Werent is a leading Italian rental company of aerial platforms, handlers, mobile cranes and earthmoving machines. The company was founded in 1996 under the name Venpa Sud, thanks to the visionary drive of CEO Michele Marraffa. Their goals are working in total safety, high quality service, customer satisfaction and respect for the environment.
Interview with Giovanni Marraffa, Project Manager at Werent.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Giovanni Marraffa: Werent primarily addresses to construction companies, plant and road operators, ports and shipyards, public agencies, as well as individuals who need a vehicle for maintenance work. The application sectors for Werent machines are many and varied, including construction, infrastructure, industrial, electrical and water plants, logistics, chemical and petrochemical, cinema, events.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
G.M: Among the latest arrivals, there are a new range of electric vertical lifts, crawler platforms up to 27 m and a crawler crane reaching 42.5 m.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
G.M: Werent fleet consists of more than 1,500 vehicles for lifting goods and people, earthmoving machines and construction equipment, including mobile cranes, telescopic handlers, crawler mini-cranes, forklifts, truck mounted platforms, boom and scissor lifts, bridge inspection unit, excavators, loaders, dumpers, lighting towers and generators.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
G.M: The rental market for construction machines has seen an increase in demand in recent years. In general, interest in rental is strong, and is growing in step with the growth of the market and the professionalization of its players. But the sector’s growth margins are still enormous, a growth that will certainly pass through a cultural revolution, at least as far as the Italian market is concerned.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
G.M: The trend that can be expected is the continuation of acquisitions of local companies by large market players. In addition, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find trained personnel: the biggest challenge is to train young people interested in driving operating machines and aerial platforms.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
G.M: Among the most innovative product marketed by Werent there are Jekko crawler mini-cranes: these machines, thanks to compact size, can work in very different places and confined spaces – slopes, stairs, passageways and difficult-to-reach places – and do not require long set-up.
Another innovative product is the Wacker Neuson EZ17e, the first fully electric Zero Tail mini-excavator without rear projection. Due to its zero emissions, it is ideal for indoor applications, as well as in areas where exhaust emissions and noise are restricted.
Among our 16 bridge inspection units, we have the Barin AB20/S with a 20 m articulated arm and basket, and the Barin ABC 170/190 LS-DS, which allows launching operations on both sides.
Another innovative product is Almac BIBI 1090-BL EVO crawler scissor lift, able to simplify your work operations, even in particular terrain situations.
Lastly, our fleet has 2 truck-mounted platforms that can reach a height of 103 m.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2023?
G.M: For the rental market, 2022 was a year of great growth and analysts estimate that this growth should continue and increase further in 2023. However, the scenario is too uncertain to make reliable long-term forecasts, and that the decisive factor will be the ability of individual companies to innovate and remain competitive beyond the macro-economic trends that will make the situation more or less difficult for everyone.