Some of us have rented a carpet shampooing machine or moving van in the past. But, have you ever rented an auto lock “superclamp” push runway beam trolley with maximum flange thickness of 1.2” and weight limit of 22,400 pounds?
That’s what separates Lifting Gear Hire (LGH) from U-Haul. LGH specializes in lifting equipment rentals and sales and is headquartered in Bridgeview, Ill. Jerry Diehl, Regional Sales Manager, and Nick Chilcote, Rental Representative, visited Walbridge’s Get Work team in August to provide an overview of LGH and its capabilities.
LGH is the single largest firm in North America devoted exclusively to providing lifting and rigging equipment for rental and sale. Its 65,000 pieces of rental equipment in stock have been carefully selected for durability and purpose. All equipment is maintained in excellent condition, “ready for immediate and safe use,” according to the company.
“We test equipment twice,” Diehl said. “When it comes in and before it goes back out. We strip it clean for inspection. If anyone looks at our equipment and doesn’t like something, it’s not going to be right for their job. It has to look like new equipment.”
LGH maintains the attitude that “no job site is the same, no job is the same.” The company has warehouse locations across the United States and plans to open new facilities soon in San Francisco and Boston.
Responsiveness to customer demand is a key to LGH’s success, according to Diehl.
“Walbridge needed 12 RAMs on a project over a weekend,” Diehl recounted. “We had them there by noon on Sunday. We ensure our equipment is accessible when you need it.”
Technology is advancing to the point where “more equipment now is managed digitally,” Diehl said. Recently, LGH implemented electronic tracking in order to track every inspection, repair, and test on each piece of equipment. The data is used to improve safety, offer greater options, and increase convenience for customers, he added.
Brad Pfeiffer, Project Manager – Estimating with Walbridge’s Industrial Process unit, gave LGH a thumbs-up from the audience. “You have very good customer service,” he told Diehl and Chilcote. “We call and you’re right there.”
Diehl said, “We honestly help our customers do their job. Our customers are experts in their respective fields and LGH is the expert in inspecting, maintaining and testing lifting and rigging gear. It’s a perfect partnership.”