Even ‘meteoric’ could be an understatement when describing the growth of mobile elevator work platform (MEWP) rental company, Concord Access Rental.
In the seven months since the company started it has grown from only a few machines to being the second largest in the local industry, and will have more than 100 units by June 2012.
Operations director Dean Jones attributes the unusual performance to a host of factors including a buoyant market, his company’s diverse offering, the excellent Genie brand, his team’s experience and being part of the Concord and Imperial groups.
“All these important elements have come together to make us immediately one of the most potent players in our industry. While they are all important, perhaps the factor that underpins our success is our diversity. We are very strong at understanding where MEWPS are needed and thus we do not have to rely too heavily on the more obvious and popular sectors, like construction, which are infamously erratic,” says Jones.
Meanwhile some of the big names in business in South Africa have helped boost Concord Access Rental’s revenues. “We have several machines working on the Sasol’s Gas Engine Power Plant project and several more on the new JD Group distribution centre in Boksburg,” says Jones. “We are of course very pleased that our client base includes such blue-chip names but we work very hard at giving a world class service so that anyone, big or small, can find renting a MEWP from us a user-friendly experience.”
Jones says that he is looking to expand the range of machines in the fleet so that customers will have greater choice. “For example within the next four to six weeks we will be taking delivery of at least 25 units, most of which being big diesel boom lifts from 85 feet platform height up to 135 feet.”
He adds that there is opportunity in the southern African region to grow one of the leading Access rental companies in the world. “We have the financial backing, the knowledge and the experience and most importantly a very diverse, exciting and growing market in the sub-Saharan region and beyond, and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t become a very significant player in the years to come.”
Jones should be taken seriously. In 1995 he became the Germiston branch manager of a large general equipment rental firm and within a few short years it became the biggest branch in the group and it remained so during his tenure. In 1999 he was appointed to the same company’s fledgling MEWP rental business, but was soon head-hunted to assist in growing what then became the leading Access rental company in the country.
Jones left South Africa in September of 2007 to manage a leading AWP (Aerial Work Platforms) operation throughout both the Emirates and Saudi Arabia. While there he landed one of the biggest access platform deals in history, which involved the rental of hundreds of machines for a period of more than 28 months on the Ferrari World Theme park and the Yas Island Racetrack development in Abu Dhabi.
After four years Jones returned with his family to South Africa where he took up the opportunity to become part of and manage Concord Access Rental in September 2011.
“I am very optimistic about the prospects of this company and look forward to the challenge ahead,” he concluded.