Hitachi dealer in Iceland nominated for European Rental Award!

Great news for Iceland as authorised Hitachi dealer Vélafl is nominated for Small Rental Company of the Year at the European Rental Awards! The prestigious awards celebrate the creativity and innovation in Europe’s equipment rental industry and take place in Lisbon, Portugal, on 15 May, during the ERA Convention.

The Small Rental Company of the Year Award recognises small or medium-sized rental companies that have demonstrated excellent performance and improvement in one or more areas of its business, from efforts towards decarbonisation to notable fleet investment. This year, Vélafl clearly stands out as a worthy contender for its growth, customer focus, and unique approach to machine rental.

Vélafl rents construction equipment from Hitachi to rent to its customers (as part of the Hitachi Premium Rental scheme). In 2022, Vélafl more than trebled the size of its fleet to meet the growing demand for rental equipment. It now has 37 active Hitachi machines in its rental fleet, which include all types of equipment, from 2.5-tonne mini excavators to 50-tonne large excavators, wheeled excavators, and more recently, wheel loaders.

The right tools for the job

Although the concept of rental can sometimes seem daunting, Vélafl is an advocate for the financial benefits, flexibility and availability it can provide. So much so, rental is now responsible for approximately 70% of its business. As Hjalmar Helgason, CEO of Vélafl, puts it, “the customer’s job isn’t to buy and sell machines, it is to use machines to generate product. We are slowly but surely trying to help our customers by giving them the right tools for the right jobs.”

When it comes to renting from Vélafl, customers don’t need to worry about paying for additionally warranties, as the company offers service and maintenance, as well as additional equipment such as GPS, quick couplers and tilt rotators as part of its rental contracts. So, customers have fixed running costs for their machines within the set period of the rental contract, simplifying and streamlining the entire process. Vélafl is one of the leading companies in this respect.

As well as producing some excellent results, this new way of working has set Vélafl apart during a period of market volatility and rising costs in Iceland. Vélafl’s ability to offer flexible solutions and prioritise its customers’ peace of mind has been dually recognised by the European Rental Awards. “We wish Vélafl the best of luck at the awards ceremony in Lisbon,” said HCME Rental Manager Rene Danielsson.  “The nomination alone is testament to the fantastic work these rental trailblazers are doing in Iceland, and we congratulate them on their amazing achievements.”