The short-term rental market has been resilient for some time. If anything, it was boosted by the financial crisis, as potential new forklift buyers deferred their purchases. It has also been a lifeline for the manufacturers, providing a sales channel when others were under pressure.
Reporter Christine Cranney looks at the state of play in an in-depth report this week.
The one question which remains to be answered, however, is whether the hire market will continue to grow as the economy improves and organisations step up their equipment purchases. Is hire here to stay?