With more than 22 years of experience in the construction industry and the urging of family and friends in the business, Bob Harrell opened Specialty Rentals and Attachments Company Inc. on Feb. 1. The company is located at 30 Dunham Loop in Berlin, NJ, with a shop located at 588 Erial-New Brooklyn Rd. in Sicklerville, NJ.

“It is something I always wanted to do. It was always in the back of my mind but never thought I could afford to do,” said Harrell. “When Chuck Ulmer decided to sell his business, Charles Ulmer Construction Equipment Rental and Repair, he made it happen.”

However, Ulmer did not retire. He is still active in the business working on equipment. Ulmer owns of and runs the service department of Specialty Rentals while Harrell owns the machines and the rental part of the business. In addition to Ulmer and Harrell, the company has three full-time and two part-time employees.

As the name implies, Harrell’s company specializes in equipment rentals as well as the attachments a contractor might need on a construction project. Currently, Specialty Rentals has available 15 Hyundai excavators, five Komatsu excavators, six Cat excavators and six Hyundai wheeled excavators, all of which are equipped with hydraulic circuits to run any attachment. In addition, the company has two Dresser pans and three Komatsu track loaders. It also is able to accommodate contractors with the installation of hydraulic kits to run attachments on all brands of excavators.

Specialty Rentals covers the states of New Jersey, New York, eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. At the present time, Perini Construction has rented a reconfigured NPK concrete crusher for its work on the New York subway. The NPK unit was changed to a long stick for working in the confined spaces.

Harrell’s company also has equipment working on projects in Maryland. A shear is busy cutting up tanks while three 50-ft. and three 60-ft. Hyundai excavators are working on remediation projects such as cleaning out lakes and ditches.

Harrell, a member of the Utility Contractors Association (UTCA), is optimistic about the future of his company. His goal is to maintain 75 percent utilization of the equipment. “I would like to grow this business to the point where anybody who needs a special attachment would give us a call. Over the years, I have built up a very good reputation in the business and I want to be known for quality equipment and [economical] rates.”

To meet the attachment requirements of contractors, Specialty Rentals carries LaBounty shears, wood shears, rotating barrel grapples, four concrete pulverizers and universal processors; NPK tampers, concrete crusher cutters and hammers; excavators. Two Cat skid steers and attachments round out Specialty Rentals extensive attachment inventory. The company also has miscellaneous equipment, Cat motorgraders, water wagons and 815 compactors for rent.

Specialty Rentals’ commitment to contractors does not end with providing equipment and attachments; it also provides equipment service to keep downtime to a minimum.

For the convenience of contractors, equipment is available for rent by the day, week or month.

For more information, call 856/728-2793.

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