Speaking on what’s driving rental penetration in India, Vishal Sharma, Business Partner, Reach International, said, “The surge in rental demand for access work platforms (AWPs) and material handling equipment (MHE) in India is both due to an increase in demand and a shortage in supply. There is huge demand especially post-COVID, with investments pouring across sectors – both by the government and private companies.”

He added, “There is a huge demand for rental equipment throughout the CEQ category. It is the best time in the last decade for a rental company in terms of rates, timely payments, and higher utilisation rates. It is also a good time for a global player to enter the domestic market as well as for domestic players to expand their fleet size.”

Keeping environment and cost in mind, most big companies are making the shift towards battery-operated machines. Clients have welcomed the lithium-ion forklift with open arms. Apart from being environment friendly, lithium-ion helps save battery costs for two to three-shift operations. Additionally, OEM Hyundai provides additional benefits like maintenance-free machines and long-term warranties.