AER Rents has placed a significant order with Chinese construction equipment manufacturer SANY, securing 50 new machines for its UK and Irish operations. The deal will see a mix of telehandlers and excavators delivered over the summer to support AER-owned businesses: MPH Hire & Sales, DHS Complete Hire, and Chippindale Hire & Sales. Prior to placing the order, AER Rents executives travelled to SANY’s manufacturing facility in China to assess the company’s quality management processes first-hand. “This is more than just a fleet refresh – it’s a clear signal of our ambition,” said Gavin Pitt, Chief Executive of AER Rents. “We’re expanding, partnering with the best, and placing performance, safety, and sustainability at the core of everything we deliver to our customers.” Distribution of the equipment will be handled by SANY’s regional dealer network. Banner Equipment will supply the majority of the order to Chippindale Hire & Sales. SANY UK’s direct sales team will deliver to MPH Hire & Sales in the southeast, while Sleator Plant will manage deliveries to DHS Complete Hire in Ireland. Rob Gowling, General Manager of Banner Equipment, commented: “This fleet expansion is fantastic news for all parties involved. It’s especially rewarding to see our long-standing relationship with Chippindale Hire & Sales extend across the wider AER Rents Group and into the broader SANY UK & Ireland network. SANY has firmly established itself in the construction sector, and this partnership strengthens that reputation further.” AER Rents Group, part of Ireland’s O’Flaherty Holdings, acquired Mr Plant Hire (now MPH) in 2014 and Chippindale Plant in 2022. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

HG Construction Invests £1.2m in ‘Revolution Battery’ Leading UK contractor HG Construction is partnering with Dumarey Green Power to decarbonize its crane and hoist operations across the company’s UK sites. HG Construction has made a £1.2m investment into Dumarey’s ‘Revolution Battery’ following a successful trial on two HG sites earlier this year.  The investment will enable HG Construction to significantly reduce carbon emissions and operational costs on its sites, and is aligned with the company’s commitment to adopting more sustainable construction practices. HG Construction partnered with Dumarey Green Power to run trials on its Moritsch crane fleet at two London sites earlier this year. In one trial, a single Revolution Battery powered two Moritsch RTL 195 luffing cranes using a 32A 3-phase mains supply, replacing two 200 kVA diesel generators that ran 50–60 hours weekly. The results were transformative: Adam Quinn, CEO, HG Construction, commented: “The performance of the Revolution Battery during the trials was exceptional – reducing carbon emissions and running costs by over 90%. These results speak for themselves and made our decision to invest a straightforward one. The fact that the technology has been developed and produced locally also aligns with our commitment to source from local suppliers where possible.  This investment will enable us to make great strides on our journey towards decarbonisation of our operations, improve site efficiency and reduce waste. Looking forward, we remain committed to embracing innovations that deliver tangible environmental and operational benefits.” Unlike conventional battery systems that store large amounts of energy for high peak power, the Revolution Battery, an industrial battery energy storage system (BESS), decouples energy storage from output power. This innovation allows high power delivery from minimal energy storage, resulting in a smaller, more efficient system with fewer battery cells and lower embedded emissions. If mains power is unavailable, the battery can be charged by a 40 kVA generator, running less than three hours daily based on trial data. Alex Keys, Sales and Marketing Director, Dumarey Green Power, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with HG Construction as the business makes a bold step towards decarbonising its crane and hoist operations. The construction sector faces challenges in the years ahead to meet emissions targets, and switching from diesel-powered generators to efficient battery systems can make a huge impact. HG Construction’s adoption of this technology underscores its commitment to achieving its net-zero goals and sets a new standard for sustainable construction.” Manufactured in the UK by Dumarey Green Power, the Revolution Battery leverages local labour and suppliers, minimising transport emissions and supporting the UK construction market. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Smart Construction, the digital arm of Japanese machinery manufacturer Komatsu, has reported a 44 percent adoption increase in its software as a service (SaaS) technology from FY2023 to FY2024, highlighting a rising demand for software in construction. The business, which creates solutions to improve productivity and efficiencies across mixed construction sectors, also doubled its headcount and announced its excavator guidance products are now compatible with industry-leading tilt rotators brands. A key driver of Komatsu Smart Construction’s growth has been its focus on improving and refining its already popular technologies. Following a 30 percent increase in users across its Remote product, the brand has announced a license for the cloud-based solution will be included as standard with all purchases of Komatsu-branded guidance and control systems, including the newly released PC220LCi-12 dubbed ‘the most advanced’ excavator ever. Smart Construction’s Remote solution allows users to access and control both Komatsu and non-Komatsu machine guidance and control system monitors remotely. Bart Vingerhoets, Senior Commercial Manager at Komatsu Smart Construction explains: “We’re proud to work with as many people as possible across the industry to develop our tools to be even more effective. Our users don’t just use our tools, they shape them.  “As European construction continues to embrace digital transformation, we’re committed to accelerating that progress and making jobsite management more sustainable, connected and accessible than ever.  “The last financial year has been pivotal for the team, with our investment into advancing our own tools growing and multiple new editions of solutions launching, we’re extremely proud of our achievements.” Additional product development successes from the brand include the relaunch of its pivotal drone surveying assistance solution, Edge, now in its second major hardware edition since the launch, and its seventh version of software.  Edge uses a custom-built AI algorithm to automatically remove buildings, equipment and vegetation from the 3D point cloud it processes from the drone footage, delivering a clear, accurate, 3D representation of the site.  The tool processes high quality and precise data from the job site, providing the user with a direct way of calculating job site progress quickly and identifying any challenges or unforeseen considerations. Bart adds: “At Komatsu Smart Construction, we’re also prioritising partnerships, connecting with other technology to create truly brand agnostic solutions that support the whole industry. Last year the team launched a new version of the Smart Construction Fleet solution, overhauling the user interface and upgrading the algorithms to improve accuracy and user experience.” Komatsu Smart Construction solutions are available through a community of distributors, which is continuously growing, meaning the brand can gain access to unbiased customer feedback and use it to shape future upgrades. To find out more please visit: smartconstruction.io  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

In response to growing demand for high-performance infrastructure, Sunbelt Rentals UK and Ireland has made a significant investment to expand its offering and meet the evolving needs of the industry. As part of its Sunbelt 4.0 strategy, designed to improve customer experience and sustainability, the company has expanded its fleet with 20,000 recyclable aluminium panels, along with 28 Trakway installation vehicles. This expansion of their fleet supports the company with the increasing demand for safe, scalable and environmentally responsible infrastructure across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe. An important aspect of the investment is their focus on the sustainability aspects of the equipment to allow customers to easily make the switch to greener solutions. The recyclable aluminium panels are aligned to the company’s sustainability strategy, Our Planet, designed to reduce waste and increase circular economy practices. Once used, these panels will be melted down, repurposed and returned into the industry. Ann Marie Brindle, Commercial Director – Trakway at Sunbelt Rentals said “This investment reflects our commitment to providing our customers with a world class rental experience. The addition of the Lion panels and expanded fleet of electric solutions means we can consistently deliver on time and align with our customers’ focus on sustainable solutions.” Lee Robinson, Managing Director of Trakway at Sunbelt Rentals, expanded on how this will benefit their customers: “This investment goes beyond the equipment – it’s about setting a standard for excellent customer experience and social sustainability.” In addition to its investment in equipment, Sunbelt Rentals is equally focused on investing in its people. Recognising the importance of expertise and safety, the company is committed to prioritising the development of its teams through targeted training programmes. Every teammate involved in site operations is required to complete mandatory certifications, including CSCS, ALMI, BESC, and lift supervision. These qualifications ensure that every team member meets the highest standards of safety and technical proficiency, guaranteeing that customers receive a consistently high level of service backed by knowledgeable and skilled teams. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Finning has helped leading waste management company Powerday bolster their sustainability goals by facilitating the rebuild of two Cat® 966M wheel loaders. London-based waste management and recycling services company Powerday, has saved money while also reducing its carbon and material consumption by commissioning the rebuild of two of their Cat 966M wheel loaders. Finning UK and Ireland, the world’s largest dealer of Cat machines, parts and aftermarket services, utilised workshop and engineer expertise to rebuild the machines from the ground up. This marks the first 966M rebuilds Finning has completed specifically for the waste industry.  The World Steel Association calculates that the steel industry generates between 7 and 9% of global emissions, and on average 1.92 tonnes of Co2 are emitted for every tonne of steel produced. As part of its commitment to sustainability, Powerday commissioned Finning to rebuild two wheel loaders instead of buying new, saving on the Co2 emissions that would result from manufacturing a new machine.  In recent years, the transition of the UK waste and recycling industry from a linear to a circular economy has been widely discussed, emphasising reusing materials to reduce the dependency on landfill sites and Co2 emissions. Finding innovative ways to integrate a circular economy has been at the forefront of their sustainability mission at Powerday. The rebuild options and processes at Finning align with both the wider call for sustainability in the waste and recycling industry, and Powerday’s own sustainability strategy.  Nick Savvides, Corporate Account Manager at Finning UK and Ireland said: “Cat machines are designed to be rebuilt, maximising the original investment for our customers. By opting to have their Cat 966M wheel loaders rebuilt as opposed to buying new, Powerday has not only saved money but has underlined its strong commitment to sustainability. “The rebuild process restores machines to like-new condition but saves on the material consumption and carbon emissions that go into building a brand-new machine. By reducing waste and conserving resources, our rebuilds are an attractive proposition for companies looking to meet their sustainability targets, maximise the machines lifespan and save on capital expenditure.  “We were also able to save the company money on the overall purchase price by offering Cat Finance at 0% hire purchase, which included machine warranty.” Cat certified rebuilds are designed to maximise the life cycle of machines and enhance their capabilities. In the process of rebuilding the Cat 966M’s, Finning were able to upgrade the machines with the latest technology. Tara Crossan, Associate Director at Powerday said: “Having the rebuilds commissioned was not only an opportunity to make our machines like-new, but to enhance them with all the latest technology that will continue to support our sustainability strategy.  “Finning guided us through the process, demonstrating how the latest telematics software can optimise fleet efficiency, conserve fuel and reduce operational emissions. We are pleased to have underlined our commitment to creating a sustainable future for the waste industry by having our machines rebuilt, and we are excited to utilise the newly integrated technology to support our move towards a low-carbon future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

For a limited time, Finning is offering customers a unique opportunity to get behind the wheel of the all-new, next generation Cat® 265 compact track loader (CTL) at their headquarters in Cannock, Staffordshire. Finning UK & Ireland, the world’s largest dealer of Cat machines, parts and aftermarket services, is bringing the new Cat265 to the UK market this year. As part of the launch, Finning is offering a unique opportunity for customers, plant hire firms and owner operators to get hands on with this next generation model and experience the performance benefits offered by its innovative vertical lift design. Building on the success of the D3 series, the new Cat 265 compact track loader (CTL) has been redesigned from the ground-up, leveraging Caterpillar’s leading reputation for CTL’s with a host of enhanced performance capabilities. Alongside the recently launched Cat 255 CTL, the Cat 265 has been remodelled with the operator in mind, with customer feedback central to the enhanced performance of the new models. Finning is encouraging customers to reach out for this limited time-only to try out this innovative machine. Helen Day, BCP Product Manager at Finning UK & Ireland said: “We understand that heavy machines are a significant investment for any business, and we want to encourage customers to come and try-out our new CTL to experience the power, quality and performance first-hand, with a no-obligation test drive and demonstration. “We are incredibly excited to bring the new performance standard of this machine to our customers. When customers get behind the wheel, they will immediately feel the power from the Cat C2.8T engine which offers 74.3hp (55.4 kW) and maintains horsepower across a wider RPM, delivering significant torque increases of 43% compared to the previous model. “The test drive is also a good opportunity for customers to speak with the experts here at Finning about their unique needs and applications. The Cat 265 comes with fully integrated technology which allows Cat Smart Attachments to be automatically synchronised for full versatility. This allows operators to switch between applications more efficiently as the machine automatically recognises the attachment and corresponding joystick pattern. Being able to discuss the versatility of the 265 and more, means we can help our customers invest in the right tools, technology and support for their needs.” Day said: “At the heart of this machine is an enhanced operator experience, including a wider cab, lower entry point, advanced joysticks for integrated control, advanced touch screen monitors and new mechanical air-ride suspension seat options.  “To really appreciate the power, performance and comfort of this next generation machine we are encouraging our customers to reach out to their local dealer to arrange a demonstration, so they can see the difference this machine would make to their application first-hand. “The race is on to secure a demonstration of the 265 so we are encouraging customers to get in touch today, so they don’t miss this incredible opportunity.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals