Christine Wehrman, CEO of the American Rental Association (ARA), made a presentation on trends in the U.S. rental industry as part of the European Rental Association (ERA) convention in Amsterdam last week.

Wehrman’s presentation took a look at how equipment rental companies in the U.S. have reacted to the economic downturn and how they are poised for an expected gradual recovery.

“The U.S., and the entire world, has gone through an unprecedented economic downturn and U.S. rental companies generally have taken the necessary steps to remain viable,” Wehrman said. “The downturn in the economy has forced the rental industry to return to core fundamentals.”

Wehrman said access to capital continues to be challenging for contractors, a factor which is expected to bring about greater rental penetration in the U.S., where rental is less used than in European countries. “Now we are seeing a measured but steady recovery with an economic environment that requires the construction industry to greater utilize rental to meet equipment demands. The idea of renting equipment is a financially sound proposition and the industry can move forward on that basis.”

Wehrman noted that the recovery in the U.S. is moving at a faster pace than Europe with rental rates, equipment utilization, cash flows and profits all improving in the first quarter of this year for most U.S. companies. “We're at a point where we see an improving marketplace, increased visibility and growth opportunities for the rental channel overall,” she said. 

The convention, themed “Growth again!,”  included roundtable discussions on topics including scaffolding, software integration, preventing equipment theft and equipment end-of-life strategies. Other participants in the ERA convention seminars and workshops included Michael Kneeland, CEO of United Rentals; Alan Blake, CEO of JCB; and executives from A-Plant, Lavendon, Ramirent, Harsco, Cramo, Riwal, HSS, MVS Zeppelin, Boels, Loxam, Manitou and Volvo.

As part of attending the ERA convention, Wehrman and Ken Hughes, publisher of Rental Management magazine, also partipated in the convention’s tradeshow with a booth featuring The Rental Show 2012 in New Orleans, Rental Management magazine and the Global Rental Alliance.