21.12.2005

European Rental association

Gerard Deprez CEO of Loxam, has proposed an inaugural meeting of a new European Rental Association as proposed by him at APEX this September

A UK/Belgian lawyer has drawn up articles of association and a meeting called for the 24th of January 2006 in Brussels from 10:00 to 17:00.

The agenda includes
-Approving and signing of the Articles of Association with a view to requesting official approval from the Belgian authorities,
-Defining the aims of the Association,
-Planning the 1st General Assembly (2nd quarter of 2006).

Vertikal Comment

It seems that the ERA as it is likely to be known will be located in Brussels, one wonders how this new organisation might fit in with a number of existing associations that already look after rental company interests such as the Hire association Europe (largely a British based group in spite of its name) IPAF which of course looks after Access rental companies, ESTA the European crane hirers association.

The date chosen is the day before the London Hire show opens at Excel, one wonders if a meeting at that show might not have been more suitable? Although Brussels is very convenient for French, Dutch and Northern German rental companies of which there are many.

If the ERA does a first class job, is there a need for the HAE? Or will that now become even more of a UK/Ireland based club?

Interesting times.