Greendays from 1.2.3. Machine rentals clearly meet need

Tuesday, Oct. 19 and Wednesday, Oct. 20, was busy at Dommel 50 in Dronten. At the location of 1.2.3. Machine Rental, the Greendays were held, information days on the use of electric and hybrid equipment. All from a logical thought: "By renting, you take the first step toward a more sustainable environment." It is also a step that will save money in the short and long term.

Customer demand for durable equipment is increasing significantly. For 1.2.3. Machine Rental was and is reason to invest heavily in electric or hybrid construction equipment as well as more economical and cleaner Stage V machines. Under the motto "together we build a sustainable future" the rental company likes to take its customers on a journey through the new sustainable fleet and corresponding possibilities.

That taking literally happened during both Greendays. By 1.2.3. Machine Rental, in cooperation with its sister companies Inter-Techno (the well-known Bobcat dealer/importer) and Gencom (the specialist in portable power) spent two days showing and telling in a practical way how small and large companies can already benefit in a simple way from the switch to machines that have fewer or no emissions in the workplace.

Renting as a first step

Because equipment with fewer or no emissions is still quite expensive to purchase and somewhat unfamiliar to use, renting such equipment helps to facilitate the initial introduction. In this way, contractors in the construction and civil engineering sector can quickly and affordably meet the demands of a growing number of (local) governments and other clients. These increasingly demand the use of low-emission equipment, because they too want to do their bit for a cleaner environment for our children. Something that also plays a role in the agricultural sector, because of the necessary nitrogen limitation.

Since many companies still have little or no experience with Zero Emission equipment, 1.2.3. Machine Rental and Inter-Techno thought that holding practical information days could help everyone a step further. Hence both Greendays in Dronten, centrally located and easy to reach.

You don't believe that

Bertus Boer is director of Inter-Techno and knows the ins and outs of compact equipment like no other. According to him, the need for conversion is unmistakable: "So much fuel is still being burned every day, you just can't believe it." Fortunately, he also sees that the top-10 builders in our country are now pushing it. Considerable strides are already being made in electric excavators, in portable power the switch is underway, and then there are alternatives such as hydrogen and the cleaner diesel (HVO and the like), of which we don't know exactly how important they are going to become.

Bertus stresses the importance of cooperation; with the right partners you go faster and get further in the development of alternative drives that are better for the environment and preferably also for the wallet. He therefore agrees that equipment rental companies in particular "have a clean job to do in educating and advising the customer."

Getting a clear picture

"From generators to aerial work platforms and hand tools to construction machinery, innovation in electric is working overtime. All arrows are pointed at being able to work more sustainably," notes Deputy Director Jeroen Perin. "Not only the equipment, but also the underlying m2m (machine to machine - ed.) data communication is aimed at clearly visualizing both savings and reduction of emissions. We have a range of all-electric excavators, shovels, battery-powered hand tools and battery packs. In addition, we have several hybrid generators, which may be available with windwheel or solar panels." So a winged statement in that regard is: 1.2.3. does what the customer wants. 

All kinds of machines on display

Both outside and inside the large hall were machines from several manufacturers. Of course, Bobcat was present with electric diggers such as the E10e, E19e and E35e, as well as the new articulated loaders I.28 and I.85 plus rotary telehandler T50.210. In addition to some vibratory plates, we saw from Weycor the AW260 with Stage V engine and a blue electric Knikmops KM130e. Big brother KM180e is also available through 1.2.3. Machine Rental. Battery machines were present from Milwaukee, Stihl and Wacker Neuson and from Genie a Z33 - Z-30/20N was on display in the hall. Outside were from Bobcat another E17, E60 and T35.105L with Stage V engine plus a 60 kVA hybrid generator with 60 kW lithium battery capacity and solar panels.

Also in the main hall, several units with solar panels and wind wicks caught our eye. They turned out to be battery packs and hybrid generators to provide power in an environmentally friendly way at construction sites and the like. They are intended as an environmentally friendly alternative to the well-known fuel-consuming and odor- and noise-causing gasoline and diesel generators. Some power units can operate completely standalone, while others are intended more as intermediate stations in the power grid.

Hybrid Power Pack

Good example of a first step is a hybrid power pack such as the 40.40 Lithium. This rentable combination of a 42 kVA generator with a 34.5 to 46 kWh lithium-ion battery pack can power machines quietly and cleanly for up to 10 hours (of course, the length of time depends on high or low power draw). Via a generator, the battery can be fully recharged in 2.5 hours. Since the generator has common outputs (2x 32A and 2x 63A), various machines can be connected to it, as well as a power distribution box. All hybrid generators and battery packs are equipped with a connection for solar panels or wind chokes to keep the battery pack charged.

A very interesting development is further, that nowadays it is easy to monitor the extent to which electric equipment indeed reduces the amount of harmful emissions and whether the machines live up to their promises in terms of, for example, battery life, power and performance.   

Aimed at professional market

1.2.3. Machine Rental is part of the Inter-Rent group together with Inter-Techno and Gencom. Inter-Techno is importer of such brands as Bobcat and Weycor. Gencom is importer of Doosan and Trime. 1.2.3. Machineverhuur BV is a dynamic rental company with twelve branches throughout the country. It focuses on the professional market and has been active for almost 25 years in the rental of machines and equipment for construction, infra, GWW, industry and events, in the broadest sense of the word.