The long view on STR

Short-term rental machines are available for up to 12 months and contracts are tailored to the end user’s requirements. This extra capacity affords ports, freight operators, logistics businesses and manufacturers – in fact any business that uses heavy duty forklifts, reachstackers or container handlers in its day-to-day operations – much-needed flexibility.

Not only are companies better able to manage fluctuations in production and meet an unexpected emergency demand, but they can also take on additional work, including lucrative short-term projects they wouldn’t otherwise be able to fulfil.

Short-term rental can also be cost-effective for businesses that want to defer equipment acquisition, whether this is an outright purchase or a short- or long-term lease arrangement, or to guarantee cover for older, less reliable machines. Since reachstackers can be transported complete, they can go straight to work without the requirement for cranes to erect the boom and spreader, providing a fast response as well as a cost-effective solution to a particular need.

Since big trucks on short-term contracts tend to be low hours and high specification, businesses can be confident of hiring in heavy lifting equipment to improve their ability to meet changing customer demands. Machines available from specialists, like Cooper Specialised Handling, are supplied as fully operational so start earning their keep the minute they arrive on site.

Reputable suppliers also take the time to understand the application and the challenge before developing a bespoke solution. Based around a fixed monthly sum, incorporating service and maintenance support as appropriate, short-term rental deals are optimised to satisfy the customer’s specific requirements.

The advice to anyone looking to acquire heavy lifting equipment for a few months is to hire modern, quiet, low emission trucks certified in accordance with LOLER (the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) and, ideally, specified with the latest software and electronic hardware.

It pays to work with a reputable materials handling partner, because quality, low hours, low age machines will only be available from suppliers with a dedicated rental fleet that are committed to rotating stock regularly. Some providers offer part exchanges on an 'opportunity basis' whilst they find buyers for the customer’s outgoing machine, but this is not a policy we advocate. Cooper Specialised Handling has therefore invested £4million to create the UK’s most comprehensive specialised equipment rental fleet incorporating 45 tonne laden reach stackers, a 25 tonne lift truck with fixed frame for either fork lift or 20ft box handling and a dedicated unladen Konecrane 108 empty reach stacker.

Specialists in the heavy lifting rental market will always supply quality trucks prepared to the highest standards by qualified, experienced engineers. As part of a rigorous pre-hire check, they inspect wheels, tyres and steer axle bearings to ensure they meet safety requirements and routinely test all fork, mast and carriage controls. Engineers examine pipes and fixings to ensure none have worked loose and in addition to checking engine oils and hydraulics lubricants, and topping them up as necessary, they clean the trucks thoroughly prior to delivery to the customer.

If a heavy duty forklift or reachstacker on hire breaks down, the customer could fall behind schedule or fail to meet deadlines resulting in a stiff financial penalty. For added peace of mind, it pays to incorporate maintenance support into the rental contract so that, if a problem occurs, a trained engineer can be on hand at the earliest opportunity.

When businesses are up against a tight schedule, the sooner rental equipment is put to work, the better. To acquire a particular machine, it is in the end user’s interests to ask what advance notice is required and to check lead times, because not all providers offer next day delivery anywhere in the UK.

The heavy lifting marketplace is changing, and in the long run, short-term rental is a viable way to achieve enhanced materials handling capabilities at a sensible price.