The world's biggest equipment rental company, United Rentals, is about to become even bigger with its acquisition of Ahern Rentals.
This is just the latest in a string of rental acquisitions this year, prompted by rising demand for equipment at a time when supply lines are tight and purchase prices are rising.
United says the deal was motivated by a desire to expand its US footprint - and Ahern's 106 locations will certainly help. But the acquisition will also increase efficiency and cost-savings - and, of course, assist United in its negotiations with suppliers.
And speaking of mergers and acquisitions, readers might have spotted an error in last week's Inside Forkliftaction message, when we referred to the Cargotec/Kalmar deal. Of course, that should have been the abandoned Cargotec/Konecranes merger!