40 Years as a Machinery Rental Entrepreneur: Lars Persson
He bought his grandfather’s farm and has watched a community grow up around him, largely thanks to the machinery he himself has maintained and rented out. On November 1, 1984, Stål&Hyr (now Renta) consisted of founder Bertil, his son Jörgen, and office clerk Gun. But Jörgen was about to start his military service, and the company had become a Casco paint dealer, so Lars Persson stepped in. And he’s still there today.
Back then, spring meant making paint deliveries all over Halland; today, there isn’t a single road in that region that Lars hasn’t driven on. Born, raised, and living in Kungsäter, seven mil northeast of Varberg and his workplace.
– I’ve done just about everything except serve as CEO. In the beginning, I was a jack-of-all-trades, but back then it was mostly sales of steel, gas, and paint; the equipment rental fleet consisted of a diesel compressor, a car lift, and a trailer lift. We also had a shelf with a couple of small machines. We were in the same premises then as we are now, here in Varberg,” says Lars Persson.
It was in 1979 that Bertil Andersson started Stål&Hyrmaskiner as a result of the struggling Järnbolander. The business primarily dealt in steel, AGA gas, and Casco paint, and the equipment rental side grew organically. When his son Jörgen was about to do his mandatory military service, Bertil asked a friend if he knew anyone handy who wanted to work on a bit of everything. Lars, an interior door manufacturer, had grown tired of a monotonous daily routine, and when his father told him about Stål&Hyrmaskiner, the choice was easy.
– I’ve always enjoyed socializing and meeting people. I certainly never would have imagined that 40 years later I’d have 742 colleagues and would have met thousands of construction workers. I can barely remember what it looked like here before everything was built; it feels so surreal to see how Kungsäter and Varberg have grown.”
The concrete grinder that was dead
Mornings as a machine rental agent are hectic, and when the clock strikes 9:00 a.m., the crispbread and breakfast are sacred. That morning, Bertil walked in just as Lars was sitting down. “Lars, a concrete grinder up in Åsa has completely broken down and it’s an emergency—can you head out right away?” Lars looked up: “Will I have time to finish my breakfast?” Lars already knew the answer, so instead he loaded the other concrete grinder onto the trailer and drove up to the construction site. No one was there.
– I didn’t see anyone at the construction site, so I went into the village hall, where everyone was sitting and eating breakfast. That’s what the rush was all about. They pointed me toward the concrete grinder, and I went over there. Sure enough, the machine was completely dead. I found the plug and plugged it into the outlet. I tested it again, and this time the machine worked just as it should.
Lars walked back to the village, announced that the machine had been repaired, and strode purposefully toward the car. A foreman met him and asked how things were going with the concrete grinder.
– I told him then that all he had to do was plug the cord into the outlet. The foreman quickly turned on his heel and stormed off toward the construction shed. The door slammed shut, and even though I didn’t want to hear his tirade, I could still hear it. But I’d done my part and finished my breakfast. That’s always been our spirit—we drop whatever we’re holding right then and there to solve the customer’s problem. That’s what’s gotten us where we are today.
The 1992 financial crisis, with an interest rate of 500 percent—that’s when Jörgen bought machinery
Lars has seen and learned firsthand what it takes to have a nose for business and good timing, since Jörgen Grubbeson has always gone against the grain and thought differently. When the financial crisis hit in 1992, the depot was eerily quiet, and all construction projects had come to a standstill. After Lars finished tinkering with a machine, he went to see what Jörgen was up to.
– I walked into the office and heard that he’d just gotten off the phone; I asked if it was a customer. “No, I’m buying new machines!” I was completely taken aback. NOW? When the world is on the brink? But Jörgen knew that things would turn around in time, and by then we’d have the machines here and be ready when the builders need them.
Reinvesting in new machinery, using our own funds, has always been the name of the game—and growing together. During the 1990s, Lars was the jack-of-all-trades who helped customers at the counter, cut a piece of rebar to the right length, welded together a custom structure, or delivered materials. If a machine broke down, he’d fix it.
– But then I injured my knee, and during my recovery, I had the opportunity to get familiar with the paperwork at the office. I learned a lot there. I was back on my feet quickly because I’m mainly driven by interacting with people and visiting new places.
New Depot: Kungsbacka 2005
Stål&Hyr grew and saw an opportunity to rent space in a building in Kungsbacka (the same building as today). Lars then took on the role of site manager, and on January 2, they received the keys; the grand opening was held on March 1.
– That renovation period was the toughest; during that time, I had one Sunday off. When we opened our doors, it was like a vacation. I remember business was a bit slow at first, but we knew things would turn around if we just kept at it. And they did. But it all went by too fast for me—I had a 50-kilometer one-way commute—and I was constantly rushing to respond to alarms, make deliveries—you name it. In the fall of 2007, my body said “enough,” and I took a couple of months off. Once I was back in the spring of 2008, I was back in Varberg and back to my old duties. It felt so good.
Store Fitter since 2014
Billy Edman had been trying for a long time to get Lars to join the assembly team, and in 2014, Lars could no longer say no. For Lars, a perfectionist, his years as a bodywork technician have made him feel right at home—especially when he gets to be involved every step of the way.
– I want to leave the site looking neat and tidy when I’m done, and that’s something I’ve always strived to do. I enjoy discussing with the customer, “What if we do it this way, etc.”—it leads to an incredible end result. Meet with the customer, lay the pallets, set up the sheds—connect the water and sewer lines and electricity, plus anything else they want. Done. Then it’ll turn out great.
When Stål&Hyr Became Renta
In 2017, things started to happen: the acquisition of Dennis went through, and Joacim Johansson was hired as CEO. And in 2018, red and yellow became orange.
– I like the energy Jocke brings. But I did feel things moved a little too fast at first. Our high standard of service took a back seat, and that really bothered me. That period was tough for everyone—both us and the customer. We caught up, and customers can once again rely on our high level of service. I got a little worried when we went Renta, but my fears didn’t come true.
Freedom has always been central, and investing in both our staff and our machinery has been important throughout the years. At times, we’ve had to take a step back, only to rise to the challenge again.
– Tough times come and go. I’ve noticed that we’ve weathered 1992, 2008, and 2024 better by continuing to believe in what we do—by having fun together and investing in our relationships.
Lars is retiring at the end of March
That means hunting full-time and caravan trips every other week with my wife, Lena. That means heading out to new places, but also to well-loved hidden gems along the Bohuslän coast and in beautiful Västervik.
– The forest is the best way to unwind—just sitting there and waiting for the moose. I’m really going to miss the social aspect, and I don’t know how I’m going to handle that yet. But I have grandchildren who can keep me on my toes even there, I think.
From all of us who’ve had the pleasure of working with you, thank you for all the laughter and ideas. Thank you for driving the spirit of equipment rental and for helping to build this company. Thank you for forty years together—now we’re celebrating you all the way into retirement.
Would you like to celebrate your 40th birthday with us?
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