European Rental Association Awards 2025 Announced
ERA also announced the leadership transition. Michel Petitjean, who has served as Secretary General for 19 years, will step down at the end of June 2025. Carole Bachmann, a longstanding ERA team member since 2013, was formally introduced as his successor.
10 June 2025 | The Rental Time Staff
The European Rental Association (ERA) has announced the winners of the European Rental Awards 2025, recognizing excellence and innovation across the rental industry. The awards were unveiled during the ERA Convention 2025, held last week in Dublin, Ireland, bringing together more than 350 industry professionals, manufacturers, policymakers, and thought leaders from across Europe and beyond.
This year’s awards were presented in nine categories, showcasing a diverse range of achievements from sustainability and safety to digital innovation and leadership. The winners are as follows:
- ERA Technical Committee Award – Best Initiative to Minimise Total Cost of Ownership:
Kaeser – for reducing maintenance times on Mobilair compressors.
- ERA Sustainability Committee Award – Best Sustainability Initiative by a Rental Company:
Joint winners: GAM (Spain) and Loxam (France).
- Rental Product of the Year:
Trime UK – for the MGTP 24000/30 THS low-emission generator.
- Rental Technology Product of the Year:
Trackunit (Denmark) – for the IrisX operating data platform.
- Best Safety Initiative by a Rental Company:
Sunbelt Rentals UK – for its comprehensive safety strategy.
- Small/Medium-Sized Rental Company of the Year:
EuroTecno (Italy).
- Large Rental Company of the Year:
Alayan – operating across Italy, Spain, and Portugal.
- ERA/IRN Rental Person of the Year:
Bodel Blom, Managing Director, Byggutrustning Luleå AB (Sweden).
- Lifetime Achievement Award:
Michel Petitjean, for his exceptional service as ERA Secretary General.
The convention opened with a keynote address from Stéphane Hénon, President of ERA and Managing Director of Loxam, who underscored the sector’s pivotal role in shaping a resilient, innovative, and sustainable future. The theme of this year’s event was “Navigating Transitions in Rental”, focusing on how the industry is adapting to major global shifts including energy transition, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and sustainability.
Two key plenary sessions drew particular attention:
- Energy Transition in Rental: From Vision to Action
- From Digitalisation to AI: Turning Data into Value
These sessions explored how emerging technologies and policy shifts are influencing operational strategies and customer value in the rental sector.
The awards were judged by a panel of distinguished industry leaders – Stéphane Hénon (ERA President, Loxam), Jon Overman (CEO, HSS Hire), Murray Pollok (Managing Editor, International Rental News), Monika Rubensson (CEO, Rentalföretagen), Frank Seidler (Managing Director, HKL) and Michel Petitjean (non-voting Chair and ERA Secretary General).
In addition to the awards, the convention hosted the ERA General Assembly, where members deliberated on key decisions shaping the future of the association.
ERA also announced the leadership transition. Michel Petitjean, who has served as Secretary General for 19 years, will step down at the end of June 2025. Carole Bachmann, a longstanding ERA team member since 2013, was formally introduced as his successor.
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