Art's Rental Equipment & Supply has thrived by offering personalized service and expanding its fleet to meet customer demands, including adding electric equipment like the Volvo ECR18 excavator. Their sustainable growth is fueled by family values and commitment to exceptional service.
Volvo photo
Some renters plug in the Volvo ECR18 Electric during breaks to top off the battery, but even those who don’t say they get at least five hours of operation from a fully charged machine.
How has Art's Rental Equipment & Supply not only survived in the ultra-competitive rental market for more than half a century but also grown significantly? They say they've done it by offering more flexible, personalized service than a big rental company can.
Art Arlinghaus established the business in the late 1960s with a modest facility in Newport, Ky., and a vision for ongoing expansion. Being just across the border from Cincinnati, Ohio, he saw an opportunity to capitalize on a housing boom and began incorporating more equipment that residential builders would need.
Today, Arlinghaus's legacy lives on through his six sons, who have grown the footprint of the business to 15 locations with 225 employees across three states (including Indiana).
"We rent everything from drain augers and wallpaper steamers to 185-foot boom lifts and 60-ton excavators to homeowners, small businesses and large contractors," said Andrew Arlinghaus, who leads the inside sales department.
In the last few years, the company has begun offering more electric equipment to stay ahead of trends and meet evolving customer demands.
"Expanding our fleet is the best way that we have found to grow our business. When the customers ask for it, we go out and get it for them," said Arlinghaus. "So we offer a variety of battery-powered equipment, including much of our aerial fleet, some forklifts, compact utility loaders and concrete buggies."
One of the newest additions to the electric fleet is the Volvo ECR18 Electric compact excavator, and it's been such a hit with renters that their first four machines quickly became eight.
"We pride ourselves on offering one of the largest and most diverse equipment fleets in each region that we serve, and this addition has gained us a larger market share amongst renters," said Arlinghaus.
Meeting Today's Job Site Demands
Many Art's Rental clients are facing tighter and tighter restrictions on diesel emissions, especially on indoor job sites. A good portion of their customer base does indoor plumbing work, where they often need to break up and load out concrete flooring and dig ditches for new plumbing.
"They are experienced enough to know exactly the type of equipment they need for the job," said Arlinghaus. "Their feedback showed us that the ECR18 Electric was the appropriately sized machine for their needs."
Other brands of electric compact excavators that Art's Rental used to carry had to remain plugged in while in use, which is not the safest or most convenient way to operate. But Volvo models tackle the work unplugged, automatically shutting off when they haven't been used for several seconds to further protect battery life.
"Most customers use regular 120-volt charging overnight," said Arlinghaus. "And they've told us they're getting at least five hours of runtime — if not a full shift — and have had almost no maintenance-related issues."
Partnering, Powering Up
When it became clear to Arlinghaus and his team that a better electric excavator was necessary, they knew that getting the machines in a timely manner could prove tricky as the supply chain was still rebounding from pandemic interruptions.
They placed an order with a different vendor at first, but Rudd Equipment Company, their local Volvo Construction Equipment dealer, was able to provide a confirmed delivery date and seal the deal.
"The relationship is fresh, but we're excited to develop this into a long-term partnership," said Alex Kloentrup, the Rudd sales rep who made the connection. "Renting is a great solution for contractors who need an electric machine for a short period or want to test one without the commitment of buying."
Arlinghaus says Kloentrup and Rudd have been very responsive and helpful, including discussions on the best charging setup for their customers.
"Since their customers' typical usage is indoors where a 120-volt or 240-volt AC outlet is available, they stuck with the J-plugs that are included for now," said Kloentrup. It's possible that portable DC fast-charging products could join the fleet in the future.
Performance Outweighs Price
Arlinghaus and Kloentrup have both heard positive feedback in the year and a half since their first ECR18 Electric excavators arrived.
"Customers are impressed with the overall power of the unit," said Arlinghaus. "The ease of changing buckets is also a plus."
He said he's heard remarks on how smooth, quiet and powerful the machine is.
"Those benefits are particularly noticeable in indoor environments where noise echoes and tight areas are abundant," he said.
Initial purchase prices for battery-powered machines like the Volvo ECR18 Electric are higher while the technology and supply chain catch up to demand, but maintenance is significantly simpler without an internal combustion engine and fuel costs are eliminated.
"One customer mentioned to me that they do not use the machine to save money — they use it because of zero emission requirements on their job sites … So the costs that come along with those requirements are understood," Arlinghaus said.
He said Art's Rental continues to see increased demand for their ECR18 Electric compact excavators, and they expect to see more options like it become available as the technology continues to improve.
Family Values Drive Sustainable Growth
While electric heavy equipment is a big part of the Art's Rental success story of today, it's their emphasis on the family feel and their commitment to exceptional service that got them here. No two stores are more than two hours apart, and the brothers visit each location regularly.
"We listen to our employees' and customers' input, and we make sure our company aligns with their needs," said Arlinghaus. "Adding these battery-electric excavators to our rental fleet has allowed us to meet the demands of our customers, no matter what job site they are working on."
From dusting off showroom shelves and lending a hand in shipping and receiving, all the way up to leading a sales team across multiple locations, he has seen every evolution of the business and plans to keep an eye on the partnerships and products that will keep Art's Rental on the map for decades to come.
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