Sunbelt Rentals
An American-British industrial equipment rental company serving construction, infrastructure, industrial, commercial, and public-sector customers.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Sunbelt Rentals is an international equipment-rental business operating in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Its activities center on supplying businesses and organizations with temporary access to construction, industrial, power, climate-control, access, tools, and other specialized equipment, together with related delivery and support services. The company’s principal operating presence is in North America, where the Sunbelt Rentals business has more than 1,000 locations across the United States and Canada and generates approximately 85% of group revenue. In the United Kingdom, the business operates through more than 185 locations and was formerly known as A-Plant. The company traces its origins to 1947, when Ashtead Plant and Tool Hire was established in Ashtead, Surrey. The business later became associated with the Ashtead group and entered the London Stock Exchange in 1986. A major strategic step came in 1990, when the group acquired an American plant-hire business operating under the Sunbelt Rentals name. That acquisition established the Sunbelt brand as the foundation for the group’s expansion in the United States and eventually made North America the company’s dominant market. Sunbelt Rentals serves customers that need equipment for a limited period, a specialized project, seasonal demand, or a situation in which ownership would be less economical or less flexible than rental. Its customer base spans contractors, construction companies, industrial operators, utilities, infrastructure providers, facilities managers, event organizers, government bodies, and other commercial users. The operating model depends on a large, geographically distributed fleet, local branches, logistics, equipment maintenance, and the ability to provide increasingly specialized rental solutions. Management changes in 2018 and 2019 marked a transition in the group’s leadership. Paul Walker became non-executive chairman in September 2018, while Brendan Horgan succeeded Geoff Drabble as chief executive in May 2019 after Drabble’s twelve-year tenure. The group also pursued investments beyond conventional rental operations. In 2022, its main operating subsidiary invested in Britishvolt, a lithium-ion battery developer. Britishvolt entered administration in January 2023, and the investment resulted in a reported £35 million loss for the company. In December 2024, the group announced plans to move its primary stock-market listing from London to the United States. Management described the United States as the group’s natural long-term listing venue because North America provided most of its profits and because its leadership, most of its approximately 25,000 employees, and its operational headquarters were located there. After shareholder approval and court authorization, a new United States holding company, Sunbelt Rentals Inc, was created and the listing transfer took place in February 2026. The change reflected the company’s operational center of gravity rather than a withdrawal from the United Kingdom, where Sunbelt continues to operate a substantial branch network.
History
Sunbelt Rentals originated in 1947 as Ashtead Plant and Tool Hire in Ashtead, Surrey. The original business was established to provide plant and tool-hire services in the United Kingdom, placing equipment rental rather than equipment ownership at the center of its commercial model. The company expanded its activities over subsequent decades and became associated with the Ashtead group. A decisive corporate milestone came in 1986, when the company was first admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange. Four years later, in 1990, the group acquired an American plant-hire business that operated under the Sunbelt Rentals name. This transaction gave the group an established North American platform and supplied the brand that would become its principal international identity. The United States subsequently became the group’s largest market, with the Sunbelt Rentals operation expanding through branch growth and the development of a broad rental fleet. The business evolved from general plant and tool hire into a multi-category equipment-rental provider. Its offering came to cover construction machinery, access equipment, material handling, power, climate control, tools, industrial equipment, and specialized project support. The company’s model combines local depots with centralized fleet resources, transportation, maintenance, and technical assistance. In North America, Sunbelt Rentals developed a network of more than 1,000 locations across the United States and Canada. In Britain, the former A-Plant operation grew to more than 185 locations and was integrated into the wider Sunbelt Rentals identity. Leadership changed during 2018 and 2019. Paul Walker was appointed non-executive chairman in September 2018. In November of the same year, the group announced that Geoff Drabble would retire as chief executive after twelve years, with the change taking effect on 1 May 2019. Brendan Horgan, previously the group’s chief operating officer and chief executive of its North American business, was selected as Drabble’s successor. The appointment reflected the growing strategic and financial importance of North America to the group. The company also made an investment outside its traditional rental activities. In June 2022, its main operating subsidiary was announced as an investor in Britishvolt, a developer of lithium-ion battery technology. Britishvolt later entered administration in January 2023. The collapse resulted in a reported £35 million loss for the company, making the investment a notable setback in its diversification and sustainability-related activities. In December 2024, the group announced a plan to move its primary listing from London to the United States. The stated rationale was that the United States had become the group’s natural long-term listing venue: approximately 85% of revenue was generated there, most profits came from North America, and the group’s leadership, most of its roughly 25,000 employees, and its operational headquarters were based in the United States. The proposal required shareholder approval and court authorization. In February 2026, a new United States holding company, Sunbelt Rentals Inc, was created and the primary listing was transferred to the United States. The corporate change reinforced the company’s North American orientation while leaving its British and Canadian operating businesses in place.
- 2026
Primary listing transferred to the United States
[1]After shareholder and court approval, a new United States holding company was created and the primary listing was transferred.
- 2024
United States listing transfer announced
[1]The group announced plans to move its primary listing from London to the United States.
- 2023
Britishvolt enters administration
[1]Britishvolt’s administration led to a reported £35 million loss associated with the company’s investment.
- 2022
Investment in Britishvolt
[1]The company’s principal operating subsidiary invested in lithium-ion battery developer Britishvolt.
- 2019
Brendan Horgan becomes chief executive
[1]Brendan Horgan succeeded Geoff Drabble as chief executive on 1 May.
- 2018
Paul Walker becomes non-executive chairman
[1]Paul Walker was appointed chairman of the board on a non-executive basis.
- 1990
Acquisition of American Sunbelt Rentals business
[1]The group acquired an American plant-hire business operating under the Sunbelt Rentals name, establishing the platform for its North American expansion.
- 1986
First London Stock Exchange listing
[1]The group became publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange.
- 1947
Ashtead Plant and Tool Hire established
[1]The company’s historical predecessor was founded in Ashtead, Surrey, beginning the business that later developed into the international equipment-rental group.
Products and positioning
A large-scale, multi-category equipment-rental provider emphasizing local branch coverage, fleet breadth, delivery capability, and specialized support for construction, infrastructure, industrial, commercial, and public-sector projects.
Construction rental
Construction equipment
Sunbelt Rentals supplies temporary access to a broad range of construction machinery and site equipment for contractors and infrastructure projects. The rental model supports short-term jobs, larger project mobilizations, replacement capacity, and customers that prefer not to own or maintain every item required on a site.
Aerial work platforms and access rental
Access equipment
Access equipment is rented for work at height across construction, maintenance, industrial, facilities, and event applications. The category forms part of the company’s multi-category fleet and is supported by branch-based availability, delivery, maintenance, and project-oriented rental services.
Power-generation and temperature-control rental
Power and climate control
The company provides temporary power and climate-control equipment for construction sites, industrial facilities, commercial premises, events, and emergency or transitional requirements. These services allow customers to address temporary capacity, heating, cooling, ventilation, and continuity needs without making permanent capital purchases.
Tool and general equipment rental
Tools and general equipment
Tools and general equipment extend the rental offer beyond major plant and machinery. They are intended for contractors, tradespeople, facilities teams, commercial users, and other customers needing equipment for defined tasks or periods. The historic A-Plant business in the United Kingdom was particularly associated with plant and tool hire.
Industrial and specialty rental
Industrial and specialized equipment
Specialized rental solutions serve industrial, infrastructure, utility, commercial, and public-sector projects requiring equipment beyond standard construction categories. The offering is supported by the company’s geographic branch network, fleet scale, logistics, and technical service capabilities.
Brand decisions
2024
Move the primary stock-market listing to the United StatesStrategyBackground
Management argued that the United States had become the group’s natural long-term listing venue because North America generated most profits and contained most employees, leadership functions, and operational headquarters.
Action taken
The group announced a proposed corporate reorganization involving a new United States holding company and transfer of the primary listing from London.
Aftermath
Shareholders approved the plan, the court authorized the corporate steps, and the listing transfer was completed in February 2026.
2022
Invest in BritishvoltOtherBackground
The company participated in the development of a lithium-ion battery business as part of an investment outside its core equipment-rental operations.
Action taken
Its main operating subsidiary invested in Britishvolt.
Aftermath
Britishvolt entered administration in January 2023, and the company incurred a reported £35 million loss connected with the investment.
Loss associated with Britishvolt investment. £35 million hit (2023, following Britishvolt entering administration in January 2023)
1990
Acquire the American Sunbelt Rentals businessM&ABackground
The group sought to establish a significant operating platform in the United States and broaden its plant-rental activities beyond the United Kingdom.
Action taken
It acquired an American plant-hire business operating under the Sunbelt Rentals name.
Aftermath
The acquisition gave the group the Sunbelt brand and became the basis for its subsequent North American expansion.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Sunbelt Rentals acquires King Equipment[2]
Reported:
Sunbelt Rentals acquired King Equipment, an aerial equipment rental business serving Los Angeles and Southern California.
Sources2 sources
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