company that already has a formidable presence in the country. Within Spain there is an unprecedented amount of building work on homes, businesses and the national infrastructure. The chance to become involved with this boom industry was simply too good an opportunity to miss.” Said HSS general franchise manager Michael Bellenger

“It makes perfect sense that we combine the strength of our brand and international tool hire experience with the entrepreneurial skills of independent tool hire specialists to maximize the opportunities as markets worldwide become more attuned to the concept of tool hire rental,” said Paul Nolan, HSS CEO.

HSS are one of the UK’s leading powered access suppliers with a fleet of over 1,000 units. The company is unusual in that its laerial lift fleet is all under 14 metres and it strives to keep the Gross Vehicle Weight of its aerials under 3.5 tonnes in order to allow transportation by its fleet of 7.5 tonne trucks.

HSS also stated that it still believes in expansion outside of the UK and in doing this via its well developed franchise system. The company is currently in the process of selling off its American operation and only last year sold its German depots to Boels of Holland.

Announcing the deal during HSS’s International Conference at the Rental Show in Las Vegas, Chief Executive Paul Nolan said Rentecnika Iberica was a shining example of true partnership. He went on to confirm that HSS was now actively seeking new international partners for similar joint collaborations.