Simplex
Simplex is a fifth-generation, family-owned equipment and tool rental company operating 30+ branches across Quebec and Ontario with a 55,000+ unit fleet, serving both individual DIY customers and professional contractors in construction, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, manufacturing, and events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1907
- HeadquartersMontréal, Canada
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Simplex does
Simplex (legal name: Simplex Location d'outils Inc.) is a Montreal-headquartered equipment and tool rental company founded in 1907 by the Véronneau family and currently led by fifth-generation President and CEO Euclide Véronneau. The company operates an integrated network of more than 30 branches across Quebec with expansion into Ontario via the 2023 acquisition of Skytec Rentals Inc., Canada's largest tool and equipment rental industry deal in Simplex's 116-year history. Its fleet of 55,000+ units spans roughly 4,000 SKUs across nine categories: earthmoving, elevation and scaffolding, energy and HVAC, handling, landscaping, specialized tooling, working with materials, new arrivals, and promotions. Pricing is usage-based with daily, weekly (3-day price), monthly (2-week price), and one-hour rental options, and service is delivered through both physical branches and a website (simplex.ca) with online ordering and a customer portal supporting cross-branch rental and return.
The business model combines a core equipment-rental revenue stream (time-based pricing on a 50,000+-unit fleet) with attached professional services including delivery, repair and preventive maintenance, structural and safety harness inspections, 24/7 road service, and OHS / lifting-equipment training. GTM is sales-led and hybrid: a customer portal and e-commerce site serve long-tail individual DIY customers and SMB contractors, while corporate accounts with credit limits, corporate agreements, and branch-based field sales target professional contractors, builders, developers, plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, manufacturers, and event producers. Marketing spans the website, an email newsletter with new-subscriber discounts, an expert-advice blog, LinkedIn, and branch-based direct sales; customer relationships are reinforced by a unified customer portal that enables account-wide rental tracking. Corporate governance is anchored by family ownership (no parent company or external investors disclosed), Platinum Club status in Canada's Best Managed Companies program for 20+ consecutive years, and an ECORESPONSABLE Level 1 certification from Ecocert under the Réflex sustainability program targeting carbon neutrality by 2050.
Simplex firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Simplex
- Legal name
- Simplex Location d'outils Inc.
- Website
- https://simplex.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1907
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Simplex is a fifth-generation, family-owned equipment and tool rental company operating 30+ branches across Quebec and Ontario with a 55,000+ unit fleet, serving both individual DIY customers and professional contractors in construction, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, manufacturing, and events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Simplex industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Equipment Rental Services
- NAICS
- Construction, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (532412), Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (5324), General Rental Centers (5323)
- SIC
- Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359), Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Concrete & Masonry Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Earthmoving & Excavation Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAA), Material Handling Equipment Rental/Leasing (Forklifts, Telehandlers, Reach Trucks) (TLABAFAF), Lifting & Hoisting Rental & Leasing (IMAHAJAN), Equipment & Tool Leasing (Consumer) (FSAKANAF)
Keywords
Where Simplex is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montréal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Simplex business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Equipment Rental: Time-based rental of tools and equipment to individuals and businesses. Rental rates are typically charged per day with various billing periods (daily, weekly, monthly). The company maintains nearly 4,000 different products in inventory across categories including earthmoving, elevation and scaffolding, energy and HVAC, handling, landscaping, specialized tooling, and material working equipment.
- Professional Training Services: Training programs for lifting equipment operation and OHS (occupational health and safety) compliance. Offered as additional service to equipment rental customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Per-day rental rates |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Simplex product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Simplex rents tools and equipment to professional contractors and individual consumers through a network of more than 30 branches across Quebec, offering a fleet of 55,000+ items spanning earthmoving, elevation/scaffolding, energy and HVAC, handling, landscaping, specialized tooling, and working-with-materials categories. The rental service is supported by ancillary offerings including delivery, professional training, safety inspection, and equipment repair and maintenance.
Product overview
Simplex is a Quebec-based equipment and tool rental company offering a unified platform of rental services. The core offering is the tool and equipment rental service with over 55,000 items available across 9 main product categories: Earthmoving (24 products), Elevation and Scaffolding (176 products - the largest category including boom lifts, forklifts, scaffolding, scissor lifts), Energy and HVAC (54 products), Handling (122 products), Landscaping (40 products), Specialized Tooling (113 products), Working with Materials (104 products), New Arrivals (15 products), and Promotions (36 products). The company operates an integrated branch network across Quebec where customers can rent from any location and return equipment to any branch. Additional services include delivery, professional training (lifting equipment, OHS), safety inspections (harnesses, structural), equipment repairs, preventive maintenance programs, a customer portal for online account management, BTU calculator, products comparator, and corporate account services. Founded in 1907, Simplex is a fifth-generation family business serving both individuals and professionals across construction, manufacturing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and event industries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Réflex: Simplex's eco-responsible initiative aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, integrating sustainable development principles across all company operations.
Products and services
- Tool and Equipment Rental
- Delivery Service
Quantifiable outcome
- 55,000+ tools available for rent across Quebec
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Simplex
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Simplex technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Simplex partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SDC District CentralcorePartnership for the Le Lopin urban oasis project at the corner of Acadie and Sauvé in Montreal's Central District. SDC District Central collaborates with Simplex on this community-driven green space initiative as part of the Réflex sustainability program.
- Marché CentralminorPartner in the Le Lopin project supporting the transformation of vacant Simplex-owned land into a semi-private green space for community benefit.
- Fonds Signature MétropoleminorFunding and support partner for the Le Lopin urban development project, contributing to the greening initiative in Montreal's Central District.
- Skytec Rentals Inc.coreAcquisition completed in June 2023. This was Simplex's largest acquisition in its 116-year history, expanding presence in Ontario and strengthening market position in the Canadian tool and equipment rental industry. Skytec's brand and workforce retained with plans for growth and additional hires.
- ElliocoreConsulting firm partnership for organizational life cycle assessment and sustainable development planning. Ellio conducted the OLCA analysis, sustainability audit, and materiality matrix, and helped build the Réflex sustainable development plan with 6 thematic areas, 14 objectives, 44 structuring actions, and 68 milestones.
- TakTik CommunicationminorCommunication agency partner for the Le Lopin project, responsible for designing and envisioning the welcoming green space.
- La Ferme de RueminorAgricultural and landscaping expertise partner contributing to plant selection and design for the Le Lopin community garden project.
- WallemiminorPartner supporting the Le Lopin project with expertise in plant selection for edible, decorative, and structural vegetation.
- MetaminorDigital marketing partner mentioned in privacy policy for advertising and promotional activities.
- GoogleminorDigital marketing and analytics partner. Google Analytics used for website visitor tracking and marketing optimization.
- BingminorDigital marketing partner for advertising and promotional activities.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Simplex competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- United Rentals: Largest equipment rental company in the world. Operates across North America including Canada with a broad fleet (aerial, earthmoving, material handling, specialty). Comparable to Simplex on core rental categories and B2B contractor customer base, but vastly larger scale and publicly traded.
- Sunbelt Rentals: One of North America's largest equipment rental providers with significant Canadian operations. Directly comparable on construction and industrial equipment rental categories and contractor/B2B customer base, but with national scale, broader industrial services, and corporate backing.
- Herc Rentals: Publicly-traded North American equipment rental company serving industrial, construction, and infrastructure customers. Comparable on commercial/industrial fleet, B2B contractor focus, and aerial/earthmoving categories, but with broader geographic footprint and institutional scale.
- Boels Rental: One of Europe's largest equipment rental companies offering aerial, earthmoving, scaffolding, and tool rental to construction and industrial customers. Comparable on multi-category fleet, B2B/B2C mix, and branch-network model, but primarily European and larger in scale.
- LOXAM: Major European equipment rental group operating in aerial, earthmoving, and powered access rental. Comparable on multi-category fleet and construction customer base, but with primarily European geographic footprint.
- Kiloutou: European equipment and tool rental company serving construction professionals, trades, and individuals. Comparable on multi-category fleet, B2B/B2C customer mix, and branch-network distribution model, though primarily French/European in geography.
Direct peers
- Cooper Equipment Rentals: Canadian equipment rental company with multi-province branch network. Closely comparable to Simplex on geography (Canada), business model (multi-branch rental with delivery), customer segments (construction, industrial), and product breadth (earthmoving, aerial, material handling).
Emerging players
- EquipmentShare: Tech-enabled equipment rental company rapidly expanding in North America with proprietary T3 fleet management platform. Comparable on rental categories and contractor customer base, but differentiated by technology stack and digital-first operating model.
Regional players
- Toromont Industries: Canadian Caterpillar dealer operating equipment sales, rental, and service across Canada. Comparable on Canadian geography, construction and industrial customer base, and material handling/earthmoving categories. Provides a regional peer reference point for Simplex's Ontario expansion strategy.
- Brandt Tractor: Canadian heavy equipment dealer and rental provider serving construction, forestry, and mining. Comparable on geography (Western Canada), industrial customer base, and heavy equipment categories, though Brandt is more weighted toward sales/service vs. short-term rental.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Simplex social profiles
Digital presenceSimplex compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Simplex financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Simplex leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Simplex funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Simplex M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Simplex
What does Simplex do?
Simplex rents tools and equipment to professional contractors and individual consumers through a network of more than 30 branches across Quebec, offering a fleet of 55,000+ items spanning earthmoving, elevation/scaffolding, energy and HVAC, handling, landscaping, specialized tooling, and working-with-materials categories. The rental service is supported by ancillary offerings including delivery, professional training, safety inspection, and equipment repair and maintenance.
Is Simplex a public or private company?
Simplex is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Simplex founded?
Simplex was founded in 1907. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Simplex based?
Simplex is headquartered in Montréal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Simplex make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Equipment Rental is the primary driver. The others are professional Training Services.
Who are Simplex's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are United Rentals, Sunbelt Rentals, Herc Rentals, Boels Rental, LOXAM and Kiloutou. Cooper Equipment Rentals is listed as a direct peer. EquipmentShare is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are Toromont Industries and Brandt Tractor.
Does Simplex have an API?
No public API is recorded for Simplex.
What industry is Simplex in?
Simplex's product category is Equipment Rental Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLABAFAC, Concrete & Masonry Equipment Rental/Leasing, with a secondary code of TLABAFAA, Earthmoving & Excavation Equipment Rental/Leasing. Its NAICS code is 532412 and its SIC code is 7359.